THE FARMER'S MONTHLY VISITOR. 



37 



is the only one which forms insohible salts with 

 lime. The crenic acid tbrnis soluble compounds, 

 and exists in the sub-sol as the crenale of lime. 



From black, brownish soils, the humic extract 

 was obtained by Berzelius. In some cases, glai- 

 rin is found. All these substances form soluble 

 salts with lime. These acids form soluhlf salts 

 with lime. These salts are decomposed in the 

 process of vegetation. Bog-iron contains apo- 

 crenic acid. What Berzelius now calls humic ac- 

 id, and extract of humus, have no relation to sub- 

 stances formerly known as such. They are to 

 be considered as new names for new mutters. 

 Apocreiiic acid is found in bog-iiinnganese ; peat 

 contains large quantities. Humic acid in peat is 

 precipitated by the .subacetate of lead, as the 

 Doctor ascertained three years ago. This is ex- 

 actly the matter described by Berzelius. Peat 

 contains apocreuic acid, and humic acid. Peat 

 thrown on the soil produces sour grasses. It is 

 necessary to neutralize peat by alkalies, and thus 

 to saturate the acids, in order to make them use- 

 ful. The soils from the farms at Wiunipiseogee 

 lake, which have produced more than one hun- 

 dred and thirty bushels of corn to the acre, arc 

 full of vegetable matters. These soils abound 

 in <l)R above-incntioned organic matters. He 

 would make another remark in relation to the 

 doctrines of Liebig, and to illustrate, likewise, his 

 former position in reference to the filtration of 

 manures. In the copper mines of Chessy, in 

 France, some beautiful stalactites are found, of a 

 green color, and a foot in length, containing the 

 crenatje of copper. These could have had no or- 

 igin except by filtration fiom the top-soil. They 

 have fifteen per cent, of crenic acid. These sta- 

 lactites, therefore, contain organic matters. 



The farmer, with a view of testing the truth 

 of any principle, should take care to make exper- 

 iments with exactness, otherwise, he will do no 

 justice to the principle itself, and can never arrive 

 at certain conclusions. He may compound his 

 prat with night soil, and leave it over the winter. 

 In the spring it may be dug over and mixed with 

 lime. It is said often, that lime is of no use. If 

 applied after it has been air slaked, or svithout 

 being slaked in the form of carbonate, its use will 

 not bo perceptible ; but applied immediately on 

 being slaked, the manure will be completely de- 

 composed. In the process of decomposition, it 

 will give oflf large quantities of ammonlacal gas. 

 The heap being covered with mould, will absorb 

 the ammonia. Potash has the same action as 

 lime, on putrid animal substances. Ashes ope- 

 rate as lime operates, but not with as great 

 strength. Alkalies are Ibund under various form : 

 solid, gaseous, and liquid. Vegetable manures 

 abound in ncids, and require to be compounded 

 with alkalies. Animal manures are most power- 

 ful in producing ammonia. Ammonia exists in 

 the atmosphere in cities and their vicinity. The 

 quantity in the air is minute, but great quantities 

 are given off in burning coal. If you inix soot 

 with potash, or the hydrate of lime, you will find 

 ammonia. In order to ascertain whether ammo- 

 nia exists universally in rain water, we must pro- 

 cure this water from the interior. Liebig made 

 his inquiries in the neighborhood of the city of 

 Geisscn. Mr. Hayes has foiind it in the waters 

 of Vermont. Ammonia is valuable as a solvent, 

 but he (Dr. J.) does not know that it enters into 

 the composition of plants. 



Dr. Jackson then kindly repli(;d to many inqui- 

 rie:s which were made of him. He wa.s of opin- 

 ion fliat the reason why the application of lime 

 had failed in many cases, was, that the limes ap- 

 plied were of a magnesian character. He said 

 likewise, that lime applied in the form of a car- 

 bouite must not be expected to produce its effects 

 until I he second year, when the soil becomes sat- 

 urated with carbonic, and other acids, and no 

 longer prevents the plants from obtaining their 

 needed siijiply. 



Mr. NEWTorf, of Pittsficld, President of the 

 Berkshire Agricultural Society, said that this last 

 effect corresponded with bis own experience; that 

 while in the liberal application of lime to a field, 

 he saw no effect the first year, the second year 

 the crop of grass in that field was most abundant. 

 Preci-oly the reverse was the case with ashes on 

 !!n iidjoining lot. 



