THE GENESEE FAEMEE. 



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chemistry, geology, botany, engineering, the study of soils, and other departments of 

 agricultural science, which they never will get unless something more than mere talk is 

 done for agricultural education. The time for action has arrived ; and all State Socie- 

 ties and Boards of Agriculture should appoint at once the three members in each State, 

 Territory, and the District of Columbia, who are to form the United States Board of 

 Agriculture. Such a Board will carry out the idea of the illustrious farmer of Mount 

 Vernon. 



With the aid of Congress, which this Board can not fail to receive, the National Soci- 

 ety will be able to give every member more than an equivalent for his two dollars 

 yearly subscription to its funds. The Journal of the Society, and its facilities for 

 obtaining and distributing valuable seeds, are advantages and objects of great impor- 

 tance. It has not merely a continent for the theatre of its operations, but the whole 

 vegetable and animal kingdoms of the globe to select from. Government ships and 

 officers, that visit all seas and lands, are at the service of the United States Agricultural 

 Society ; and this Society is no more than the servant of all local societies that see fit 

 to avail themselves of its labors, either at home or abroad. Foreign ministers, charges, 

 and consuls in other nations, the heads of departments, and members of Congress, will 

 all render valuable aid, if properly approached. Let us prudently adapt ourselves to the 

 circumstances with which we are surrounded, and use the means so clearly within our 

 reach, to place the arts, the sciences, and the literature of rural aftairs in this country, 

 in advance of those of any other in the world. 



SOURCE OF THE NUTRITIOUS PROPERTY OF VEGETATION. 



The nourishing property of wheat, corn, and other grains, is owing to the gluten contained in them ; 

 and this gluten consists, in great part, of nitrogen. It is of course an important object ■with the 

 farmer, to increase the proportion of gluten, and that is done by supplying additional nitrogen in 

 the aliment of the plant. Carbonic acid and water are the chief sources of growth. IS'itrogen is the 

 principal element constituting the nutritive quality. The atmosphere contains a large quantity of 

 nitrogeft. It is not supposed to be taken up by vegetables, however, from the atmosphere, in its 

 simple form, but, by combination with hydrogen, in the form of ammonia. By the digestion of tlie 

 ammonia, the nitrogen is afterward separated in the plant and used to constitute the peculiar pro- 

 duet, gluten, to which its nutrition is owing. • 



Ammonia is produced by the decay of most animal siibstances. In this way if is that the applica- 

 tion of manures is so beneficial to plants ; — by the supply of ammonia furnished, which being diges- 

 ted in the plant, results in a separation of nitrogen, which enters in the tissues of plants and produces 

 their nutritive quality. 



Ammonia is readily absorbed by water, and the rain and dew become impregnated with it, and 

 it is thus administered to vegetables in Small quantities. This may be sufficient for their existence 

 and ordinary'growth ; but a greater supply of ammonia is necessary to some plants, on account of 

 their peculiar economy. Tliis is the case with all plants containing much gluten. And this sub- 

 stance may be greatly increased by a liberal supply of manures from which ammonia is more abund- 

 antly provided. These plants can therefore only be cultivated advantageously by a free application 

 of manure, or otherwise an equivalent provision of ammonia in another form. Corn ordinarily, 

 when raised in vegetable mold, contains nine and a half per cent, of gluten; but raised on laud 

 manured with blood or urine, has been found to contain thirty-five hundredths of gluten. 



Gypsum has the quality of absorbing ammonia from the atmosphere, and yielding it again to water 

 which may soak through it. Tliis is the mode in which gypsum has a beneficial action on vegetation, 

 while tlie gypsum itself held in solution in water is considered to be injurious. — New Eng. Farmer. 



A knowledge of the source of the nutritious properties of vegetables, can not fail to 

 be interesting and valuable to every farmer. The above article is well calculated to 

 throw light on the subject, which, though so very important, is but dimly understoo 

 We must, however, differ with our contemporary in one respect. That the nutritious 

 value of wheat, corn, oats, &c., is in proportion to the gluten or other nitrogenous su 

 stances they contain, we believe ; and it is so natural to suppose that "by supplying 



