ition, where already too strong; and, therefore, how- 
41—1846.] 
THE AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE. 
683 
and instances were adduced fo show that the invigora- 
tion of the vital force by solar light, and abundance of 
proper nourishment, enabled it effectually to repress the 
decomposing action ; whilst, on the contrary, gloom, 
warm damp, and stagnant electrical air, assisted the 
disorganising force, and often produced predatory fungi, 
which might thus be considered a sort of retarded dis- 
Organisation. So ripening plants, as their vital powers 
decay, might generate such parasites, which would ex- 
plain how they weaken the soil so much more than 
green: crops, in proportion to the contents of their ashes. 
Such fungi, though not the cause of disease or decay, 
are effectual promoters of both, and probably the chief 
Means of infection, where that also exists. 
3d—Remedies.—If further investigation prove fungi 
thus generated to produce such generally injurious 
effects, the remedies will be of practical importance. 
These should be cheap and antiseptic, as well as de- 
structive to fungi. Sulphate of copper with salt, which 
been successfully used for seed Potatoes, was too 
Costly for spreading over the soil. Fresh lime, the 
general destroyer of noxious vermin, roots and seeds, 
would probably answer till rendered inert by carbonic 
acid. Salt, which appeared more promising, he ha 
found, in some ex petiments, rather promote than destroy 
fungi. Lime and salt digested together would eliminate 
Caustic soda, a very active destroyer, and soda ash, with 
or without lime, would have a somewhat like effect, and 
ammoniaeal gas liquor is perhaps.a still more destruc- 
tive application. Butmone of these alkalies can be re- 
garded as antiseptic, and the ammonia, when neutralised 
in.the.soil, might even promote disorganising fermenta- 
ever suitable in ordinary cases, antiseptic dressings 
Must be used where there is pubescent tendency. Chlo- 
Yide of lime, in solution, be had found useless on dis- 
eased Potatoes ; the powder had been said to answer 
better, but either would soon be rendered -inactive in 
the soil by. the humous matters, Sulphuric acid, diluted, 
might succeed, where farmers had the means of applying 
it; and alum, which is of easy application, is a cheap 
and powerful antiseptic. Dressings of this kind, in- 
tended to kill the fungi, and check the disorganising 
action, would be turned under in the first ploughing 
after harvest, independent of the usual manure for 
Nourishing and exciting vital action. 
ON THE COMPOSITION AND AGRICULTURAL 
VALUE OF KELP. 
By Jons F. Mopars, Esq., M.D. 
[Read ata late Meeting of Councilof the Chemico-Agricultural 
Society, of, Ulster. 
. Anatysis of the water of the ocean shows us, that in 
it are contained all the inorganic ingredients which our 
crops take away from the soil—that it is, in fact, a 
liquid soil, from which myriads of vegetables receive 
the materials for their perfect development. Along our 
Coasts, the plants nourished by the mineral and saline 
Matters dissolved in the waters of the sea, have long 
been employed by the farmer -as applications to the 
Soil, and in many parts of the kingdom are regarded as 
his sheet-anchor—thus, in some;small degree, restoring 
to our fields the substances lost by the faulty arrange- 
ments of our farm-yards and cities, My attention was 
lately drawn to the sea-weeds of our coasts, from being 
engaged in the analysis of the well-known substance 
kelp, produced by their incineration, and which is now 
exciting considerable interest, as a source of the valu- 
able metallic-looking substance iodine, at present so ex- 
tensively employed in medicine. So far as I am aware, 
no complete analysis of our Irish kelp has yet been laid 
before the public, It will, therefore, be of interest 
that the composition of this valuable and accessible 
Source of the materials required to render our fields 
productive should be made known. 
e mode of preparing kelp, as generally practised 
on our coasts, is so well known, that I need not allude 
to it further than to state, that the sample submitted to 
me for analysis was prepared on the shores of the Lough 
of Strangford, re, d, by the use of iron 
bottoms for the kilns, and by the. careful management 
of the.weed, an article of superior quality is produced. 
Tt may also be observed, that when the object of the 
kelp-burner is to prepare a kelp rich in iodine, only 
Some particular species of the Fucus family should be 
employed ; but when it is required merely for agricul- 
tural purposes, all.the numerous species, both of drift 
and.shore weed, may be used with advantage. 
e.sea-weeds, as cast.on our shores, or cut from the 
Yocks, contain a very large amount of water--thus, 
the fresh leaves (Frond).of the Bladdered Wrack (Fu- 
eus Vesieulosus, and of the Tangle (Laminaria digitata), 
which are found in so great abundance on our coasts, 
when dried at 212°, and incinerated, yielded 
Vater, Organic matter. 
