NEW ENGLAND FARMER 



JlIl.Y 5, 1813. 



ACrO IN SOILS. 

 To lllte Edilor of llie New England Farmer: 



Aklioiigli by soniB it iiriy not be considered per- 

 fectly cunipiUible witll my profossiunal avrjcation, 

 1 plead fr"ilty to a £rreat interest in the cause <,f 

 agricuiturc, and especially to those applications of 

 science which promise so uuicli benoHt to those 

 enga<red in that pursuit. Ainong the journals de- 

 voted to the farming interest, into which I occa- 

 sionally look, is yours ; and in the one of May ]7, 

 I observed a paper from Mr Darlin-j, of New Ha- 

 ven, on the subject of sorrel, or the e.\istence of 

 acid in soils. On this paper, with your leave, I 

 wish to make a remark or two. 



And first, Mr Darling- seems to be uncertain 

 whether the acid of the common sorrel (Rumei 

 anetosnj is the same as that of wood sorrel (Oxalis 

 acetoselta.) There can be no doubt as to the iden- 

 tity of the acid. It is the same in both— the ox- 

 alic acid— and it is the same that is found in the 

 gentian, bistort, and rhubarb, or pie plant, so much 

 cultivated in our gardens. In all these plants, the 

 acid is in combination with potash ; but in some 

 other vpfretables, such as the rock lichens or moss, 

 es, in which this acid is abundant, it is combined 

 with lime. O.'calic acid is very soluble in water, 

 but when in combination with lime, it forms one of 

 Ih^ most insoluble compounds, and hence from this 

 cause, and from their affinity for each other, they 

 are frequently used as tests of ench other's presence. 

 Now It appears evident that a mere solution of the 

 crystals of oxalic acid, does not destroy its charac- 

 ter, and if the solution should take place in the 

 earth, or if a decomposition of the oxalate of pot- 

 ash as it e.tists in sorrel, rhubarb, &c., takes place 

 in the soil, it must remain in solution, and conse- 

 quently liable to be taken up by plants, unless a 

 recombination in some other form takes place. 



The e.xtensive and varied experiments of Mr 

 Ruffin, and his able rea-^oning founded on them in 

 his valuable work on the subject of lime and marl 

 as manures, would seem to demonstrate that acids 

 do exist in the soil, both free, and in a state of 

 combination; and as lime combines with the acid 

 readily to form oxalate of lime, and parts with it 

 most reluctantly, it would seem reasonable that ox- 

 alate pf hme may be formed in this w.iy ; and if 

 so, the use of lime as a corrective of acidity, must 

 be apparent. A number of years since, I lived in 

 a district in which hemlock timber was abundant 

 The Foil was frequently a deep fine loam, but pro- 

 duced sorrel in most instances so profusely as to 

 leave little room for any thing else. Tliis was at- 

 tnbutedtothe "sourne..s" communicated to the 

 Boil from the annual fall and decomposition of the 

 leaves of the hemlock, as these are known to con- 

 tain appreciable quantities of acid. The remedy 

 for this, was a thorough burning of the surface 

 and hence in clearing hemlock land, great care 

 was taken to expose as much of the surface to the 

 operation of the fire as possible. This was the 

 result of experience; and is explained on the 

 ground that the fire, by the formation of an alkali 

 on the surface, converted the acid into oxalate of 

 potash ; or if the soil contained lime, into oxalate 

 of lime; in cither of which forms it would be less 

 ■njunous than in its free state. The same result 

 would take place if quicklime was applied to the 

 80.1 ; the acids would enter into combination with 

 a, and ,n .hat state being insoluble, or nearly so, 

 could not furnish the material essential to the for- 

 mation of acid plants. If after the application of 



the lime, the acid was still in excess, sorrel might 

 still grow in spite of the alkali ; and this fact might 

 be adduced to account for Mr Darling's sorrel that 

 grew on the verge of the lime. kiln. ° 



I do not assert that free oxalic acid ever exists 

 in soils, though it is scarcely possible to conceive 

 it should not do so; and in a slate of solution, 

 experience proves that plants take up this as well 

 as any other acid or salt that may bo furnished 

 them in a sufficiently diluted state. There is cer- 

 tainly a formidable array of names in favor of the 

 opinion that acids do exist in soils: — the Albany 

 Cultivator, pronounced by Mr Darling "tlie ablest 

 agricultural journal in the country"_David Thom- 

 as, of Cayuga, one of the most scientific and prac- 

 tical firmors of the country— Mr RiifBn, who has 

 devoted more attention to the subject than perhaps 

 any other man living— and though last not least. 

 Dr. Jackson, himself n host in matters relating to 

 the chemistry of agriculture. I have piirpolely 

 confined myself to the autliorities of this country ; 

 in Europe, the existence of sour soils, or those con- 

 taining acid, and consequently unfit for cultivation 

 until this acidity is corrected, does not seem to be 

 doubted by any one. It is frequently said that as 

 oxalic acid has never been detected in a soil, it 

 must be formed in the plants in which it is found. 

 I would ask whether it is not reasonable to suppose 

 that the formation of the oxalates of potash in 

 sorrel, rhubarb, &c., and of oxalate of lime in the 

 lichen, takes place from the union in the plants of 

 the acid and the potash, and the acid and the lime, 

 all taken from the earth in a state of solution, and 

 brought first into contact in this organized labora- 

 tory. 



