146 



FARMERS' REGISTER. 



[No. 3 



His first trial was in an apartment infested by 

 rats, wliich sliovved themselves occasionally during 

 the day, and at night were actively engaged in 

 plundering a chest of oats, to which they had 

 access through an aperfure of their own ibrma- 

 tion. The holes by which they retreatetl amount- 

 ing to 18 in number, Thcnard adapted to each 

 of them ui succession retorts capable of con- 

 taining half a pint measure, by introducing the 

 beak ol'the retort, and filling up the interval round 

 its neck with plaster. Sulphuret of iron was de- 

 posited in the retort, formed ii'om a mixture of iron 

 filings, sulpher and water, and dilute sulphuric 

 acid was introduced by means of a tube placed in 

 the tubulure. The sulphuretted hydrogen was 

 disengaged with great rapidity, and in a lew min- 

 utes not a rat remained alive in the building. 

 His next experiment was in an old abbey, where 

 he was equally successful, and having opened up 

 part of the Avail he found many dead rats. He 

 recommends the application of this method to the 

 destruction of moles, foxes, and all animals which 

 cannot be extirpated by the usual means. Then- 

 ard then gives popular directions for the formation 

 of the materials recjuired to produce the gas. 



Mix 4 parts of iron filings, 3 parts flowers of 

 sulphur in a mortar with a pestle. Place the mix- 

 ture in a convenient vessel, and moisten it with 

 4 parts of boiling water, stirring it with a piece 

 of wood or glass. Add gradually, afterwards, 4 

 parts more of water, and introduce it into the re- 

 tort. Pour upon the mixture common oil of vit- 

 riol, diluted with five times its volume of water, 

 and continue to add it gradually till the efferves- 

 cence ceases. Should any of the gas escape into 

 the apartment, and occasion inconvenience, it may 

 be removed by droppinga little sulphuric acid upon 

 bleaching powder. The holes should be closed 

 immediately, to prevent the disagreable effects of 

 the putrefaction of the carcasses of the animals 

 which have thus been destroyed.* 



EFFECTS OF GYPSUBI AS MANURE NOT LES- 

 SENED BY ITS EXPOSURE TO THE WEA- 

 THER. 



To the Editor of the Farmers' Register. 



jilbemarle, May 26, 1836. 



Volume 2, No. 10, of the Farmere' Register, 

 contains some " inquiries and remarks on the ef- 

 fect of exposing gypsum to the weather," with 

 your reply thereto. Having made the inquiries, I 

 feel it my duty to report the result of my experi- 

 ments, with the gypsum which was the subject, 

 of them — and have the pleasure to inform you 

 that it is entirely satisfactory, and corroborates 

 your own views in relation to the gypsum, to wit: 

 " that it was not altered in its chemical character, 

 nor materially injured," by the causes mentioned. 

 It had sustained a tour of the seasons— had been 

 under water several times, in a partially pulver- 

 ized state, on the margin of James River, and 

 when I moved it fr-om thence, was hard frozen in 

 the hogsheads. The lumpy parts were easily re- 

 duced to powder, by beating in a trouo-h, with 

 wooden pestles, rendered the more so, nS doubt, 



* Annales de Chimie, translated in Thomson's Re- 

 ords. No. 1. 



by the transitions of weather, through which it 

 had passed. The ensuing spring, it was applied 

 to wheat and clover, in the usual manner, and upon 

 corn, after it came up. In the latter case, the ef- 

 fect was very distinct at the distance of 300 yards, 

 on the 4th of July, and the rows counted, (^after 

 dinner too,') by irentlemen who were not informed 

 in what part of the field to look for them. 



The effect on clover is equally apparent at this 

 time, and is proven by beds left un plastered 

 through the field in different parts. On these, the 

 clover is thin, and of a pale, sickly hue, whilst on 

 either side, it is a luxuriant mowing crop. One 

 experiment was made, with a mixture of ashes, 

 in the proportion of one half; here the deficiency 

 of plaster is visible. Eut the most striking and 

 valuable part of these experiments, is the effect of 

 plaster on top-dressing. Several adjacent beds 

 were top-dressed, with half-rotted stable manure, 

 and one of them unplastered ; this exhibits but 

 litde improvement — its neighbors showing a very 

 high degree of it. This, I know, is nothing new; 

 still, I believe there are many liirmers so extrava- 

 gant as to practice top-dressing without plaster. 

 All these experiments establish the stimulating 

 property of gypsum, which, by a mysterious ac- 

 tion upon the organs of the plant, imparts vigor 

 to its growth. Here, I take it, some inherent 

 quality of soil is a necessary principle. The last 

 decides its quality as a septic, and it is in this 

 mode of its action, I presume, that its absorbent 

 power is useful. This power would be of but little 

 value, I imagine, without the subject for it to ex- 

 ert itself upon, no more than the evening dews. 

 To the young experimentalist, it is extremely dis- 

 couraging to be told that there are certain soils to 

 which the God of Nature has denied the aptitude 

 for gypsum, that "sweet restorer:" but how 

 ought his hopes to revive, to know that its action 

 is alike upon leaves, straw, stalks, and all putres- 

 cent substances ; which at last are the media of 

 all permanent improvement. So flir, all n)ay have 

 its beneficial effects ; anJ, so fiir, I feel authorized 

 to add my testimony to the present mass, that the 

 cost will be repaid, with handsome profit, upon 

 any land. 



C. H. H. 



From the Horticultural Register. 



REPORT MADE TO THE SOCIETY FOR THE 

 ENCOURAGEMENT OF NATIONAL INDUSTRY. 



By Mr. Soulange J3odin, 



IN THE NAME OF THE COMMITTEE OF AGRICULTURE. 



On an experiment in breeding silk-worms, made, in 

 1835, by 3fr. Camille Beauvais, on his estate of 

 Berberies de Senart, near Montgeron, in the de- 

 partment of the Seine-et-Marne. 



Gentlemen : You have referred to your Com- 

 mittee of Agriculture, the examination of a letter, 

 which was addressed to you, on the 20lh of June 

 last, by Mr. Camille Reauvais. It calls your at- 

 tention to one of the most important subjects of 

 agricultural and industrious economy which inter- 

 ests the age in which we live. 



Indeed, gentlemen, among the thousand various 

 branches of industry, encouraged and rendered 

 fruitful by your institution, a certain number of 



