66 



GENESEE FARMER. 



May, 1845 



LIEBIG, AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE. 



We have just received a long and hig-hly interest- 

 ing letter frcin Mr. Horseford, formerly connected 

 with the geological survey of this state, who is now 

 pursuing the study of organic chemistry with the re- 

 nowned prof, of Giesen University. The letter was 

 not written for publication, but agreeably to a pro- 

 mise made to the editor, to inform him as to the 

 course of study, and all the details pursued in the 

 lecture and recitation rooms of Liebig. Some of 

 the statements are too important to be withheld 

 from the public. The assemblage of chemists is 

 large, as nearly every country in Europe has its re- 

 presentatives . 



"The last lecture," says the writer, "was on 

 cheese, containing the results of Russian chemists 

 who are at work in this extensive laboratory. "The}'' 

 have discovered two unknown acids in cheese ; and 

 that caseine (curd) is soluble in milk only because it 

 contains an organic acid, combined with soda, in 

 which caseine is soluble.'' 



The reader will remember, that about nine-tenths 

 of milk is water, in which curd or cheese is in- 

 soluble . 



The variation of the quality of butter and cheese, 

 by varying the plants, and the composition of the 

 soil on which cows feed, is discussed at length. This 

 is a subject of more practical importance than most 

 dairymen are aware of. We cannot now go into de- 

 tails, but shall resume the subject. Milking cows 

 three times instead of twice in 24 hours, is practiced 

 successfully in the vicinity of Giesen . Much more 

 butter is thus obtained, owing to the rapid absorp- 

 tion of the oily portion of the milk, if the gland 

 that secretes it be allowed to remain distended. 



Animal Heat. — On this subject Mr. H. remarks, 

 " The most startling thing of the winter session, 

 thus far, has been his (Liebig's) reconciliation of the 

 experiments upon the subject of animal heat with the 

 theory that derives all heat from the 'combustion 

 of organic matter." 



The experiments on this subject are illustrated by 

 a drawing descriptive of the apparatus . Dulong and 

 Despretz are the Chemists who differ with Liebig. 

 We can hardly make this abstruse scientific discus- 

 sion interesting to the general reader. 



At the University of Giesen are pursued the stu- 

 dies of law, medicine, physiology, chemistry, Sic . 

 Mr. H. speaks of having met with a gentleman 

 who cultivates 94 species and varieties of wheat, 

 corn and barley. The person named has recently 

 published a work on the " ceralia," which is regard- 

 ed as the best extant. The editor of this paper is 

 promised some of the choicest varieties of these 

 seeds, for distribution through the New York State 

 Agricultural Society. 



Mr. H. is devoting particular attention to the 

 wheat culture of Germany ; well remarking, " that 

 it is impossible but that the experience in wheat 

 growing by these patient, thinking Germans, for 

 2,000 years, should be either uninteresting or unim- 

 portant." We expect a communication on this 

 subject. 



Manures. — Don't forget the use of leached ashes, 

 gypsum, charcoal, and urine. You can hardly apply 

 them amiss, either in the hill, on it, or by scattering 

 broadcast. 



Sale of Stock. — Mr. Prentice's entire stock of 

 Short Horns will be sold at auction on the 25th of 

 June. 



STEEPING SEED-CORN. 



It is beheved that a peck of seed corn soaked 24 

 hours in a steep made by dissolving one-fourth of a 

 pound of common sal-ammoniac, (muriate of ammo- 

 nia,) in six quarts of water, will serve to protect the 

 corn from grubs, and increase the crop. 



The experiments made in Scotland the past sea- 

 son, and in England also, have not uniformly proved 

 so favorable as was anticipated. Nevertheless, the 

 testimony in favor of steeps is, on the wholp, calcu- 

 lated to inspire contidence in their practical utility. 

 The temperature of the solution should be between 

 60 and 70 degrees. 



Instances are given where it was thought that 

 seed grain had been destroyed — /. e., its germinating 

 power, by the use of too strong solutions of salt- 

 petre and muriate of ammonia. Any one disposed 

 to try the experiment can soak a few kernels in a 

 solution of any given strength for 24 hours, and 

 then place them in warm moist earth to sprout, till 

 he can tell whether the germ be injured or not. The 

 stronger the solution can be made, without injurj'', 

 the better it will operate on the coming crop. 



Apply all your spare unleached ashes to your 

 spring corn and potato crops, in the hill, or on the 

 hill. In default of unleached ashes use those that 

 have imdergone the process of leaching. The com- 

 post recommended in my report will be found to be 

 very valuable. The mass should lie some two weeks, 

 and be well mixed once or twice, before it is fit for 

 use. The soda thus obtained by the decomposition 

 of common salt will be a most u.seful alkali. The 

 addition of ground charcoal will be useful. The 

 quantity to be used I will leave to the sound judg- 

 ment of the farmer in each case ; premising that the 

 expense will be likely to prevent the application of 

 a quantity so large as to be hurtful. This compost 

 can be used as a top-dressing to grain crops, or it 

 can be applied to hoed crops. 



ELECTRICITY— EFFECTS on VEGETATION. 



At a late meeting of the New York Farmers' 

 Club, Mr. R. L. Pell, of Ulster County, presented 

 to the club two pots containing growing plants ; in 

 one of which a regular galvanic battery had been 

 prepared in the usual way, by coils of zinc and cop- 

 per plates, moistened by a weak solution of sulphu- 

 ric ;icid. The wire connecting with this apparatus 

 was brought into contact with the roots of the grow- 

 ing plants. The result was, that the plants thus 

 treated, other things equal, grew 22 inches in the 

 same length of time that the plants in other parts 

 grew but 5 inches. 



Similar experiments have been tried in Europe for 

 many years, and with marked results. 



PREPARING WOOL FOR MARKET. 



This is an important matter. To wash sheep 

 well, a narrow vat, with .-i small stream of soft water 

 running into it, is the best contrivance that we have 

 ever seen. The operator stands outside of the vat, 

 into which the sheep is placed. Water may be 

 poured into the reservoir, in the absence of a running 

 stream. 



A smoothly planed box, of the right width, is the 

 best apparatus for doing up fleeces neatly. Place 

 the twine at the bottom of the box, roll tight, and 

 tie snugly, It is easy to get 2 or 3 cents per pound 

 more for the same wool, when put up with care and 

 skill, than it would bring if put up in a slovenly 

 manner. 