Mr Darling remarks, emphatically, "that no 

 acid exists in vegetabUs except in a sUite ofcombina- 

 tion with some alkali." This, I ^think, is a slicrht 

 mistake. It is sufficient to notice to the contra°ry 

 the Cicer arietinum, or chick-pea, of the Levant' 

 and which 13 also common in Italy, and the south 

 of France. This is a vetch, exten.sively cultiva- 

 ted for Its grateful and refrigerating character 

 qualities owing to the oxalic acia it furnishes. 

 During the heats of summer, the stem and leaves 

 of this plant exude small drops of fluid, which on 

 evaporation, leave behind crystals, formed of un- 

 couibmed or pure oxalic acid. Medical men are 

 aware, that from the ease with which o.\alic acid 

 combines with lime, and the insoluble nature of 

 the salt so formed, the use of the plants containinrr 

 this acid such as rhubarb, sorrel, cicer, &c. &c° 

 by those persons predisposed to calculous diseases' 

 13 extremely improper. Many interesting facts in 

 regard to this acid, and the plants containin<r it 

 may be found in Majeudie's work on gravel. ° 



I shall only add here, that I am happy to see 

 the practical men of our country turnincr their at- 

 tention to such subjects as the one here'indicated. 

 Matter of fact questions as these are, farmers are 

 the men to furnish the facts by which they must 

 ultimately be determined ; and the number of com- 

 petent observers in this class is rapidly increasintr 

 Chemistry they must leave to the student and thl; 

 laboratory, and the American farmer should rejoice 

 tbut so far as he is concerned, it is in the hands of 

 such men as Dana, Sillimun, Jackson, &c., men 

 who are willing to devote their ereat talents and 

 acquirements to the aid of a cause, in the success 

 of which we all thrive, and by which we all live 



MEDICUS. 

 .Sj/;-aci(jf, .V. }-., Jutte 20, 18-13. 



CROWS. 



Wilson, in his American Ornithology, eavs tlif 

 » crows have been employed to catch crows by th 

 following stratagem: A live crow is pinned b 

 the wings down to the ground, on his back, b 

 means of two sharpened sticks. Thus situated, h 

 cries are loud and incessant, particularly if an 

 other crows are in view. These sweeping dow 

 about him, are instantly grappled and held ?ast b 

 the prostrate prisoner, with the same instiiictiv 

 impulse that urges a drowning person to grasp a 

 every thing within his reach. The game bein 

 disengaged from his clutches, the t^rap is agai 

 ready for another experiment; and by pinnin, 

 down each captive successively, as soon as taker' 

 in a short lime you will probably have a lari; 

 flock screaming above you, in concert with th 

 enraged prisoners below-" 



The same author mentions an agreeable instanc 

 of attachment in a crow. ■ "A gentleman who re 

 sided on the Delaware, a few miles below Eastor 

 had reared a crow, with whose tricks and socief 

 he used frequently to amuse himself. This crov 

 lived long in the family, but at length disappeared 

 having, as was then supposed, been shot by somi 

 vagrant gunner. About eleven months after this 

 cs the gentleman one morning, in company witl 

 several others, was standing on the river shore i 

 number of crows happening to pass by, one o 

 them left the flock, and flying directly towards tin 

 company, alighted on the gentlema'n's shoulder 

 and began to gabble away with great volubility 

 as one long absent friend naturally enough does 

 on meeting another. On recovering fromliis sur 

 prise, the gentleman instantly recognized his oU 

 acquaintance, and endeavored by several civil, but 

 sly manffiuvres, to lay hold of him ; but the crow 

 not altogether relishing quite so much familiarity 

 having now had a taste of the sweets of liberty, 

 cautiously eluded all his attempts, and suddenly 

 glancing his eye on his distant companions, mount- 

 ed in the air after them, soon overtook and mingled 

 with them, and was never afterwards seen to re- 

 turn'.' — Jesse's Gleanings. 



The above anecdote reminds us of a little inci- 

 dent recently mentioned by a friend, who, in hi.'i 

 travels in the summer of JS32, stopped for the 

 night at a public house in Bucks county, and was 

 much amused by the motions of an active, voluble 

 and intelligent crow, who vigilantly superintended 

 the business of the hostler. He first leaped into 

 the carriage, apparently to give directions about 

 the baggage. The hostler, either intentionally or 

 accidentally, left a part of it behind, but the crow, 

 on discovering it, was excessively restive and vo- 

 ciferous until it was all removed. He then follow- 

 ed the horses to the shed, where they were hitched 

 in order to be properly groomed. Ho walked' 

 round and round them, examining their heels, 

 while the hostler was cleaning them, and wherever 

 a speck of mud was observed that should be re- 

 moved, his boisterous gabbling gave the servant 

 no rest, till it was attended to. When everything 

 was done to his satisfaction, he strutted oft' with 

 all the consequence of a gentlemen who felt that 

 his orders were law. Mine host himself could 

 hardly have shown more interest in the baggage 

 and horses than did his jet. black crowship.— i'ar- 

 mers' Cabinet. 



Strong alum-water sprinkled on the leaves of the 

 gooseberry bush, will destroy the caterpillars. 