68:8 26:2 
a 
Ash, 
Bladdered Wrack .. 50 
angle .. m ee 811 13:1 5'8 
Of the stalks of the Tangle, which are considered so 
valuable by the kelp on th t coast, 
two samples gave as follows :— 
0. 1, fo. 2, 
ter .. DEL m oe 84/00 83:10 
Organic combustible matter s. 1040 11:06 
Incombustible matter, or ash .. 5°60 5'84 
100° 100:0 
Mean of ash afforded by leaves and stalks together, 5:5 
per cent., or a ton of the weed, as taken from the sea, 
would yield about 123 lbs. of ineombustible mineral 
matter or kelp. The inquiry now presents itself, how 
far the ash is capable of supplying our fields with the 
mineral and saline matters removed by cultivation. 
L As kelp isa substance remarkably complex in its 
composition, and contains a number of ingredients with | In another field of 18 acres, the following experiments were 
which our farmers are not familiar, and the enumera- 
tion of which would only serve to perplex them, I con- 
sider that it will be sufficient to state the proportion of 
those ingredients which possess an agricultural value. 
From the great variety of weeds employed in its manu- 
facture, the composition of kelp must be expected to 
vary considerably. The specimen from which I ob- 
tained the following results was received from a mem- 
ber of our society, A. H. Montgomery, Esq., of Tyrella, 
County Down, and was prepared on the shure of Strang- 
ford Lough, near Greyabbey :— 
1001bs. of this kelp contained— 
ly .. m e. 8:22, or 1843 Ibs. per ton. 
Soda ae aes ove 
Lime oo on I 
Magnesia 
Sulphurie acid (vitriol) c 
Phosphoric acid we m 
Chlorine, one the ingredients 
of common sal . m 
Silicic acid m m oe 2" 
The analysis just given shows that in kelp we have 
arich supply of the inorganic ingredients required by 
our crops, while the large amount of salts of potash and 
soda which enters into its composition, point it out as 
peculiarly adapted for the nourishment of our Potato 
and Turnip crops. The sample examined, from con- 
taining but a small amount of soluble silica, would not 
be so well adapted for the growth of the corn crops, 
except in situations where a sufficient supply of soluble 
silicates were already present in the soil; but, in 
general, the kelp of our coasts contains a much greater 
amount of silicates, from the common practice of fusing 
a quantity of sand with the melted ash—a practice 
which, for the sake of inereasing the weight, is carried 
o a shameful extent. by the kelp-burners. As kelp 
affords us, as I have shown, a convenient source of the 
most important elements of. plants, and in a convenient 
portable form, so that we can readily carry it into the 
interior of the country, and apply it in situations where 
its action would be still more beneficial than in the 
neighbourhood of the sea, it is, I conceive, of import. 
ance, that some experiments should be instituted with 
this substance, by such of my hearers as possess the 
opportunity. From several experiments, with different 
samples of kelp, I find that a hundred-weight of that 
manufactured on our coasts usually contains from 50 to 
70 lbs. of salts soluble in water, which would afford the 
plant, from its formation, a ready prepared supply of 
nutritious materials, while the alkaline silicates and 
salts of lime, magnesia, &e., would continue to exercise 
a beneficial influence upon the fertility of the field, even 
beyond the present season. 
The average produce of Potatoes, in many districts 
in the north of Ireland, I have ascertained by careful 
inquiry, does not exceed 350 bushels, or 19,600 lbs. per 
Irish acre, an amount of tubers which analysis shows 
us to.contain about 190 Ibs. of matter extracted from 
the soil. The chief constituent of the Potato tuber is 
potash, an expensive article with the manure dealer, 
92 Ibs. of which is taken away from our fields with every 
350 bushels of Potatoes that we send to market. Now, 
half a ton of kelp, of the same character as the sample 
examined, contains, as we have seen, about 92} Ibs. of 
that alkali ; so, by applying that quantity of it to a por- 
tion of ground in which we have produced 350 bushels 
of Potatoes, we not only maintain its fertility, so far as 
it depends upon the presence of that substance in the 
soil; but, also, give it a supply of other matter which 
will be useful to the succeeding crops of the rotation ; 
for the amount of soda. given to the soil, in half a ton of 
kelp, is much greater than is, required for the develop- 
ment of the Potato crop, 350 bushels of Potatoes re- 
quiring only 5431bs. of soda, while the kelp contains 
289 lbs.— Abridged from Scottish Farmer. 
