1854. 



NEW ENGLAND FAKMER. 



381 



in the vegetable structure, and even in the sub 

 soil, generally, upon ■which it reposes. Any veg- 

 etable matter, of a decomposable nature, is by the 

 action of the soil, capable of becoming "/m.'^iws,'' 

 or food for plants. 



WHEAT A PUKIFIER OF THE ATMO- 

 SPHERE. 



The following extract from a paper on the 

 "Comp.irative fattening Properties of the various 

 Bi'eeds of Sheep," by John B. Lawes, Esq., of 

 Rothamsted, England, contains some new vievrs on 

 an important subject which will be read with in- 

 terest : 



"Experiments conducted upon this farm for the 

 purpose of ascertaining how much nitrogen is con- 

 verted into the flesh of the animal, prove that 100 

 lbs. increase live weight does not contain more 

 than 2 to 3 lbs. The nitrogen, which is taken by 

 the animal to make the increase, amounting from 

 17 up to 47 lbs., is converted, in its passage 

 through tlie animal, into ammonia, every 14 lbs. 

 forming 17 of ammonia, this ammonia being again 

 employed in producing fresh vegetable matter ; 

 and here we obtain a glimpse of one of those beau- 

 tiful laws by which t!ic purity of the air is pre- 

 served. It has been calculated that at the pres- 

 ent time above 7,000,000 tons of oxygen gas are 

 converted into carbonic acid gas daily by the pop- 

 ulation, the animals, and the various processes of 

 combustion. As all these processes have been in- 

 creasing d lily since man was created, the atmo- 

 sphere would become deteriorated, unless some 

 compensation existed. Philosophers hare shown 

 us that it is tlie office of vegetation to restore the 

 balance, that plants possess the wonderful property 

 of separating carbon from its combination witli 

 oxygen gas, and restoring the latter in its pun' 

 state to the atmosphere, and they point to the 

 great tracts of forest land in various parts of the 

 world as tho great sources of oxj-gen gas. To a 

 thoughtful person it must, however, occur, that 

 if the forests are the great sources from whicli 

 oxygen gas is derived, two processes are going on 

 at the same time, both of which tend to one re- 

 sult. Tlio destruction of forests naturally and 

 inevitably follows the increase of man and animals 

 upon tlie earth ; while, therefore, every day i!^ 

 adding to the amount of carijonic acid tlirown in- 

 to the atmosphere, the forests, which are sup- 

 posed to lie the great sources of oxygen gas, are 

 becoming less and less in extent. The quantity 

 of carbon fixed by vegetation on an acre of forest 

 land has been ascertained by various chemists, 

 and as they agree pretty well in the estimation, 

 we may conclude that it will not be far from the 

 truth to fix it at 1200 to 1500 lbs. 



"The experiments upon the growth of wheat 

 for eleven Huccea;j.ive years, show that from 2500 

 to 3000 1!)8. of carbon can be prouueeil upon an 

 acre by the supply of mineral salts and ammonia, 

 substances which contain not a particle of car- 

 bon in their composition. However contradicto- 

 ry it may appear, at first sight, to suppose that 

 the forest trcca towering towards the sky, and ex- 

 posing an immeasurable surface of leaves to catch 

 every passing I)reath of air, should extract lesa 

 carbon, and purify less air than the humble wheat 

 plant, yet euch is undoubtedly the case, and we 



must acknowledge the infinite wisdom of the Al- 

 mighty, Avho in the cereal crops not only provides 

 food for man, but that man must, in producing 

 that food, at the same time purify the air which 

 ho is hourly deteriorating. In the United States 

 the same natural laws must produce tiie same ef- 

 fects they have in Great Britain. Forests will dis- 

 appear, and, as the population increases, land will 

 become more valua))le, and as a necessary conse- 

 quence it will Ije better cultivated — instead of 14 

 or 10 bushels per acre, douitle that produce will 

 be obtained, and consequently the plants on the 

 same space of ground will purify a larger quan- 

 tity of air. The greater portion of the carbon 

 consumed by animals is cither converted into car- 

 bonic acid by respiration, or into food for man, 

 Avho also converts it into carbonic acid ; the resi- 

 due, consisting principally of salts of ammonia 

 and mineral matter, are restored to the soil, and 

 by their influence enable the plants to decompose- 

 fresh portions of carbonic acid ! " 



THE WHEAT CROP OF CALIFORNIA. 



One of tho most gratifying indications of the 

 permanent prosperity of Calil(;rnia, is the grear 

 and rapid increase of her agvicultuial resources. 

 Two years ago we were kn wn only as a mining 

 country, and the impression was, that, but for 

 our minei-al resources, the State would bo value- 

 less. This idea has been nut oidy proved erro- 

 neous, but the fact has been fully established that 

 this is one, or can be made one of the best agri- 

 cultural States in the Union. Nowhere can 

 wheat, oats, barley and most kinds of vegetables, 

 be grown with less labor and expense than here. 

 The soil is fertile and tho climate nnequaled. 

 AVhat is called the wet season, during which crops 

 grow without irrigation, is mucli longer than 

 what is called the growing sea.son in t!;e Eastern 

 States. In addition to this, prices in mining 

 countries are generally higher tlian iu any other. 

 It is true, that we have no foreign market for 

 oar surplus agricultural products, and when- 

 ever the market becomes glutted with :in article 

 that will not bear long transfKjrtation, (as is now 

 the case with potatoes,) the article becomes nearly 

 or quite valueless. But when the agricultural 

 interests and the general business of the country, 

 become more thoroughly settled, such cxlremea in 

 prices as we have witnessed will not bo likely to 

 occur. Because potatoes arc a dollar a pound 

 this year, farmers will not again plant nothing 

 but potatoes, and thereby renJcr tlrj crop not 

 worth carrying to market. That wliDlosome mon- 

 itor, experience, will learu them to divide crops so 

 as to meet the wants of the people. By pursuing 

 this course, we have no doubt but farming will 

 prove a more remunerative and reliable business 

 in California, than it is in any other State in the 

 Union. 



It is now estimated tliat aufficient wlieat will be 

 grown in California to supply tlu; entire demand 

 until the next year's crop. If th.ij' bo true, the 

 quantity of flour now on hand can hardly bo ex- 

 pected to advance in price, nor can it, with what 

 shipmcnls have been and proliably v.ill be made, 

 be expected that flour will be extravagantly high 

 during the prcRont year. While wo liko to see 

 every man fairly and handsomely rewarded for his 

 Cxipitarand labor, we dislike to see Ibrustalling in 



