358 



XEW ENGLAND FAR:MER. 



Aug. 



imparting l.f« and vigor to vegetation, hold- 

 ing tie or^raniziid elements in a state of solu- 

 tion as food for the immediate and constant 

 wants tf the growing plant. 



This process may go on for ages ; for the 

 earth, i'rom centre to circumference, is one 

 grand store-house of all the mineral and vege- 

 table substances that enter into the formation 

 of man, beast or plant. 



The physiological condition of the earth is 

 ever changing. The decomposition of one 

 kind of tree or plant, prepares the soil for the 

 growth and production of another, and in many 

 instances one altogether dissimdar. Drain- 

 ing and pulverizing aerates the soil, deposits 

 with and imparts to the growing plant such 

 food as is required for its growth and matu- 

 rity, all turplus atcms passing down to be held 

 .in store for other kinds cf plants. Mineral 

 substances are valuable as food for plants in 

 proportion to the source from which they are 

 derived, and the nature of their composition. 

 The ammoniacal gases, passing through the 

 soil, imparting life and vigor, are the legitimate 

 source cf fertility. There is but little doubt 

 that all lands that ever were productive may 

 be made so again, unless positive physical 

 causes prevent. 



Long experience and observation teaches us 

 that there are other than animal manures to be 

 used as fertilizers in the restoration of ex- 

 hausted soils. Shade is a great fertilizer. 

 Nature shades or mulches all her plants and 

 trees to prevent too free or too sudden evap- 

 oration. Vegetation suffers from extreme 

 heat, and brisk, drjing winds, unless protected 

 by some kind of mulch. In mountainous or 

 highly elevated districts, at a distance from 

 large bodies of water, all vegetation suffers 

 from heat and frost. In such districts every 

 intelligent man will see that science is com- 

 pelled to apply different rules of practice in 

 the cultivation of crops, than is required in 

 districts under the influence of large bodies 

 of water, with a humid atmosphere, which 

 renders essential protection from extreme heat 

 in summer and cold in winter Science, ob- 

 servation and experience, man's great teachers, 

 direct us up to natural laws ; and when we 

 reset a proper proportion of our "worn out" 

 tields to forests ; mulch our fruit and orna- 

 mental trees, as nature directs ; cultivate less 

 acres and cultivate better ; return the im- 

 mense quantities of vegetable and mineral de- 

 posit to the hill sides whence it has been 

 washed for ages, and mix with the more solid 

 portions ; drain, trench, pidverize and reunite 

 and mingle these old friends and relatives of 

 the soil ; then we shall have fields that will 

 groan with grain and smile with bea*ty. The 

 forests will entice back the birds to sing us 

 ten thousand sweet songs, and to devour my- 

 riads of insects that now destroy our fruits 

 and vegetables ; rural life will be invested 

 with new charms and new pleasures, and we 

 shall have no need to sigh for a "land where 



the sun has smiles and flowers perennial 

 bloom." 



Let the agricultural colleges do this by ex- 

 ample. Appropriate the national fund to the 

 purchase of land, and make a model farm 

 instead of model buildings ; instead of estab- 

 lishing professorships, laboratories with chem- 

 i(;als, teach young men to cultivate and beau- 

 tify the earth and make home pleasant, happy, 

 peimanent, and then we may exclaim "science 

 is come to our aid, and we are advancing in 

 practical agriculture." L. L. Piekce. 



East Jaffrey, N. H., 1870. 



Remarks. — But, without the professors and 

 the laboratories, how are the boys to learn 

 all about the "carbonates," "phosphates," 

 "acids," "composition," "assimilation," "min- 

 erals," "decomposition," &c., cf which our 

 correspondent has discoursed so ably and so 

 well? True, "science, observation and expe- 

 rience — man's great teachers — direct us up to 

 natural laws," but may not our upward pro- 

 gress be greatly facilitated by the guidance 

 and direction of those who have been over 

 the road before us, and by the aid of the fa- 

 cilities which they enjoyed in their journey ? 



CABBOLIC ACID. 

 This peculiar substance which is extracted 

 from coal tar, has been unfortunate in its 

 name, in the first place from its similarity to a 

 very different thing. Carbonic Acid ; and, in 

 the second place from the fact that it is not 

 sour, and has none of the qualities of an acid 

 any way. As, however, it is coming into gen- 

 eral use, we think the following facts in rela- 

 tion to its nature and effects, from an article 

 by Prof. J. Darby, in the American Qrocer, 

 will help to a better understanding of this 

 valuable material : — 



Carbolic acid is prepared by treating what 

 was called the light oils (benzines) from the 

 distillation of coal with dilute alkalis and care- 

 fully distilling the products which are heavier 

 than water, the alkali being previously neu- 

 tralized by muriatic acid. It is seldom found 

 pure, it having more or less of cresylic acid 

 in it, and often other closely related bodies. 

 Carbolic acid is a solid at ordinary tempera- 

 ture, melting at 100° Fahrenheit and soluble 

 in twenty parts of wa'cr; is a powerful anti- 

 septic and disinfectant, preventing putrefac- 

 tion and fermentation. Its whole effect is due 

 to its arresting change. It is simply a pre- 

 servative. As an antiseptic, it prevents change 

 in the materials. As a disinfectant, it accom- 

 plishes the result by the same means — that is, 

 kills the spores, if malaria consists of such, or 



