vol.. XVII. so. 8. 



AND HORTICULTURAL REGISTER. 



59 



es, inc.vhaiistiblc ; and it may be confulcnlly as- 

 erted, that tlie failure of both corn and prcrn 

 Tops is more frequently owing to a deficiency of 

 lone-cartli and potash tlian of any other eubstan- 

 es required by plants. These observation.^ aie 

 lorne out by the present state of a larje portion of 

 lie land in the maritime or Atlantic Slates of Aine- 

 ica, once so remarkably fertile, and considered by 

 he first settlers as inexhaustible. The fertility of 

 hc'se slates has been so uuich reduced by contin- 

 reil crofipinj; with corn and tobacco, by which both 

 >ota>!i and the phosphates are carried away, that 

 hey will now no longer bear ihi'se crops without 

 leavv and repeated manuring'. The same diminii- 

 ion of fertility in grain has been e.\perienced in 

 he south of Kurope and the north of Africa, which, 

 n very early times, were subjected to cultivation, 

 ind lui many centuries sustained an immense pop- 

 ilation. The long-continued consumption of corn 

 nd cattle in Rome, and other large cities, drained 

 iff the most fertilizing substances of the soil to 

 luch a degree as to render it comparatively sterile. 

 Phe same injurious effect must be produced in 

 ;very country where the like causes are in opera- 

 ion, and where drains and rivers are allowed to 

 :arry off the most precious and fertilizing princi- 

 jles of the soil, as is at present the case in Eng- 

 and ; and this injurious consequence, though it 

 nay be protracted for a time, cannot be averted 

 jy the most skilful and judicious management in 

 )ther respect.f. 'J'he pressure of population on the 

 Jieans of subsistence has long taught the Chinese 

 he necessity of strictly preventing the waste of 

 jny fertilizing substance, and their care and dili- 

 gence in this respect reproaches the negligence of 

 ,he civilized nations of Europe, who are often of- 

 3icted by scarcity of food, while they waste the 

 m'-ans of securing it in abundance. 



The intelligent farmer cannot fail to be coiivin- 

 :ed that those artificial manures whicli are the 

 most effective, seem to follow the same rule which 

 prevails in the growth of plants — in which rapidity 

 of growth is ever followed by early decay ; and are 

 therefore best when applied to heavy, sluggish 

 Boils — while those of the alkalis, like chalk and 

 marl, are more profitably made use of on the light- 

 er lands. 



The principal advantages that farm-yard dung 

 possesses over artificial manures have been already 

 stated ; namely — that it contains all the elements 

 of plants ; is more attractive of moisture ; and, by 

 its decomposition in the soil, produces an increase 

 of temperature. To these may be added its more 

 permanent effect. Artificial manures, though they 

 are less perfect, and generally more transient, are 

 more forcing in the early stages of the growth of 

 plants. These qualities may be united with e.x- 

 collent efl^ect, by using both with the same crop, 

 and especially with the turnip crop. A gentleman 

 in the north of Ireland found the greatest benefit 

 from using about half the usual quantity of farm- 

 yard manure, and drilling with the seed less than 

 half the prescribed measure of Poitlevin's manure. 

 His turnips grew with great vigour, and obtained 

 the prize given by the local agricultural society ; 

 nor can there be much doubt that the practice 

 would be beneficial if adopted with any of the ap- 

 proved manures now coming into use. 



In the application of dung alone it may be al- 

 most needless to remark that, when reserved for 

 the wheat crop, to be placed upon a fallow of clo- 

 ver stubble, the heaps should receive an additional 

 turning, the more effectually to destroy the seeds 



of weeds that may have escaped the effect of the 

 first fermentation, as these cannot, as in turnips, 1 

 be ridded from the growing crop, especially when 

 broad-cast. In the case of manuring upon the, 

 clover stubble, it is a much preferable practice to 

 prepare the dung as a compost, and apply it im- 

 mediately after the fir.st crop of clover is cut, which 

 will produce a larger second crop, and a greater 

 develnpement of the roots for the benefit of the suc- 

 ceeding wheat, with much less liability of injury 

 from the seeds of weeds. 



In the application of dung to land intended for 

 heans, only such a degree of fermentation is re- 

 quired as to allow of it being regularly spread and 

 covered by the plow. There is, indeed, but lit- 

 tle time for fermentation, as the bean is frequently 

 sown in January, and never later than in the months 

 of l-ebruary and March ; but when beans are either 

 drilled or dibbled, so as to admit of the effectual 

 operation both of the liorse and hand hoe, every 

 weed may be effectually destroyed ; and the pro- 

 tracted decomposition of the dung in the ground, 

 in contact with the roots of the plant, Isceps up a 

 continual supply of food and of temperature. Sir 

 H. Davy advocates the application of unformented 

 straw — so far as applicable — upon the principle 

 recognized by all chemists — "that the elements of 

 vegetable and animal substances enter more readi- 

 ly into new combinations at the instant of their 

 separation from the old, than at any time after- 

 wards ; which is promoted by the heat that always 

 accompanies, or is produced by decomposition." 

