244 
THE AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE. 
those affecting th» corn. erops, in the “ Royal Agricul- 
tural Journal.” But when the habits of these insects 
ave been once clearly pointed out, practical men ought 
themselves to take up the subject and endeavour to dis- 
cover the proper remedies. A kind Providence often 
assists him by supplying other insects which destroy 
mony of the injurious species ; but man must still be 
vigilant ; probably few subjects of more importance 
might occupy the attention of several of your intelligent 
correspondents; for the time is at hand when the 
British farmer will not be able to afford a large portion 
f his Wheat crop to the Oscinis, of his Oats to the 
wire-worm, and. of his Turnips to the fly. No doubt 
entomologists may occasionally direct the practical 
farmer or gardener as to the proper means to be 
adopted in many eases (of which your Paper is a proof); 
but it must not be expected in all, as these insects are 
numerous, and several seasons are requisite in certain 
instances to ascertain the economy of a single species. 
The method, I believe, usually adopted in the cases re- 
ferred to, is to harrow the crop, sow soot or some other 
stimulating manure over it, and then roll the ground 
with a heavy roller, which, if not too far gone, causes 
the Wheat to tiller, and the smell of the soot may pre- 
vent a second attack and save the crop 3 but if any of 
your d can l a better plan, it 
i 
will no doubt be acceptable to others as well as to— £. 
J. Graham, Cranford. T 
Tops of Carrots.— Y have read in « Maleolin’s 
Surrey,” and elsewhere, that the tops of Carrots are 
sometimes cut green for cows in the month of July 
without diminishing their size, and that Sir Henry Va- 
vasour mowed some twice, another part once, and the 
remaining part of the erop the scythe did not pass over. 
That the roots of those twice cut were not at all inferior 
in size or quality to those whose tops had been left un- 
touched. Have anyof your correspondents proved the 
above ?—R. G. [We have : and can vouch from expe- 
rience that the statement is inaccurate. 
Soot for Potatoes.—The history of the Potato disease, 
from its first appearance a hundred years ago, is that 
of an increasing tendency to putrefaetion and decay ; 
and what else could have been expected from a plant set, 
year after year, with its cut faces in contact with fresh 
or fermenting dung, the juices of which thus mix with 
those of the plant, crop after crop? What other vege- 
table has been subjected to such putrefactive treatment ? 
he obvious remedy appears to be, anti-putrescent 
dressings ; and how have these answered where tried ? 
Peat is eminently antiseptic ; and Potatoes grown in 
peat, how little comparatively they have suffered ! and 
season. "Even last year, when the rot was at the worst 
{see Mr. Barnes’s “Small Experiments,” reported in 
* Johnson's Gardeners’ Almanack,” and worth extract- 
ing in your columns), Potatoes dressed with soot and 
charred refuse, both antiseptic, turned out mostly sound; 
and still continued so by the latest report, whilst with 
here than elsewhere 5 So that it may be used freely 
(say 20 bushels per aere, with the requisite inorganie 
purpose peaty and high grounds should be preferred ; 
and thus we may reasonably hope that the tendency 
to decay would be thrown off much faster, with 
p 
sap of the plant. The brevity of this will not be an 
objection, where the subject has been so fully reasoned 
on more than once ; the principle is simply the employ- 
ment of antiseptic dressings to remedy a malady brought 
on by a long course of putrefactive treatment. 
Dimmery methods are no longer adopted. ‘The Potato 
t: ive in that neighl hood.] 
Dorieties. ` 
AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY ASSOCIATION, 
Ar the late monthly meeting of this Association, held 
onthe 12th ult., Professor Jonwsrow said that in the 
month of February an excursion was made into the 
country to visit one of the most extensive paper works 
in the neighbourhood of Edinburgh, for the purpose of 
examining the waste material of these works, Such of 
them as had seen paper works knew tbat a number of 
chemical processes go on—such as the preparation of 
the glue, the bleaching of the rags, &e. The refuse of 
these had, after they had served their purpose, been 
run into the Esk, which ran close by, and instead of 
contributing to any good, did a great deal of harm, par- 
ticularly in the summer time, when they stagnated in 
the stream, and caused noxious effluvia. Mr.Cameron, 
the proprietor of these works, was anxious to know 
whether these materials might not be profitably turned 
to account for agricultural purposes, and he (Professor 
Johnston) had gone out along with Mr, Girdwood, an 
aetive member of the Committee, to make inquiries and 
[Arri 11, 
make suggestions. The refuse is generally composed 
of the following :—Ist, The alkaline ley in which the 
rags are boiled ; which one is most important in itself, 
2d, The refuse of the chlorine stills, used in bleaching 
therags. 3d, The refuse from the preparation of the 
glue, which contains a large amount of animal matter, 
and therefore likely to prove valuable as manure, 4th, 
The dustings of the paper, and the dustings of the rags, 
some of which were woollen. They are all of import- 
ance, and, if mixed, would no doubt make a valuable 
compost. Mr. Cameron has made a number of experi- 
ments himself, and Mr. Girdwood has promised to send 
out his carts for the purpose of obtaining a sufficient 
quantity to make experiments with, which he would 
report afterwards. 
