1847.] Transactions of the State Agricultural Society. 23 



of air slaked lime. The sulphuric acid, existing in the grass as 

 sulphate of lime or gypsum, is accurately represented by 16 

 pounds of ground plaster. All the phosphoric acid found in the 

 ash by Sprengel, is only equal to two pounds of bones. Accord- 

 ing to these valuations the ashes of a load of farm yard manure of 

 1,500 pounds are represented by 



1 bushel of ashes, worth, 12| cents. 



30 lbs. of air slaked lime do less than, 1^ do 



16 lbs. of plaster, do do ^ do 



2 lbs. of bones, do do | do 



Worth less than, 14| cents. 



The value does not exceed 12.\ cents in truth, for there are 

 more of the above quantities in most kinds of wood ashes. None 

 of these bodies can be shown to have more activity in the form 

 of manure ashes, than in any other mixture, or in wood ashes. I 

 do not undertake to advise any body to burn their manure for the 

 ashes, and do not wish to be understood as hinting at any such 

 practice, but only that the ash of farm yard dung is nothing more 

 nor less than the ashes of the straw used for litter and of the pro- 

 vender. The effects are in no way dissimilar. However derived, 

 the lime, potash, bone earth and gypsum are slowly dissolved iti 

 the rain water which falls on the soil, and enter plants, serving 

 many important offices therein." 



In this estimate of the value of the inorganic portion, more 

 than one half is thrown away or useless under the denomination 

 of sand. Ought it to be regarded in this light? Is not the mat- 

 ter here denominated useless sand, an element essential to the per- 

 fection of the vegetables upon which the animal is fed? Is it not 

 the same as soluble silica? And if so of the highest value 

 to the growth of cereals? We believe that every particle of the 

 inorganic matter is valuable; that as voided by the animal it is 

 in a condition to enter readily into the organism of plants again; 

 but if burnt, the doctrine which we suppose is contended for, not 

 only all the organic matter is lost, but the silica of the inorganic 

 matter is in a less soluble state, and its value as a manure is di- 

 minished. 



These remarks are not directed against the project of forming 

 composts with ashes, lime, bones, &c., but we deny that a mix- 

 ture of one bushel of ashes, 30 pounds of air slaked lime, 16 

 pounds of plaster and 2 pounds of bones, can be substituted in 

 the long run for barn yard manures; and even at this estimate 

 according to some farmers, it will be seen the mixture cost as 

 much as a load of manure. But then the manure of the yard 

 possesses other properties than those which have been alluded to; 

 that of giving porosity to the soil, and increasing greatly its ab- 



