No. 9. 



Prepared Manures and their effects on Crops. 



283 



matter is more beneficial than the dung of 

 cattle, quantity and quantity alike. 



A most valuable manure is the liquid re- 

 maining ntler the boiling of bones. It is 

 very offensive unless disinfected. When 

 hot it is not offensive, but becomes so wiien 

 cold. It is a jelly when cold. ]?y the ap- 

 plication of charcoal dust to the hot liquid, 

 the jelly when cold is not offensive. In this 

 state it may be made into compost with other 

 substances. In that condition it is a most 

 valuable manure. At present large amounts 

 of the liquid are thrown into tlie rivers. I 

 prevailed upon a grinder of bones to save 

 his liquid by charcoal, and he now sells what 

 formerly he hired, carried away. I have 

 used it with great advantage, both on arable 

 and meadow land. 



Charcoal is one of the most valuable ma- 

 nures. It is the most powerful absorbent 

 known. It takes from the atmosphere oxy- 

 gen, hydrogen, nitrogen, ammonia, &c., and 

 holds them while the weather is dry. Du- 

 ring rain it absorbs 80 per cent, of water, 

 and releases the gases to descend to the 

 earth to fertilize it. When the weather be- 

 comes dry it parts with the water, and ab- 

 sorbs from the air the gases again. This it 

 continues almost perpetually, and it is nearly 

 indestructible. When applied to the earth, 

 the trees, plants, and grasses are found to 

 have it adhering to their roots ready to im- 

 part gases and moisture as wanted. Trees 

 packed in it have remained green for eighty 

 days, while others without it have died in 

 like circumstances. Hams and salt meats 

 are preserved perfectly when packed in it. 

 [ preserved apples in perfect condition for 

 )ne year in it. If spread over compost 

 heaps, barn-yards, stable floors, in privies, it 

 absorbs the ammonia, prevents offensive 

 smells, fixes the volatile gases, and thus 

 makes a valuable compost. 



Ashes applied to sandy soils are valuable; 

 and on some soils leached are as good as un- 

 leached. I have known land too poor to 

 grow eight bushels of corn, made to produce 

 -forty-five bushels by ashes alone; and they 

 are more valuable on a sandy soil than any 

 other manure except marly clay. They en- 

 able the sandy soil to retain its moisture, — a 

 great pomt. They are used to great advan- 

 tage on Long Island and in New Jersey. 

 They stimulate growth as does plaster. 

 Sown broad-cast on grass, the effect is per- 

 ceptible at a great distance. The yield the 

 first year on .sandy soils in grass, will pay 

 the expense of applying forty bushels to the 

 acre. They give to the soil silicate of pot- 

 ash, which is needed to form stems. 



Ashes have two actions on soils, viz: 

 chemically by alkali they neutralize acids; 



and mechanically by rendering sandy soils 

 more tenacious. Muck is made valuable by 

 them, when mixed in compost; the acid of 

 the muck is destroyed by the alkali, and fer- 

 mentation follows. 



Lime has been used by me to great ad- 

 vantage. I prefer oyster shell lime, as it 

 contains no magnesia, which most ntono lime 

 does. I think oyster shell lime has a tend- 

 ency to lessen in growth the stem and leaves, 

 and encrease the fruit and seeds. I put on 

 barren or worn out land 300 bushels of oys- 

 ter shell lime, and it grew wheat to a weight 

 of 64 lbs. per bushel; with the wheat I 

 sowed one bushel of clover seed and half a 

 bushel of timothy seed per acre, and the 

 next year cut two and a half tons, and the 

 second year three tons of hay per acre. I 

 have found it of great advantage in potatoe 

 culture ; the potatoes do not rot in the ground, 

 while neighbouring unlimed ones all do. 

 They are mealy and fine, and ilo not rot 

 after gathering, and have been free of rot 

 in dry, wet and average seasons. I think it 

 destroys the fungus or insect, if either be 

 the cause of rot. 



Bone dust I have used and find it most 

 valuable, and advise its use, especially on 

 soils long cultivated, destitute of phosphate 

 of lime ; it is the most efficacious manure 

 that can be used on an exhausted soil, but 

 will do better on dry calcareous soil than on 

 such as contain alumina. It should be mixed 

 with earth to ferment before spreading. 

 There should be used from 12 to 20 bushels 

 to the acre. It seems best on turnips. In 

 compost it is valuable, as it yields phosphates 

 largely. It is said that in England, where 

 on lands it had been applied twenty years 

 before, its effect could be seen to a yard. I 

 trust the exportation of bones from our coun- 

 try will soon cease. 



I have used guano successfully and unsuc- 

 cessfully. Mixed with earth and applied to 

 plants in close contact, it was injurious; ap- 

 plied in weak solution to grass land and 

 green-house plants, its effect was wonderful. 

 My experience shows that its method of use 

 will determine its valve. In composts I 

 have found it very effective. 



Night soil is one of the most valuable 

 manures. In this country, as well as in 

 England, great prejudice prevails against its 

 use in agriculture or gardening. For ages 

 it has been used in Asia, and particularly in 

 China. In France, in Belgium, Bohemia, 

 Saxony, all the German confederacy, and 

 Sweden, its destruction or waste is prohib- 

 ited by law. In England and America it is 

 thrown into the rivers to befoul tliem, and 

 the fish which devour it are eaten instead of 

 vegetables grown by it. As manure, six 



