284 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



Sulphate of ammonia cannot be applied directly to the soil, 

 because it is not so cheap as plaster, or, in other words, sulphate 

 of lime. 



Mr. Pardee told how that with wet plants he had succeeded 

 wonderfully by the application of weak solutions of the sulphate 

 of ammonia. 



The sulphate of potash evidently had a marked effect in adding 

 to the greenness and liveliness of plants. The nitrate of soda, 

 had also in his hands proved very useful, especially in solution. 



Dr. Waterbury observed, that if the nitrate of soda could be 

 obtained cheaply enough, it would be very valuable. 



The saline materials of plants are chiefly disengaged from 

 clayey soils, especially the potash which all clays contain. 

 Manure may be rendered inodorous by lime, but it destroys the 

 manure, the ammonia escaping into the atmosphere. Again, 

 ashes are not so valuable on clayey soils, because they naturally 

 contain potash. But on a sandy soil they are more valuable. 



Mr. Dowie gave an account of the treatment of some acres of 

 surface earth from the woods in Delaware county. By deep 

 plowing and draining with the subsoil plow, and the application 

 of farm-yard manure — also adding 300 pounds guano to the acre, 

 he had succeeded in producing a soil eminently fertile. Dr. 

 Waterbury observed that a spring snow is said to be as good as 

 a coat of manure. This arises from the absorption of ammonia 

 from the deep layer of snow. There is also an advantage in the 

 extreme cold of American winters, inasmuch as it prevents the 

 decomposition during the winter of ammoniacal manures. More 

 cannot be made of any organic matter than what it contains. 

 Composts are useful, as they serve carefully to retain the existing 

 ammonia. Mr. Dowie said that on the land he had treated as 

 above stated, 125 bushels of wheat had been raised on four 

 acres. The crop paid well for the labor. He had repeated the 

 experiment. 



The conversation then turned on the 



CULTIVATION OF THE STRAWBERRY. 



Mr. Prince stated that strawberries bear well near the Missis- 

 sippi j the lands there are always saturated. The two points of 



