PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS* CLUB. 297 



it is certain that plants receive their nitrogen only from animal or vog-eta- 

 ble extracts, or from such ammoniacal vapors as they may find in the soil, 

 or extract from the air." 



Again, Leibig says: "No conclusion can have a better foundation thau 

 this — that it is the ammonia of the atmosphere which furnishes nitrogen to 

 plants." 



Again, "carbonic acid, water and ammonia contain the elements neces- 

 sary for the support of animals and vegetables." The same substances are 

 the ultimate products of the chemical processes of decay and putrefaction. 

 All the innumerable products of vitality resume, after death, the original 

 form from which they spring. 



Here we have the highest scientific testimony as to the importance of 

 ammonia. I will add in evidence of the complete practicability of the 

 theory of snow and rain falls, being the medium of conveyance of vaporized 

 ammonia from the atmosphere to the earth, two or three well established 

 chemical facts and demonstration. 



First, ammonia is a light colorless gas. It is both exhaled from volcanic 

 action from the earth, and is always a product of the decomposition of all 

 vegetable and animal matter. Its elementary constituents are one part 

 nitrogen, and three parts (or volume8\ hydrogen. 



Water readily and rapidly absorbs it, even to the extent of five hundred 

 times its volume. Ammonia is also an alkali. 



Thus do each and all of its characteristics and conditions verify the pro- 

 priety and correctness of the common saying that "spring snows are the 

 poor man's manure." 



The theory of the early or even fall or winter sowing of plaster or gyp- 

 sum is thus shown to be the true one, as it absorbs ammonia largel}', and 

 holds it in a fixed state for the use of the contiguous vegetable demands. 

 Gypsum also requires a very large amount of water to render it scjluble 

 and in a condition to impart its ammonia to the surrounding plants. There 

 it is that the influence of gypsum is but comparatively slight on dry ground 

 and pastures in times of drought, unless the ammonia has been previously 

 dissolved by copious rains or snows, and absorbed by the roots of the plant 

 and the earthy material in contact. 



A Cure for Cabbage Fleas. 



Caroline S. Helm writes from Wabasli, Lid., for the benefit of the unfor- 

 tunate " Maine man," whose cabbage plants are eaten up by fleas, that she 

 settled the pests as follows: 



" My husband had been engaged in a famous tobacco speculation, 

 and had plenty of the 'noxious weed' on hand. ' Nothing formed in vain/ 

 thought I; and, acting accordingly, I made a bucketful of strong tobacco 

 tea and sprinkled the bed with a watering pot. It was perfectly effectual. 

 I have frequently tried the same thing since with the same success, not 

 only on cabbage plants, but on other insects and other plants, such as 

 young cucumbers, «fec. My tobacco remedy I do not think will prove a 

 preventive to ' human thieves.' I dare say they use a plenty of the weed 

 now. I would respectfully suggest a little powder and lead, judiciously 

 applied, in their case." 



