64 AMERICAN AGRICULTURE. 



of its extensive use as fuel. In the United States it is gener- 

 ally mixed with the wash from the adjacent elevations, which 

 renders it more easily susceptible of profitable cultivation in 

 its native bed, and not less valuable as a fertilizer when 

 applied to other lands. In six different specimens from 

 Northampton, and four from other localities in Massachu- 

 setts, Dr. Dana found an average of 29.41 soluble, and 55.03 

 insoluble geine or humus ; and 15.55 of salts and silicates 

 in every 100 parts. The extensive researches of the same 

 intelligent observer have led him to recommend the mixture 

 of 30 Ibs. potash, or 20 Ibs. of soda ash, or what is -more 

 economical and equally efficacious, 8 bushels of unleached 

 wood ashes, with one cord of peat as it is dug from its bed ; 

 or if leached ashes be used, they should be mixed in the 

 proportion of one to three of peat. This he considers fully 

 equivalent to pure cow dung in value. He also estimates 

 the salts and humus of 4 cords of peat, as equal to the 

 manure of a cow for one year. The opinion of Mr. Phin- 

 ney, a distinguished agriculturist of Lexington, Mass,, foun- 

 ded on close observation and long practice, is that one part 

 of green cattle dung composted with twice its bulk of peat, 

 will make the whole equal in value to the unmixed dung. 



Peat in its natural condition, contains from 70 to over 90 

 per cent, of water. It should be dug from its bed in the fall 

 or winter for the purpose of draining and exposing it to the 

 action of the atmosphere, when it will be found to have lost 

 about two-thirds of its bulk. In this state it still holds about 

 65 per cent of water. It may then be carted in to the cattle 

 yards, and used for making composts in any way desired, 



MANURING WITH GREEN CROPS. 

 This system has within a few years, been extensively 

 adopted in some of the older settled portions of the United 

 States. The comparative cheapness of land and its pro- 

 ducts, the high price of labor, and the consequent expense of 

 making artificial manures, renders this at present the most 

 economical plan which can be pursued. The object of this 

 practice is primarily, fertilization ; and connected with it, I*- 

 the clearing of the ground from noxious weeds, as in fallows, 

 by plowing in the vegetation before the seed is ripened ; and 

 finally to loosen the soil and place it in the mellowest condi- 

 tion for the crops which are to succeed. Its results have 

 been entirely successful, when steadily pursued with a due 

 consideration of the objects sought, and the means by which 



