1847.] How to Make Old Lands Mw. 163 



HOW TO MAKE OLD LANDS NEW. 



To bring about the reformation about to be described, it is ne- 

 cessary to recur to the condition of our lands when first cleared of 

 forests, and sown for the first time to wheat, or planted with In- 

 dian corn. 



The clearing of land, as is well known, in New-York and the 

 Middle states, consists of chopping down the forest trees, and then 

 cutting them into logs, and piling them, with their limbs, into 

 large heaps, and burning the whole to ashes. The ashes are usu- 

 ally saved in part; but no inconsiderable part remain upon the 

 ground. There remains also a large quantity of half burnt leaves, 

 twigs, &c., which being intermixed with the ashes, constitutes a 

 very valuable fertilizer. 



Now it is impossible to imitate to the letter, by any artificial 

 means we possess, the condition of the new lands of this country; 

 yet, it is not impossible, in many instances, to make an approach 

 to it, by which a decided addition to the fertility is added, and 

 which will be retained for several years. For this purpose, raise 

 from the pit a large quantity of peat; and when sufficiently dry 

 to burn, partially consume it with a slow and smothered fire. 

 There will be formed peat ashes and peat coal intermixed; both 

 of which perform their own functions in the soil, and to the crop 

 on which they are to be applied. 



They are to be spread freely upon the land. It may be applied 

 at the rate of 150 to 200 bushels to the acre. In the partially 

 burnt peat, will be found potash and soda, chlorine, silica, both 

 soluble and insoluble, lime, magnesia, alumina, sulphate of lime, 

 and phosphate of lime, and coal in a fine state of division. We 

 give the alumina on the authority of chemists; but the real ash 

 of the peat probably contains phosphates of iron, lime and mag- 

 nesia, and no alumina. 



The oflSce of the coal or charred peat is, to absorb and fix am- 

 monia. 



It may be observed, that however much farmers have differed 

 in their views as it regards the effect of peat in its natural state, 

 they can scarcely differ as it regards the power of this compound 

 as a fertilizer, and at the same time see that it is essentially the 

 material which is left upon the surface of newly cleared lands. 



Of course the plan can be adopted only by those who have peat 

 lands. But these peat lands are often situated at a point in the 

 farm so distant from the barn, that it is impracticable to use barn- 

 yard manure. Where circumstances are favorable, then, this 

 mode for restoring fertility to partially worn-out lands, will, we 

 think, be regarded an important, as well as feasible measure. 



