APPENDIX. 239 



experiments there. I suggest, advise, and leave him to execute. 



He found himself {oo much hurried with his work, to attend 



to this subject at the proper time. In answer to your question 



I say— that the solution the 2nd year was not applied to the 



same land, and although used in much larger quantities, it was 



not as strong as that used the past year. 



Yours, respectfully, 



ANDREW NICHOLS. 

 To S. L. Dana, M. D. 



It will be obseved that about three cords of swamp mud, and 

 33 bushels of ashes have been used per acre, in 1839, and 40 

 lbs. of potash in 1840. 



The number of hills is 3,630 per acre. Then calculating the 

 real potash, there was given to each hill of corn, about 1-2 

 pint of ashes, or 32 grains of alkali in 1839, and 45 grains in 

 1840. 



If three cords of swamp muck, were used in 1840, about 6 oz. 

 of dry geine have been applied per hill — the muck being like 

 pond mud. Now 45 grains of alkali and 6 oz. of. geine, and 

 __L of a cord of pig manure per hill, have here produced ef- 

 fects equal to guano. No new source of nitrogen has been 

 opened to the corn. The effects are due then, to the alkaline 

 action on geine, and of salts upon silicates. The failure of the 

 solution in the second year, is probably owing to the formation 

 of sulphuretted hydrogen, see section (238). 



No. III. — Letter from Hon. Wm. Clark, jr. 



Northampton, 10th Feb'y, 1842. 

 Dear Sir: — The results of the few trials I have made with 

 alkalies to neutralize the acidity of swamp muck, have not been 

 ascertained with that precision that is necessary to determine 

 conclusively which is best. I will, however, give you the ex- 

 periments, (if they deserve the nam?,) as they were made, with 

 the apparent results. The first was with fine well decomposed 



