1869. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



243 



forms the larger part; railroad and canal 

 horses being fed in this way. 



In connection with this subject, I would like 

 to propound the inquiry, whether agriculture 

 is ever to be properly reduced to a science ; 

 or, in other words, am I ever to know with 

 any degree of certainty just what properties a 

 certain field lacks in order to produce a good 

 crop of oats, — f§r we all know that it is not 

 always manure ihat it needs. For instance, a 

 field gives a good strong straw, but is very 

 light in the head. Is agricultural chemistry 

 going to give us this information .^^ 



I propounded this query to a noted agricul- 

 tural writer (Mr. Greeley,) a short time since, 

 and he replied that in his opinion it never 

 ■would I>e reduced to a science in the sense that 

 mathematics are, but thought we were slowly 

 Hearing that period. The analyzation of soils 

 seems not to answer us here ; indeed, I think 

 I am safe in making the statement that not as 

 much reliance is placed on its benefit as there 

 was a few years since. 



For the present, then, it would seem our 

 chief dependence must be on cartful and re- 

 peated experiment. The writer has a portion 

 of alluvial soil which grows the largest of 

 corn stalks, but will not give near the yield of 

 corn as another portion of the farm of lighter 

 soil which gives much smaller stalks. The in- 

 ference of course is, that one field lacks the 

 necessary ingredients in the soil to give the 

 gi-owth of the grain, while the other possesses 

 it naturally. Now if I knew just what was 

 lacking in the one field, what would hinder me 

 from applying it artiticially, and thus insure a 

 good crop of corn. And then again in the 

 growth of grass. We say a certain field is 

 natural to grass. True, but why is it.*^ Evi- 

 dently just because the soil contains the proper 

 ingredients to perfect its growth. And so 

 again, if I knew just what went to make up a 

 good grass soil, might I not by a proper appli- 

 cation of the necessary parts, convert a com- 

 paratively barren held to good mowing or pas- 

 turage. It will not quite do to reply to these 

 theories by saying manure answereth all things 

 in /arming, though this is nearer the truth 

 perhaps in relation to the growth of grass than 

 almost any other farm crop. It will not al 

 ways give us a good yield of the cereals ; 

 some other conditions of the soil are absolutely 

 necessary, and what these requiremems are is 

 what we are groping for now in the dark. 

 W. J. Pettee. 



Salisbury, Conn., March, 1869. 



Remarks. — Dissatisfied with the results of 

 the analjzation of soils and manures by the 

 crucible and acids of the chemist, a French 

 Professor, M. George Ville, has resorted to 

 plant growth as a more philosophical process, 

 v^ith results that have attracted considerable 

 attention in the agricultural world. Dr. Nich- 



ols of our own country has also adopted a 

 similar process, with most encouraging suc- 

 cess, on his farm in Haverhill, Mass. And it 

 is possible that when farmers learn the lesson 

 taught by jEsop's fable of the reapers, they 

 will rely more on their own "experiments^' 

 and less on the "science" of the closeted 

 chemist. 



SOAP SUDS. 



A cistern or tank, of the capacity of from 

 two to four hogsheads, should be constructed 

 in the vicinity of the sink or laundry of every 

 farm house, and a system of conductors so ar- 

 ranged as to lead the suds and slops into it as 

 they are made. 



This liquid matter is a powerful fertilizer, 

 containing the food of plants In a state of so- 

 lution, and consequently in a condition to be 

 readily taken up and absorbed by vegetables 

 as soon as applied. 



Irrigating gardens with soapsuds, after the 

 liquid has become stale, is a powerful means 

 of promoting vegetable growth, especially in 

 dry weather. Some have considered the value 

 of suds to be equal to that of the same weight 

 of manure ; this, however, is probably an ex- 

 aggerated estimate; yet we want no additional 

 corroboration to satisfy us of its intrinsic 

 worth, as a vegetable stimulant. 



Great care should be observed that the de- 

 caying matter and suds do not taint the air 

 about the dwelling, as in the process of fer- 

 mentation and decomposition sulphuretted hy- 

 drogen gas is thrown off. This Is an active 

 poison. When inhaled it acts directly upon 

 the blood, thickening it and turning it black. 

 A single gallon of It, mixed with 1200 of air, 

 will render it poisonous to birds, and one gal- 

 lon in 100 will kill a dog. Many of our peo- 

 ple ase not siifHciently careful about allowing 

 such "sinks of iniquity" to exist about their 

 dwellings. 



— Maple sap weighs eight pounds to the gallon, 

 thin syrup ten, and thick syrup, that grains at the 

 bottom, eleven. Trees on rocky hill-sides yield 

 the sweetest sap. Whiteness of color and a rich 

 maple flavor depend on boiling the sap soon after 

 it flows, and keeping things neat as wax. The 

 sooner sap is boiled the less scum it shows. The 

 value of maple syrup depends not on the saccha- 

 rine matter, but on the maple flavoring. The cans 

 or jars containing the syrup should be sealed air- 

 tight 