 Indeed, fermentation above ground must always be 

 attended, however carefully managed, with a very 

 considerable dissipation of valuable matter ; and 

 — notwithstanding the observations of Von Thaer, 

 hereafter quoted — must be considered rather as an 

 expedient than a desirable preparation. 



In advocating this principle, Sir Humphrey 

 should, however, have applied it only to those 

 crops which are evidently benefitted by its use. 

 Turnips, for instance, require well-rotted spit- 

 dung, for the purpose of pushing forward the plants, 

 to furnish a large bulk of roots for the feeding of 

 sheep ; which again reproduce it, in tlie shape of 

 manure for an ensuing crop of corn: thus afford- 

 ing a double quantity, and that immediately before 

 the seed is sown. To beans, however, only one 

 dressing is applied both for the present and the fu- 

 ture crop of wheat, for which the greater portion of 

 nutriment should be reserved. In order, there- 

 fore, to effect that essential object, the manure 

 should be put into the ground when only slightly, 

 if at all, fermented; allowing it to decompose, 

 while in the earth, by the gradual process of time ; 

 and, for many reasons, we should recommend it to 

 be laid upon the land during tho course of autumn 

 and winter. 



First. If the soiling system has been carried 

 on, all the dung made by the cattle during sum- 

 mer will liave been formed from green food and 

 roots, and the manure will be in a more fit state for 

 ufc at that time than if kept for the bean-sowing 

 season. 



Secondly. It can be carted upon tho soil when 

 the land is in a dry state, in which it will not be 

 injuriously affected by the poaching wliich so fre- 

 quently occasions mischief when the ground is 

 wet, and which, on heavy clays, sometimes serious- 

 ly impedes the sowing of beans; and it may be 

 done after wheat seed-time, when tlie teams are 

 more at leisure. 



Lastly. If the manure be immediately ploughed 



under, it will be sufficiently rotted; and it will af- 

 ford the material advantage of admitting the beans 

 to be sown at an earlier period. 



In tlie districts where ihe folding system is prac- 

 tised, and the land favourable for the cultivation of 

 beans and peas, it is a good method to spread or 

 litter the fold, with rough strawy manure, wliich 

 receives the droppings, and with them is trodden 

 into the ground, and ploughed down as soon as the 

 courses of tlie fold will permit. I5y tliis riieana 

 very little of either of the volatile or more fixed 

 substances are wasted. Such practice is not only 

 economical with regard to manure, but is also very 

 favourable to the sheep at the inclement season of 

 the year in which it must take place. — Farmei''t 



Manual. 



(To be continued.] 



Tilings to be Remembered — Horses should never 

 be put to severe work on a full stomach. More 

 horses are hurt by liard driving after a full feed ; 

 than by a full feed after hard driving. 



If the farmer wishes to have his pork barrel and 

 meal chest hold out, let him look well to his 

 kitchen garden. Plenty of vegetables conduce 

 not more to lieallh than to profit. 



In laying in a stock of winter fodder for ani- 

 mals, let it not be forgotten that a little too much 

 is just enough. Starving animals at any lime is 

 miserable policy. 



As you treat your land, so it will treat you. 

 Feed it with manures liberally, and it will yield 

 you bread bountifully. 



Avoid debt as you would the leprosy. If you 

 are ever templed to purchase on credit, put it off 

 for three days. You need time for reflection. 



Never beg fruit, or any thing else you can pro- 

 duce by the°cxpenditure of a little time or labor. 

 It is as reasonable to expect a man to give away 

 the products of his wheat field, as of his orchard or 

 fruit garden. 



The man who uses good seed, has a good soil, 

 and works it in good season, rarely fails of having 

 a good crop to reward his toil. 



Never forfeit your word. The saying in tru'h, 

 of any farmer, ' his word is as good as his^ bond,' 

 is worth more to him than the interest of $10,000 

 annually. — Albany Cultivator. 



Simple and Economical Plow.— Mr. Rouse has 

 introduced a plow, which, if it can do half what 

 he promises, will prove the most useful and per- 

 fect thing of the kind yet known. It is thus de- 

 scribed : The share may be deepened, or flatten- 

 ed, to or from tho land in an instant without stop- j 

 ping the horses, or the plowman's hand being ta- 

 keirofl" tho plow ; that it will go with or without 

 a ground, with or without wheels, with a wood 

 breast for turnip and summer land, and with any 

 shaped iron breast that may be required or prefer- 

 red ; that it requires no sledge for its removal from 

 place to place ; that the coulter may be moved 

 six ways, by a movement efl'ectcd in an instant,and 

 so firm that no horse can move it ; that the furrow 

 can be taken any width and any depth, up-hill or 

 down-hill, with equal facility ; that it will be less 

 expensive to the farmer and more easy to the la- 

 borer than any plow yet made, the whole construc- 

 tion being so simple as to be kept in repair at less 

 cost than^other p\ovi8.— English paper. 



The figures of Arithmetic brought into Europe 

 by the Saracens, A. U. 991. 