Mr. Neuton added that in respect to the appli- 

 nition of the calcareous marls of Berkshire, from 

 wiiirj, to much advantage hail been cx[^oc!<il, he 



had applied them without realizing these benefi- 

 cial effects. 



Dr. Jackson farther remarked, in answer to in- 

 quiries, that in regard to the operation of gypsum, 

 the subject was still involved in total obsurity. As 

 to the use of conmion muck in compost, he con- 

 sidered it of equal value with i)eat. In regard to 

 the mud of salt-marshes, he deemed it not so 

 good as peat, and that it required longer time for 

 decomposition. The salt contained in it, how- 

 ever, he was of opinion might be beneficial to 

 the land. 



We feel that we have done and could do but 

 imperfect justice in such a report as this, to the 

 learned gentleman, who favored the meeting with 

 his instructions and his patient and ready answers 

 to the inqniries which were made. We are by 

 no means ])repared to acquiesce in all his posi- 

 tions; but we have endeavored to report them 

 truly. They will call attention and provoke in- 

 quiry; this is the only road to truth ; and to the 

 inquisitive, jihilosophical, and practical mind, 

 truth is the first object of pursuit, the philoso- 

 pher's stone, the pearl of inestimable value. 



For the Farmer's Monthly Visitor. 



Ho.N. Isaac Hill : — Sir: — I have been a con- 

 stant reader of the Visitor since its first publica- 

 tion. 1 have derived a great deal of pleasure and 

 I hope some profit from the hints and suggestions 

 of your correspondents and the instructions of 

 the Editor. I propose giving you a narrative of 

 tny own experience in farming, in my own plain 

 blunt manner, and shall not suffer in my feelings 

 if you deem it unfit to appear in the columns of 

 the Visitor. I tnnke no pretensions to a knowl- 

 edge of agricidture as a science or theory ; what 

 little knowledge I do possess is of the practical 

 kind for which I nm mostly indebted to past ex- 

 perience. 



On the 16th of April, 1833, 1 purchased the 

 farm on which I now reside, being the south part 

 of the extensive alluvion of the late Gen. Lewis 

 R. Morris, on the west bank of Connecticut 

 river, opposite Charlestown, (formerly old No. 4,) 

 and three miles from that delightful" and pictur- 

 esque village. The soil, though naturally good, 

 was of low tilth ; in consequence of this being 

 the most remote part of the old farm it never re- 

 ceived any manure in the day of its original pro- 

 prietor. The lands adjacent to his spacious build- 

 ings were always kept in high order at the ex- 

 pense of those more distant ; what could be con- 

 veniently taken from the latter was applied to the 

 Ibimer. At th|e decease of the proprietor, about 

 fourteen years since, this princely domain was 

 divided among his heirs into seven shares of 

 about 40 acres each of the intervale, with corres- 

 ponding portions of upland for pasturing and 

 wood. The lower or southmost share (which I 

 subsequently purchased) had a house and barn 

 erected upon it soon afler, and was rented on 

 shares. This was the first of there being any re- 

 turn made to the soil from the time it was brought 

 into cultivation. The crops were light, and, as 

 may naturally be supposed, the tenant could 

 neither afford to purchase or take extra trouble to 

 make manure ; the soil did not improve much 

 under this state of things. The owner, then an 

 officer in the navy, was anxious to sell. 1 purchas- 

 ed it lit what was then considered n high price, 

 viz : $3300. I believed that the soil possessed all 

 l)ic requisites for abundant production, and that 

 nothing was wanting but skillful management and 

 good husbandry to make it as productive as the 

 best cultivated lands on this beautiful river. — 

 Another natural advantage I considered attached 

 to this share : it being the lowest part of the in- 

 tervale tract, I believed it to be the deepest and 

 strongest soil. I think this principle will hold 

 good on the Connecticut alluvions ; at least so 

 tiir as my observation extends, the lower or south 

 part if not too wet, will by equal cultivation pro- 

 duce ujore than the upper or north part. 



The first two years afler I began my opeiations 

 on this little farm it barely paid the interest on 

 the sum paid for it, and would not have done that, 

 had it not been for the high pricee of produce of 

 tliose years, 1835 and '36. I muBl remark also, 

 that I had no fiimily to support, being ?t that time 

 and until the last year, what the ladies term an 

 incon igible old bachelor. 