The Potato Discase.—Professor Johnston went on 
to say, that the other point to which he would allude 
was one which had occupied much attention of late, 
namely, the discussion of the Potato disease. They had 
thought it proper since last meeting, in reference to the 
extraordinary statement made by Professor Lindley, 
that the Potato crop was doomed, in o 
by the above-named gentleman. The Beans were grown 
upon a piece of land not celebrated formerly for large 
crops, being a cold wet clay, which was doctored by sul- 
phate of soda. Professor Johnston read a letter detail- 
ing the experiment of Mr. Girdwood, stating that that 
gentleman had left a small portion without the sulphate, 
and estimated the difference at 16 bushels per acre, 
The whole erop had yielded 63 bushels to the Scots 
acre. This was an illustration, Mr. Johnston observed, 
of the benefit resulting from the application of chemical 
substances to the land.—The Carman remarked that 
it must be good land, and in good hands, where these 
were applied ; because, if poor, they would have no effect. 
Analyses of Guanos,—Professor Jounston concurred 
in the remark made by the Chairman, and proceeded 
to say, that among the subjects proposed to be discussed, 
was that of the various kinds of guano in the market. 
He thought this subject might be of considerable inte- 
rest, not only to those who attended this meeting, but 
also to those who might read of it. There was searcely 
anything in which the science of chemistry had been of 
q 
certain diseased Potatoes which he had observed under 
certain circumstances producing unhealthy shoots, to 
issue circulars to parties who had given them informa- 
tion, requesting to know (1.) the actual supply of Pota- 
toes in their respective districts as compared with 
former years at the same scason, and of what varie- 
ties? (2.) If they had any Potatoes planted or 
sprouted ; and if these had shown any Symptoms of dis- 
ease? (3.) If the supply was deficient, did they aseribe 
it to actual loss in autumn, or to the subsequent spread 
of the disease from improper pitting? With regard to 
two or three counties he had received information, In 
Forfarshire the supply is said to be an average one ; 
but in the southern parts of Perthshire, bordering upon 
Stirling, the supply of Potatoes was not one-sixth of 
ormer years ; there is in the higher grounds a sufficient 
supply, and they are selling at 90s. a ton. In Ren- 
frewshire they are much the same as last year, and 
greater than they were three years ago. They are 
selling at 72s. to 80s. a ton. In Wigtownshire the sup- 
ply is not so great as in June last year, two months 
later than this. The only return from Ayrshire states, 
that a great many farmers have no Potatoes, though it 
is believed that it is not less than last year. As to the 
loss, Mr. Home of Argaty, attributes the loss in Perth- 
shire to the pitting ; the loss was not in autumn, but 
sincethey were pitted; Mr. Caird, of Baldoon, says that 
most of those pitted the old way were affected ; but his 
own, where he tried a new method, remained quite 
sound, He had also reports from Perthshire and Ayr- 
shire, in whieh the writers say that they had some 
planted, and these were quite sound. There was a ver 
interesting fact in reference to the nature and progress 
i ion with the cir of a 
o 
of the disease, in 
considerable number of Potatoes having been used t 
make starch—it being one reason why the deficiency in 
some districts was greater than others, which was this : 
that in Renfrewshire some parties have given up making 
starch, because it now takes 100 bolls of Potatoes to 
make the same quantity of starch which 40 bolls did 
formerly. This shows that the disease makes its first 
attacks in the cellular membrane, 1t does not meddle 
with the starch at first, but after a time it advances and 
attacks the globules, rendering them soluble in water, 
and thus a great part is lost in the washing. He might 
mention, before concluding, that the only kind of Pota- 
toes in Ayrshire that had escaped the disease was the 
Caps, eonfirming the opinion entertained respecting the 
strong vitality which they seem to possess, 
Mr. Burnerr then proceeded to give a statement as 
to the amount of the Potato disease in a district round 
Ayr. He had been present at a meeting of the St. 
