No. 149.] 461 



crop, if burned, must necessarily accelerate the decomposition of 

 organic constituents; they therefore should be renewed by the 

 addition of peat, muck, ri^er mud, or other cheap organic matter. 

 For while tlie farmers of western New-York, by the growing of 

 wheat, have exhausted from strong organic soils nearly the whole 

 of their inorganic constituents, the farmers of Monmouth, by the 

 application of large doses of inorganic matter, in the shape of 

 marl, have exhausted, or are rapidly exhausting, the organic 

 constituents of their soils. Thus, from two distinct causes, 

 similar exhaustions may iake place in each of these localities. 



But if the marls of Monmouth could be exchanged for the 

 organic matter of western New- York, both soils would be rendered 

 superior in quality. Therefore the farmers of New- York, for 

 raising corn or other grain, should add potash, phosphate of lime, 

 and the otlier missing inorganic constituents of good soils, while 

 the farmers of Monmouth should add to their marled lands the 

 vegetable deposits to be found so plentifully in their vallies. 



Farmers should always be sure when planting for corn, that 

 their soils contain a sufficiency of the soluble silicates, for it is 

 silex (the base of flint and common sand) whicli forms the outer 

 coating of the stalks, &c., gives strength to enable the plant to 

 perfect its organism, without which it cannot digest the pabulum 

 for the production of fruit. 



The spent ley of tlie soap boiler previously composted with a 

 quantity of soil and then sown broad-cast before ploughing, will 

 secure a supply of these desirable soluble silicates. 



Prof. Mapes presented a quantity of the seed of Stowell's ever- 

 green corn, to be divided among the members, and stated that 

 any farmer requiring small quantities of the seed, can obtain it 

 without charge, at the office of his paper, The Working Farmer, 

 No. 25 Clilf street, New-York. 



At tlie dinner of the Managers of the Fair of the American 

 Institute, in October last, (his corn was placed upon the table 

 boiled, part of which had been pulled m August, 1849, and part 

 in August, 1850, but which having remained covered by the 

 husks, had retained the milk and usual plumpness. 



