368 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



heap. Each of these methods we have more than 

 once detailed in the previous columns of our paper; 

 but the great value of bones, as fertilizers, induces us 

 frequently to recur to it. — A/net-ican Ai/riculturist. 



ANALYSIS OF THE APPLE. 



Although apples have been eaten ever since the 

 days of Adam, we believe the chemical composition 

 of them has not, until recently, been determined by 

 actual anah'sis. 



This analysis has been made by J. 11. Salisbury, 

 M. D., who has communicated the results to the 

 secretary of the New York State Ai^ricultural Soci- 

 ety, and they have been published in the Transac- 

 tions. 



The varieties analyzed were the Tolman Sweeting, 

 Koxbury Russet, Kilham Hill, English Russet, and 

 llhode Island Greening. 



In the ashes of the Roxbury Russet and Rhode 

 Island Greening he found the following mineral 

 substances : — 



Russet. Greening. 



Carbonic acid, 14.11 18.03 



Silica, (flint,) 2.278 1.412 



Phos. of iron, 1.564 1.277 



Phos. acid 15.057 1 1.664 



Lime, 4.857 4,421 



Magnesia 1.903 2.211 



Potash, 34.958 38.440 



Soda, 25.173 22.781 



Chlorine, 2.300 2.272 



Sulphuric acid 6.889 8.019 



Organic matter 5.021 7.503 



100.000 



100.000 



Dr. Salisbury observes, that in silica the apple is 

 by no means rich, containing, in the varieties exam- 

 ined, from about 1 to 2.3 per cent. 



The phosphate of iron ranges from about 1 to 2.2 

 per cent. ; the phosphoric acid from 11 to 15 per 

 cent. ; the lime from about 3 to 5 per cent. ; the 

 magnesia from about 1 to 2.2 per cent. ; the potash 

 from about 35 to 42 per cent. ; the soda from 19.3 to 

 30.4 per cent.; the chlorine from 1.85 to 2.33 per 

 cent. ; and sulphuric acid from 6.65 to 8.02 per cent. 



It will be seen, therefore, that the percentage of 

 ashes in the apple is small : 1000 pounds of fresh 

 apple contain about 827 pounds of water, 170.4 

 pounds of organic matter destroyed by heat, and 2.6 

 pounds of inorganic matter or ashes. 



1000 pounds of dry apple contain between 17 and 

 18 pounds of water. 



100 pounds of the ashes, according to this analysis, 

 deprived of the carbonic acid which is formed when 

 burning, contain 13 pounds of phosphoric acid, 

 7 pounds sulphuric acid, 38 pounds of potash, and 

 25 ])ounds of soda. 



The organic materials in the apple are made up 

 principally of a species of gum, and also of sugar 

 and vegetable extract, malic acid, albumen, &c., all 

 of which the doctor has laid down in tables, with 

 their several proportions. 



What is the practical use of this analysis ? j-ou 

 will say. Why, a guide to the best kinds of manures 

 for your orchard. Supply it with such manures as 

 will art'ord the materials found in apples, viz. : For 

 phosphoric acid, bones, in the form of burnt bones, 

 or bone dust ; sulphuric acid and lime, in the form 

 of plaster of Paris ; potash, in the form of ashes, 

 and such like materials, &c., &c. By knowing what 

 are the principal materials of the apple, we can 

 judge better what it requires for food itself, in order 

 to give us the greater return. — Maine Farmer. 



A CURIOUS FACT. 



The relation of the study of plants with agricul- 

 ture will be well understood by the following extract 

 from I'rofcssor Johnston's lectures : — 



" It is a fact familiarly known to all of you, in ad- 

 dition to those circumstances by which we can j)er- 

 ceive the special functions of any one organ to be 

 modified, that there are many by Avhich the entire 

 economy of the plant is materially and simultaneously 

 aft'ected. On this fact the practice of agrieidture is 

 founded, and the various processes adopted by the 

 practical farmer are onlj' so many modes by which 

 he hopes to influence and promote the growth of the 

 whole plant, and the discharge of the functions of 

 all its parts. Though the manures in the soil act 

 immediately through the roots, they stimulate the 

 growth of the entire plant ; and though the applica- 

 tion of a top-dressing to a crop of young corn or 

 grass may be supposed first to affect the leaf, yet the 

 beneficial result of the experiment depends upon the 

 influence Avhich the application may exercise on any 

 part of the vegetable tissue." 



In connection with this part of the subject, he 

 adds, " I shall only further advert to a verj- remark- 

 able fact mentioned by Sprengel, which seems, if 

 correct, to be susceptible of important practical 

 applications. He states that it has frequently been 

 observed in Ilolstein, that if, on an extent of level 

 ground sown with corn, some fields bo marled, and 

 others left unmarled, the corn on the latter portions 

 will grow less luxuriantly, and will yield a poorer 

 crop than if the whole had been unmarlcd. Hence, 

 he adds, if the occupier of the unmarlcd field 

 would not have a succession of poor crops, he must 

 marl his land also. Can it really be that the Deity 

 thus rewards the diligent and improver ? Do the 

 plants which grow in a soil in higher condition, take 

 from the air more than their due share of the car- 

 bonic acid, or other vegetable food it may contain, 

 and leave to the tenants of the poorer soil a less 

 proportion than they might otherwise draw from it ? 

 How many interesting reflections does such a fact as 

 this suggest ! What new views does it disclose of 

 the fostering care of the great Contriver — of his 

 kind encouragement of every species of virtuous 

 labor ! Can it fail to read us a new and special les- 

 son on the benefits to be derived from the application 

 of skill and knowledge to the cultivation of the 

 soil?" 



STEADINESS OF PURPOSE. 



In whatever you engage, pursue it with a steadi- 

 ness of purpose, as thougli you were determined to 

 succeed. A vacillating niiiul never accomplished 

 any thing worth naming. There is nothing like a 

 fixed, steady aim. It dignifies your nature and in- 

 sures your success. Who have done the most for 

 mankind r Who have secured the rarest honors : 

 Who have raised themselves from poverty to riches : 

 Those who were steady to their purpose. The man 

 who is one thing to-day, and another to-morrow — 

 who drives an idea pell-mell this week, while it drives 

 him the next — is always in trouble, and does just 

 nothing from one year's end to the other. Look, and 

 admire the man of steady purpose. lie moves noise- 

 lessly along; and yet, what wonders he accomplishes ! 

 He rises, gradually we grant, but surely. The heav- 

 ens are not too high for him, neither are the stars 

 beyond his reach. How worthy of imitation ! — Ru- 

 ral Naw- Yorker, 



He who falls in love with himself will find no rivals. 



