1859. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



435 



PKEPARATION OF BOILS FOR CBOPS. 



;gy, unfold to us the theory of manures, and the 

 modus operandi o( iheiv application. "It is only 



In its genuine signification, the term agriculture ^^^, ^^^^ assistance," remarks an able writer, "that 

 means nothing more nor less than the artificial ^^ ^^^ ^^^^^^^^ ^^^, ^.^^..^^^ ^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^ ^^,^^_ 

 preparation of the soil for the annual production ^j^^j importance, and which, to all appearance, 

 of those vegetables, which, in the various <^^^-^,e contr^dxctoTj. And by this means, only, shall 

 mates of our globe, are required for the sustenance ^,g ^^ ^^^,^l^^j ^^ ^^^j.^ ^ ^^^^^^^^ ^^j judicious 

 of man and beast. It is, however, properlyi ^^j^^^j^^^ ^^ ^j^^^^ materials which are used for 

 and naturally divided into two distinct branch-; ^j^^ ^^^.j^j^^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^^.fj^^^j^^ ^^ ^j^^ ^^jl ^,1^^^^ 

 es, designated, respectively, by the terms, "cVie///-- ^^^j^^^ j.^^. ^^^ ^^^^^^ ^^^^ happiness of man." 

 ical" and '^niechanicar'-the former having ref-| ^^^ ^^^ ^^j ^^.^^^ ^^^^^ ^^ ^^ productive, with 

 erence to the application of those energizing and j.^,fgj.g,^^g ^^ any given crop, the soil on which 

 ameliorating substances which tend to the '^ni-^^^^^^^^^-^^^^^^^.^^\^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ peculiar 

 mediate increase of its productive qualities, by properties. Lands fitted for the growth and mat- 

 .imbuing it with the nutritious properties and,^^^^.^^^ of wheat, for instance, are considered 

 juices of animal and vegetable excrements ; or by ^^i^^^le, because the wheat crop is one of prime 

 calling into vigorous and efi'ective action those jj^^^^^^^ 



elementary properties, with which, in a state ofj ^^^ -^ ^.^ examine soils richly endued with 

 nature. It IS originally enriched. The latter has |^j^^ principles essential to the growth of this 

 reference to the "tillage of the soil;" and the.g^^jj^^ ^,g ^j^^j^ ^^^,1 ^j^^^ thev contain certain el- 

 amelioration of the earthy constituents, by the ^^^^^^^^ ^^ vegetable re-production in much larg- 

 thorough pulverization of its elementary parti- j^^ q^^^^j^j^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^.j^ in which it does 

 cles— a result ordinarily effected by plowing, ^^^ ^^^^^^^^ Popular attention has been direct- 

 digging, or otherwise lightening its texture, so\^^^^ ^j^j^ ^^^j^^^ j,^ Scotland, and Dr. Anderson, 

 as to afford a favorable medium for the estabhsh-j^^e chemist of the "Highland Agricultural So- 

 ment and ramification of the roots of such pro-j^j^jy^,, ^^^ ^^^^ ^^^.^^^^ analyses of the wheat 

 ductions as it is required to sustain, whether be-jg^ij ^f ^jj^^^^^^j^^j.^,^ ^ ^^^^^j^^^ exhibition of which, 

 longing to the class of "roots" or "grains." | published in the number of the Society's Jour- 



By the scientific agriculturist, manure is recog-nal for May, l.SCiO, shows the following results, 

 nized as operating in two ways: first,— by impart- j The soil was, in this instance, from a field in 

 ing to the soil those fructifying and emendatory I Midlothian. One hundred parts of the surface 

 jucies or principles of vegetable power, of which i soil gave 6.789 of "combustible dry matter or 

 it was before deficient, and which are essential 

 to the healthy development and sustenance of 

 plants ; secondly, by the action it induces among 

 the minerals constituting the earthy part of the 

 soil — effecting their decomposition and re-com- 

 bination under new features, and imbuing them 

 with new energies more expressly adapted for 

 the immediate sustenance of the growing crop. 

 There are certain substances, which, when ap- 

 plied to the soil, seem obviously to produce but 

 one of these results ; while others applied for the 

 same common or general purpose, appear to pro- 

 duce both. 



When the agriculturist applies animal excre- 

 ment, or mineral water of any kind, to the soil, 

 and an increased crop is the result, he logically 

 infers that the application has benefited, or, in 

 other words, has enriclied the soil. 



mould," containing. 



Carbon 4.500 



Hydrogen ;n5 



Oxy pen 1 .S06 



Ammonia 0.263 



6.789 



By "surface soil," the reader is here to under- 

 stand that portion which is considered the me- 

 dium of the roots of vegetation, or the first ten 

 inches from and below the surface. The poorest 

 soil subjected by Dr. A. to analysis, gave the fol- 

 lowing result: 



Carbon O.TU 



Hydrogen 0.033 



Ox viien 0.2S6 



Ammonia 0.0S9 



1.122 



Two parts of ammonia in a thousand may ap- 

 pear a small quantity, yet it will be found on ex- 

 This, indeed, is the primary object aimed at,jamination, that as an acre of soil, ten inches 

 — yet, it may be important to the j)ractical agri- j deep, weighs one thousand tons, there are over 

 culturist to ascertain, somewhat more definitely,! two tons of ammonia in the soil of every acre 

 the specific action of the substances applied; to j capable of producing a good crop of wheat. Now 

 know, in short, what description of manure or la heavy crop of wheat appropriates, or requires 

 matter may be best adapted to certain crops, as for its full development and perfection, about six- 

 well as what kind will l)e most permanent in itsity pounds of ammonia. 



effects upon the soil. The laws of chemistry in! There is, however, a mixture in nature's cruci- 

 association with those of geology and mineralo-ible which we have no power as yet to imitate j 



