21G 



NEW ENGLAND F.VRMER. 



jMay 



exhibition of one of the Massachusetts county 

 Agricultural Societies that we attended last 

 fall. The sentence we have put in italics de- 

 scribes a part of that "show," and its elfects 

 on our nerves most perfectly. While saunter- 

 ing about the grounds on the afternoon of the 

 last day, our attention was attracted by a 

 crowd of people at some distance, and by a 

 more distressed screeching than is often heai'd. 

 Whether it was the last wail of some rinder- 

 pest-smitten, "cracked-voiced" bull, or the vig- 

 orous protest of a captured greased pig, we 

 could not tell. On approaching the ring we 

 felt relieved by the discovery that all those 

 fearful sounds proceeded from one man, and 

 he alive and well ! though we did not then 

 know whether he Avas an "itinerant scoundrel" 

 or a gentleman. He was exclaiming at the 

 top and bottom of a sadly "cracked-voice," — 

 "Thir-tee d-o-o-l-ars in the p-w-o-u-1, thir-tee 

 <i-o-o-l-ars in the p-w-o-u-1 !" &c., &c. 



If turfmen themselves are disgusted by the 

 poolseller's "vulgarity" and "bare-faced rob- 

 bery;" if they fmd it necessary to say that 

 •'speculations''' [gambling,] "on the turf 

 should be conducted in a more quiet and gen- 

 tlemanly manner than.-they are," what shall be 

 said in relation to these "exhibitions" on the 

 OTounds of our asricultural fairs ? 



For the New England Farmer, 

 MANURES— ORGANIC AND IN- 

 ORGANIC. 



Tn as few words as possible I wish to state 

 a few ideas in regard to manures ; not for the 

 purpose of teaching others, so much as to call 

 forth an expression of opinion from those so 

 much better iitted to speak on this most im- 

 portant of all subjects to the farmer, than I 

 am. 



We divide the elements of which all matter 

 is composed into two classes, organic and in- 

 organic. The organic elements (carbon, oxj'- 

 gen, hjdrogen and nitrogen,) are such as 

 '•ompo?e, or assimilate with the atmosphere. 

 Oxygen and hydrogen are the elements of 

 which water is composed, and are so restored 

 by nature as to require no consideration as 

 manures. Carbon in the form of carbonic 

 acid — carbon and oxygen — is taken into the 

 roots to tlie amount of about one-third the 

 quantity net essary to the plant. The other 

 two-thirds are absorbed through the leaves of 

 the plant. The constant decomposition of 

 organic material l)y decay, combustion, &c., 

 continually furni.shes it to the atmosphere, 

 while the rains restore to the soil all which the 

 plant can ever require. The only benefits in 



the application of carbonaceous matter to soils 

 are said to be its absorptive and retentive 

 power of nitrogen, and its power of dissolving 

 inorganic compounds. In this manner scien- 

 tific authorities bring us down to the simple 

 point, in regard to organic matters, that the 

 only element whose artificial application or re- 

 tention is necessary for plant food is nitrogen. 

 Nitrogen combined with hydrogen forms am- 

 monia. 



Could a perfect plant food be continually- 

 applied in sufficient quantities, and at a suffi- 

 ciently small cost, there would seem to be no 

 particular necessity in the application of sol- 

 vents. Some of the alkalies, however, are 

 not only indispensable for plant food, but act 

 a double purpose in the dissolution of inorganic 

 substances. With no important exception, all 

 the elements contained in different animal or 

 vegetable organizations are the same — the 

 difference being in respect to their proportions 

 and other peculiarities of construction and 

 life. If space were not too valuable, and the 

 access of all so easy, I would give the names 

 of the inorganic elements. Suffice it to say, 

 the*following are all the elements whose arti- 

 ficia lapplication to soils is ever required, the 

 others being inexhaustible in all soils. I take, 

 first. Professor Ville, of France, for authority, 

 whose receipt for a perfect plant food is com- 

 posed of pliosphoric acid, lime and potassa. 

 Dr. Nichols adds, for New England soils, 

 magnesia. (See Sec'y Flint's 14th Annual 

 Report, page 248.) 'V\Tiere some of these ele- 

 ments are plenty and in a proper condition, 

 their artificial application is unnecessary, until 

 they become exhausted somewhat. Meanwhile 

 the application of an imperfect mineral ma- 

 nure, tends to make the soil barren by exhaust- 

 ing the properties not contained in the manure, 

 from the soil. This is what farmers call 

 "drawing land." Where these properties are 

 not restored by the wash of streams, or from 

 mountains, or by some such unusual means, 

 their artificial application is indispensable ; and 

 no amount of ammonia, which many farmers 

 seem to consider the main thing required, will 

 prevent their exhaustion. Of course they can 

 never evaporate, or be returned by rains or 

 snows. 



Many leading agriculturists preach this all- 

 imporiance-of-ammonia, without seeming to 

 consider that a certain amount is returned to 

 the soil by nature, from the atmosphere, while 

 these equally important minerals are not so 

 returncfl. 



Now the principal points on which I wish to 

 be enlightened, are these : to what extent is 

 ammonia of value to soils ? Does nature re- 

 store it to soils in snfficient quantities for the 

 production of plant food ? If its artificLal ap- 

 plication increases the quantity of crops in 

 any case, does not it proportionately diminish 

 their quality, by giving them an undui; propor- 

 tion of organic matter, compared with the in- 

 organic? It is the lack of pho.sphatcs and 