I began by stocking dovi n wiili clover, herds- 

 grar;s and red-top, all that part ur.der the plough, 

 u;uch of which had been jilniighrd (oolong; 



with the application of one half bushel of plaster 

 of Paris to the acre, broadcast afler the grain was 

 above the surface ; the grass seed took well. The 

 next spring I applied another half bushel of plas- 

 ter to the acre to the young grass. I had a good 

 crop of hay, full two tons to the acre ; this ena- 

 bled me to increase my flock of sheep for the 

 winter ; consequently more manure for the next 

 year. I have continued to plough up, as fast as 

 I could manure, such parts as yielded but little 

 grass, stocking it down again the second year. I 

 inake it a rule to plough but two years in succes- 

 sion. I take out in the spring my coarsest and 

 most strawy manure, spread it on the surface and 

 turn it under immediately, running the plough 

 four or five inches deep, pass the roller over it 

 to press the sods down and make the furrows as 

 compact as possible. I then take my stable ma- 

 nure, the scrapings of the yard, the contents of 

 the hog yard and all the fine manure and spread 

 upon the furrows, and harrow them until this last 

 dressing is thoroughly mixed with the soil. 1 

 have sometimes been troubled with the copper- 

 head worm, which by the second time of hoeing 

 has nearly destroyed the crop : but this is the 

 only risk ; if they do not appear I never fail of a 

 good crop of corn. I always apply after the first 

 hoeing a sort of compost of lime, ashes, and plas- 

 ter, of about equal parts — a single handful to a 

 hill. When I cannot get new ashes I use the 

 leached, though I do not think thein so good. 1 

 never run a plough among my corn. I formerly 

 used a harrow, but iately a cultivator. I think 

 the nearer level the surface is left the better it is 

 for the crop. 



The succeeding year this land is in fine order 

 for a crop of spring grain and for seeding- down 

 to English hay. The turf is decomposed which 

 together with the long manure turned under the 

 year previous becomes thoroughly mi.xed by the 

 last ploughing, and will yield from 50 to 60 bush- 

 els of oats to the acre, a fine crop of fall feed, 

 from two to three tons of hay for the two first 

 years of mowing, and from "one to two tons for 

 two or three years more by the aid of a little plas- 

 ter. I always pass the roller over the surface af- 

 ter the harrow has done its work on the land, 

 seeded with grain and grass ; it not only enhances 

 the value of the crop, but leaves a smooth and 

 even surface tor the scythe and horse rake, au ob- 

 ject very desirable when it can be attained with 

 so little expense. 



Now I do not say that this method of farming 

 is the best for all kinds of land: I feel confident 

 it is the best for mine, and believe it may be suc- 

 cessfully pursued on most of the alluvion soils of 

 New England. I have known some fine tracts 

 of intervale on this river leased for a term of 

 years to tenants that did not seem to understand 

 their own interests, or to ajipreciate the powers 

 of the soil they cultivated, after practising upon 

 the " exhausting system " until they could not pay 

 their stipulated rents, give up their leases, curse 

 the much abused soil and seek a new home in the 

 far west. It is a mistaken idea in any one, even 

 if he is not the ow ner of the soil, especially if he 

 is to have the improvement for several years, be- 

 cause that grass seed is high, or it costs more la- 

 bor to take up and subdue, to continue to plough, 

 plant and sow the same field as long as it will 

 produce grain, and then scatter over a scanty al- 

 lowance of grass seed of an inferior quality ; ho 

 will be sure in the end of a liberal crop of sorrel, 

 with here and there a stock of clover, though not 

 so near each other as to be called neighbors. The 

 soil I now own suffered under such management 

 for several years, and six years ago, when I be- 

 came the owner, it did not produce one half what 

 it does now, and I firmly believe it is capable of 

 doubling its present products by a regidar pro- 

 gression of good husbandry for the next six years. 



I would here remark that I do not like late fall 

 ploughing either for planting or early spring sow- 

 ing. It may facilitate the operations of the spring 

 work and expose the vermin to destruction, and 

 these are the only possible advantages ; on the 

 contrary, it throws the soil up and exposes it to 

 the deleterious action of the severe frosts and 

 heavy rains, and washes oft' autumn and winter, a 

 detriment, in my opinion, which more than coiin- 

 icrbalances the advantages. 



It is asserted by some that a good quality of po- 

 tatoes cannot be obtained on our river intervale : 

 this I know to he an error. The impression is 

 Ih.it our soil is too heavy, and so it would be 



