340 [Assembly 



[London Farmers' Magazine, Oct., 1854.] 



SUBSTITUTE FOR POTATO. 

 A sort of yam from China, called there Sain-In^ consumed 

 there as largely as the potato with us. A bulky root, rich in nu- 

 tritious matter, eatable raw; cooks easily; tastes like flour or 

 starch ; is better than potato or sweet potato. 



[Annales De La Societe Imperiale D'Hortieulture. Paris, August, 1854.] 



GLUE AS A FERTILIZER. 



[By M. Lierval.] 



After having studied practically the uses of glue and gelatine 

 in watering plants — the great benefit of which has been heralded 

 lately — I have found practically that strong glue or gelatine may 

 be advantageously employed in place of all others hitherto used. 



Among the organic matter which can be assimilated bj plants, 

 tannin is one, which, by combination with gelatine, becomes use- 

 ful to the nutrition of plants, but without it very difficult. 



Tannin must be placed in the front rank of the principals 

 produced by the bark, the woody fibre, and roots of undecom-. 

 posed trees and shrubs. 



Strong glue dissolved in water combines not only with tannin, 

 but also renders soluble a great number of metallic oxides and 

 salts, which remain in some soils insoluble in water. 



Glue of inferior strength is nearly as efficacious as a fertilizer, 

 and should be used in preference on account of its much less 

 cost. 



The solution of strong glue decomposes readily especially when 

 heat is present, then acidifies, then becomes ammoniacal, putrifles 

 and gives out a very fetid odor. This smell is easily obviated by 

 adding to the solution of the glue ten per cent of animal blacky 

 or of finely pulverized charcoal. It is not necessary that the so- 

 lution should putrify before using it, for the decomposition takes 

 place in the soil and acts even more advantageously. 



The decomposition of glue forms a great quantity of ammonia 

 and carbonic acid. The nitrogen or azote unites with the hydro- 



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