98 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



from the grease they contain, and for other reasons, remain 

 long in the soil unless ground very fine. 



We are forced also to make similar distinctions in regard to 

 phosphatic, and indeed all other manures ; the finer their state 

 of division, or solubility in water, — which is the same thing, — 

 the more quickly available are they to the plant. 



Manures in which, from this source, (being animal remains, 

 as fish or butchers' offal, or wool or hair ; or animal excrement, 

 as guano, hen manure, poudrette, &c. ; or the remains of plants, 

 as castor-pomace, cotton-seed, &c.,) contain the elements of rapid 

 decay, although no ammonia, or but little, may exist ready 

 formed, yet, as they quickly become incorporated with the soil, 

 and part and parcel of it, they may be regarded as of nearly 

 equal value with those manures in which the articles of vege- 

 table food are at once soluble in water. This is especially true, 

 inasmuch as the most valuable soluble manures do not remain 

 long soluble after becoming intimately mingled with the soil, 

 or when applied in solution ; for the soluble phosphates are at 

 once rendered insoluble, by having the excess of acid neutral- 

 ized, and the ammonia forms combinations by which its washing 

 away is prevented and it is retained for the use of the plant. 



Turning now to the sources of supply available to the farmer, 

 whereby he may maintain his fields in their pristine fertility, 

 and increase his crops besides, and recognizing fully the fact 

 that for all drafts made upon the soil he must return a full 

 equivalent, we shall find — 



1. His first effort must be to know the resources of his own 

 farm. 3Tiick-beds must be proved, and the underlying marl or 

 sand tested. Crumbling rocks have often proved of great value. 



With your permission, I would like to refer to some analyses 

 of muck made several years ago by Professor Johnson, of New 

 Haven, which, taken in connection with this subject, are very 

 interesting. A great many commercial fertilizers, otfered at 

 high prices in the market, and valuable for their ammonia and 

 their phosphoric acid, perhaps in many cases vaunted chiefly as 

 valuable on account of the ammonia they contain, are advertised 

 as containing only three, four, five or six per cent, of ammonia. 

 They are in a dry form, and sold by the ton, as we all know, in 

 barrels or boxes. This table of the analyses of muck- Jeds was 

 made by Professor Johnson, at the suggestion of the Secretary 