Quivox Club, where there were 20 farmers present, 
when the queries of Professor Johnston were under 
consideration. The opinion entertained by that meeting 
was, that upon the whole, there were very few Potatoes 
remaining as compared with last year, “That was ac- 
counted for by various causes. Some farmers had con- 
sumed them by cattle, to prevent them being lost; 
others had made them into Stareh, while others had sold 
them as fast as possible. It was difficult to ascertain 
the actual loss—perhaps one-half of the whole erop 
bas been totally lost. The only variety of Potato 
remaining was the Cups. There were some excep. 
tous ; but that was the general opinion, and even they 
could not be depended on for seed. With regard to the 
Potatoes planted or sprouted, he had planted half an 
acre himself with the description American Early. 
They were partially diseased when taken up, but they 
were carefully picked over, and those that were ap- 
parently sound were plaated, and so far as examination 
has gone, they were perfectly sound now. The de- 
ficiency in the supply is to be ascribed partly to the loss 
at autumn and partly to the subsequent spread of the 
disease ; and he was of opinion that no pitting could 
prevent the spread of the disease. Those Potatoes 
which were tainted at the first, on being put among 
sound Potatoes, had not communicated the disease to 
them. Another remark was, that diseased Potatoes in 
the pits have apparently the Strongest and healthiest 
sprouts ; but the sound and healthy ones which did not 
exhibit these sprouts so speedily have showed no symp- 
toms of infection. 
Beans with Sulphate of Soda.—Pyofessor Jounston 
exhibited an extraordinary sample of Beans taken at 
random from a field at Corstorphine, grown by Mr, 
Girdwood, and which were of great strength, largeness, 
and weight, and were the result of an experiment made 
ore imp » to the agricultural community at 
least, than this subject of guano. , The quantity of 
guano used last year in Great Britain, at the average 
price of 7/. per ton, amounted to 1,500,0007. ; and when 
he considered how mueh the practieal man was open 
to deception from his want of knowledge, they would 
see how important it was that that Association should 
take some means of enabling practical men to judge of, 
and determine the kind of guano for which they should 
give a certain sum of money. The mode of ascertain- 
ing the value of guano was by analysis, and as the prices 
of that article varied from 102. to 47. per ton, and some 
would scarcely sell at all, it was of vast importance 
to ascertain the best kinds. He would turn their 
attention to the quantities of water in the different 
kinds; it varied from 8 per cent, in Bolivian, to 27 
in Ichaboe, to 40 in another kind. The next important 
substance was the quantity of organic matter. In 
some of those now in the market there was very little ; 
this was owing to its being farther decomposed. The 
other important substances in guano were the phos- 
phates of lime and magnesia ; it varied very much in 
the different}kinds. 
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It will be seen from the above table that Peruvian is 
the most valuable; it sells at from 10/. to 117. a ton, 
and many think that this high-priced guano, will, in the 
end prove the cheapest. . Among the kinds which eame 
into this country under the name of South American, 
there was one which was said to come from Chili, 
through some other source than the company which had 
the sole right of bringing it into this country ; but it 
was not so valuable as that commonly known as the real 
Peruvian. The Ichaboe guano was that best known ; 
it was used very extensively last year, and it was more 
valuable than some other kinds’ The Saldanha Bay 
guano presents i'self under various aspeets; it is some- 
times light eoloured and sometimes dark ; the latter 
containing more ammoniacal matter. Another kind 
known was that from Algoa Bay ; one specimen of it 
was so dry that it only contained 2 per cent. of water. 
A sixth variety was from Halifax Island 3 it was very 
bad, being full of stones. That from Possession Island, 
at the last sales in Liverpool, would not sell at any price. 
Its colour has prejudiced many people too much against 
buying it ; it was better than that from Halifax Island, 
and some others, Birds Island guano was very like 
Bolivian in colour ; it is a very curious kind, though 
not worth one-third of the money. Tt does not appear 
to be adulterated, yet contains half its weight of gyp- 
| 
