EXPERIMENTS WITH LEACHED ASHES. 211 



they would have a good mechanical effect upon the constitution 

 of the soil ? 



Dr. Nichols. Oh, yes, sir, I do not believe any chemist has 

 ever said a word against barnyard manure. That would be 

 perfectly absurd. The great question with us, as agriculturists, 

 is, can we bring our lands into good condition, can we raise 

 crops from manures outside of barnyard manures ? That is 

 the question I have endeavored to solve, and I have satisfied 

 myself that it can be done. A great many have an idea tliat 

 these artificial fertilizers are very transient in their effects ; that 

 you get a little influence the first year and none the next. I 

 have tried the experiment for seven years, and I have given you 

 the results. I am manufacturing now considerable quantities 

 of these different fertilizers for experimental purposes ; but I 

 have animals enough to give me a very large supply of manure^ 

 and it does away with -the necessity of making these manures. 

 I sell milk, and of course I have a great amount of manure. 



Asa Clement of Dracut. I listened attentively to the inter- 

 esting and instructive lecture of Dr. Nichols; and I must say 

 frankly, that on one point his remarks have surprised me ; that 

 is, in relation to the value of leached aslies. Chemically speak- 

 ing, the doctor is probably correct when he states that the potash 

 which is at the time soluble is extracted in the act of leaching ; 

 but it is apparent that something remains, which, subsequently, 

 through atmospheric influences, mechanical or chemical agen- 

 cies, or possibly all combined, acts beneficially upon some soils at 

 least, and in my humble judgment, based upon experience and 

 observation on other than sandy soil, that the effect seems to 

 be more noticeable on the lighter soils. 



A neighbor of mine having a large piece of what is usually 

 denominated pine plains, applied one hundred and twenty-five 

 bushels to the acre, on some twenty acres, for seven years in 

 succession — planted the same each year with pop corn, which 

 improved in quality and quantity from year to year. The soil 

 also apparently improved, becoming more retentive of moisture ; 

 when, in 18G9 a portion was sown with grain and clover seed. 

 In 1870 iwo crops of clover were harvested, the first, as large 

 as I ever saw standing upon any soil ; the second crop was af- 

 fected somewhat with the drought, which was very severe and 

 pinching in that locality. That land, however, bore the 



