113 



Iron, coal, clay, marble, granite and other natural pro- 

 ducts abound in the mountains and of good quality. The 

 whole New South is in a state of boom. The speaker de- 

 scribes several other matters of interest, one of which was 

 the way the people of Atlanta obtained their supply of 

 water, an artesian well driven over 2000 feet with a six inch 

 bore in the heart of the city. Tlie water rises to within 

 a few feet of the surface and is distributed over the city in 

 pipes with hydrants at intervals in the streets, but is never 

 put into the houses or other buildings. A simple pi"essure 

 of a lever draws the water, which is raised from the well by 

 pumping. 



The 74th Institute was held at Parker Hall, Newbury, 

 Friday, January 16th, 1891. In the forenoon the subject 

 for discussion was " Fertilizers," opened by James J. H. 

 Gregory, of Marblehead. 



The speaker in general gives a preference to fertilizers 

 over manures. Phosphates, said he, is a general term in- 

 correctly used to commercial fertilizers. They can gener- 

 ally be purchased cheaper by the farmer in the form of 

 wastes, than of the manufacturer all prepared. Thus fish 

 waste, which is very rich in nitrogen, can be purchased for 

 $3.50 per ton. The waste of slaughtering establishments is 

 rich in phosphoric acid and nitrogen, and is also very cheap. 

 Ashes contain the important items of potash and phosphoric 

 acid, which with nitrogen, form the great elements of plant 

 life, so that when using ashes as a fertilizer some other 

 material should be used to supply the nitrogen. 



An excellent way of utilizing fertilizers he found to l)e by 

 laying successive layers, each two inches deep, of good soil, 

 ground bone, and unleached ashes. This mass he let heat 

 for two weeks, and then broke up and applied to the land. 

 By adding nitrate of soda to this we have one of the richest 

 fertilizers made. 



He had tried different kinds of machines for distributing 

 fertilizers, but had found but dne that would fill the bill, 

 and this did not suit him for all kinds of crops. Mr. Greg- 



