108 [Senatk 



business, remarked the other day that they would be compelled to 

 turn their attention to domestic goods; that as to the cassimeres,they 

 were already being driven entirely from the market. 



It is estimated it would take 2,000,000 acres of land to keep the 

 sheep we require. We have now about 20,000,000 sheep; and the 

 clip of 1840 is put down in the Farmers' Encyclopedia at 35,802,114 

 pounds. The sheep of Great Britain were estimated in 1834 at 

 32,000,000. She imported in 1841 for her ow'n consumption, be- 

 yond her own production of wool, 52,862,029 pounds, almost twice 

 as much as the quantity grown in the United Slates. We require 

 for our own manufacture and consumption, or shall by the time we 

 can grow the sheep, at least tw^ice the quantity of wool we at present 

 grow, and our flocks may safely be doubled. 



The President announced that Manure, previously assigned for 

 this day's consideration, would be in order. 



Dr. Valentine observed that the chemical salts were at a low price, 

 and might be profitably employed in a judicious way. He proposed 

 to exhibit to the Club at the next meeting, the formation of an artifi- 

 cial guano, that would not cost more than one-fifth of the imported, 

 and equally effective. The following are the ingredients: 



Nitrate of soda, 20 pounds. 



Sal ammonia, 10 *' 



Carb. ammonia, 5 " 



Pearlash, 5 " 



Sulphate of soda, 8 " 



Sulphate of magnesia, 5 " 



Fme bone, 60 " 



Salt, 10 " 



Sulphate of lime, 2 bushels. 



Meadow mud, or street manure, 1 cart load. 



Carbonate of iron, 2 drachms. 



Manganese, 2 " 



Sea-weed, sand, dirt, &c. are very valuable, the first particularly, 

 for its fertilizing qualities. Reference for an analysis of it was made 

 to Thompson's Chemistry, vol. 4, page 298. It is found to contain 

 eighteen different ingredients, according to M. de Chaubry, reported 

 as above. 



Dr. V. observed, that when manure collects about barn yards in 

 puddles, the greater part of it is lost. Decomposition is always go- 

 ing on, and consequently the ammonia and carbonic acid so necessa- 

 ry to vegetation, are constantly passing off into the atmosphere. 



To prevent this it is necessary to put sufficient ashes in the puddles 

 as thick as mortar, and then add sufficient unslaked lime or sulphate 

 of lime (Plaster of Paris) to bring the whole to a dry powder. This 

 powder is then to be taken out and put into a dry place until it is 

 wanted for use. As the puddle again collects it is to be treated in 

 the same way. By this process you collect a large quantity of ma- 

 nure in a dry state, capable of being kept any length of time — the 

 essence of which would otherwise be lost in the atmosphere. 



