234 



THE GENESEE FARMER. 



opinions he based upon them, '■^ all self-deception; 

 not reality^ but theatre decoration.'''' 



Prof. Joiixsox, who translated Liebig's attack 

 on Lawes, Irom which the above is an extract, 

 and who is therefore familiar with the views of 

 LvEBio on this important subject, now bears testi- 

 mony to the general truth of Wat's results. He 

 says: "The recent experiments of EicnnoRN have 

 cleared up the discrepancies of "Way's investigation, 

 (which is itself one of remarkable interest,) and 

 have confirmed and exj)lained his facts." And 

 again: "Tliese observations of Wat and EicnnoRjr 

 promise to yield the most fruitful results, not only 

 to the theory of chemical geology, as elucidating 

 the formation and alteration of minerals, but also 

 to the science of agriculture. The explanation of 

 the retentive power of soils which Wat first pro- 

 posed, thus acquires an incalculable significance. 

 It is plainly a true explanation, as now relieved 

 from the constraint of a fixed order of affinities or 

 replacements; though not the only or a complete 

 explanation." 



The fact is now clearly established of the esist- 

 t>rice of double silicates in the soil, and also that it 

 is to these that the soil owes its power to retain 

 ammonia and other soluble elements of plants. We 

 umst no longer regard the soil as a mere receptacle 

 for holding the food of plants, but rather as a 

 stomach which digests, so to speak, this food and 

 prepares it for assimilation. 



Prof. JoriNsoN concludes his article as follows : 



" Wliile the researches of EicnnoRX are of the 

 utmost value in aid of the theory of the absorption 

 uf fertilizing matters by the noil, they do not sufiice 

 ui give a full exi)lanati()n of this process. Doubt- 

 less all the reactions that occur between hydrous 

 silicates, sesquioxyds. and saline solutions, may take 

 place in the soil; but in addition to these, a num- 

 ber of other clianges umst go on there, as the soil 

 is so complex and variable a mixture. The organic 

 matters (the bodies of the humic acid group), which 

 are often though not always present in no incon- 

 siderable quantity in the water extract of fertile 

 soils, can hardly fail to exert an influence to modify 

 the action of tlie silicates. I have found that a 

 peat (swamp-muck) from the neighl)()rhood of New 

 Haven, (containing when fully dry G8 per cent, of 

 organic matter.) which is higlily ])rized as a means 

 of irapnjviiig the jionuis hungry soils in this vicinity, 

 and which when drained g uws excellent crops, is 

 capable of absorbing 1.3 per cent, of ammonia, while 

 ordinary soil atisorl)s but 5 to 1 i)er cent. 



"Tlie great bcMeficont law regulating these ab- 

 ^-orptions api)ear* to admit of tlie following ex|)res- 

 sion : those bodies which are most rare and precious 

 to the grouing plant are htj the soil converted into, 

 and retained in. a condition notf of absolute., but of 

 relative insohihi'ify, and are lept available to the 

 plant by the continual circulation in the soil of the 

 •nore abundant saline matter*. 



"The soil (speaking in the widest sense) is then 

 not only the ultimate exhaustless source of mineral 

 (fixed) food to vegetation, but it is the storehouse 

 and conservatory of this food, protecting its own 

 resources from waste and from too raj)id use, and 

 converting the highly soluble matters of animal 

 exuvia) as well as of artificial refuse (manures) into 

 permanent supplies." 



CULTIVATION OF WHEAT. 



In writing on the cultiviitiun of wheat, we are 

 oppressed with the conviction of the utter impos- 

 sibility of giving specific directions adapted to the 

 various soils and circumstances of our numerous 

 readers. We can discuss only general principles, 

 leaving their application to the common sense and 

 experience of intelligent farmers. 



It is, too, impossible to disconnect the cultivation 

 of wheat from the cultivation of other crops. 

 Wheat can be grown on some soils year after year, 

 without any intervening crop. But while we must 

 abandon the old idea of the absolute necessity of ro- 

 tation of crops, there is abundant evidence of its 

 importance in increasing the productiveness of tlit 

 soil; — in fact, in the present state of agricultural 

 science, much of our success depends on judiciou^ 

 rotation. We are too apt to forget tlie infinenc< 

 of any particular crop on the soil and its ell'ect op 

 such crops as are to follow. For instance, a crop 

 of timothy hay may yield considerable immediat* 

 profit, while a crop of clover, depastured by sheep, 

 may yield very little if any direct return ; yet 

 taking into consideration the effect on the follow- 

 ing crops, the clover may be the most profitable ir 

 the end. 



Wheat on many farms is the main crop — tb< 

 cream — the flower — the ultimate aim of the farm- 

 er. All his operations bear on this one object 

 We can not isolate wheat culture, and give a gooc 

 article on the subject, without taking into consid 

 eration other farming operations. In a new coun 

 try, where the soil abounds in the food of wheat 

 wo may turn up the rich earth and scatter thi 

 seed, anticipating a good return of the ".staff" oil. 

 life;" but as agriculture advances, its opei'ationi 

 become more and more complex, and he who wouh 

 become a successful wheat grower must enrich th« 

 soil — must grow crops which impoverish the soi 

 but little, and which, when fed to animals, produo 

 rich manure. 



The direct application of manure to wheat is not 

 generally advisable in this country; it is apt ti -j 

 produce too much straw. It is better to manaP is 

 preceding cr<4)s, or at least apply the manure 

 that it will be thoroughly decomposed and incor 