ON THE DRILL HUSBANDRY OF TURNIPS. 
, Experiments made in 1839. 
Field 10 acres, with Purple-topped Swedes, on ridges 27 inches 
apart, and sown from the 16th to the 18th May. 
T 
No. 1, with 24 loads farm-yard manure, peracre 12 
v. 0 
Z without manure of any kind. do. ran 
3, with 11 bushels bone manure, do. > s. 4 0:0 
4, with 2 do. o. desi M OO 
5, with 33 ^ do. doo. qutt cars SLO 
6, with 16 bushels bones and 32 ashes mixed, 
repe Nes oan ee i 417 0 
7, with 12 loads inferior manure put on the 
autumn, and ploughed in in 
December, and sown, on the flat, 17} in. 
apart, the 18th May, with a mixture of 
18 bushels bones and 30 of turf ashes. 
This experiment was on rather poorer 
than the others a 
8, Manure, 24 loads per acre, ploughed in, 
own on the flat, 1 apart .. 11 0 0 
The whole of the field brairded partially about the 
28th, and from that period to the 12th June was se- 
verely punished by the beetle, and had it not been for a 
second braird coming, there would not have been half a 
plant; this, however, with some transplanting, secure 
a tolerable plant. I have tried the latter mode two or 
three times for filling up blanks, but it does not answer 
well, the plants being long in beginning to grow, they 
seldom form much bulb, and on poor thin lands like 
these I never found it pay for the trouble, three-fourths 
of the plants being only a few leaves. I may remark 
that No.8, sown on the flat and manure ploughed in 
broadcast, was on rather better land than No. 1, which, 
in fact is the average weight. of five different weighings, 
extending over several aeres, the.average of 27 ridges 
adjoining No. 8 being 12 tons 14 cwt., giving an advan- 
tage to them over the ploughing in system of 1 ton 
14 ewt. per acre, and much larger bulbs. 
made with purple-topped Swedes :— 
Sown from the 1st to 3rd June. 
i ight per acre.—Tons.cwts.qrs. 
No. 1, on ridges 27 inches apart, with kiln dust, 
at the rate of 34 bushels per acre ba 14 0 
2, do. with 7 bush. bones, 14 do. ashes, 14 do. i 
dry mould which had been mixed with 
blood, &c. (see section 4), and 7 do. 
kiln dust, mixed, per acre (total, 42 
ush. ee ae qe callus Doom) 
3, do. with dry mould, which had been 
mixed with blood, &c bushels per 
acre Se oe TEE; 2 15 '0 
4, do. bone mauure, 10 bush. per acre 3 15 0 
5, do. do. 20bush. do. 3 18 0 
6, do. e. 30 b: do. 5 3.0 
7, do. without manure of any kind PEL 
8, do. 24 loads farm-yard manure per acre. 14 4 0 
In same field 4 acres of heavy toug a 
which could not. be ridged this year, 
was manured at the rate of 20 cart loads 
per acre (but not well decomposed), and 
ploughed in. Sown 15th June 173inches 
apart, produced . H0 
9, the best part of the field sown 6th June 
on the flat, 7} inches wide, with the fol- 
lowing mixture—viz. 12 bush 
otal per acre 52 bushels), 
produced. o.n da ae Eus yee 2. dE PO. O 
10, another part, rather the lightest in the 
field, had 10 eart loads manure per 
acre ploughed in, in December, and was 
drilled 3rd June on the flat, 173 inches 
wide, with 34 bushels per acre of mix- 
ture, same as No.9,produced  .. .. 8 10 0 
It requires no argument after the above results.are 
looked at, to-eonvinee any person of the impropriety.of 
attempting to grow Swedes on stubble lands here, by 
the application of pulverised manures. The only in- 
stance in:my whole experience where it makes an ap- 
proach to the effects of farm-yard manure, is in No. 9, 
but that particular part happens to be the best piece of 
land on the whole farm, and most likely would have pro- 
uced 8 or 9 tons per acre without any manure. The 
mixture of mould, blood, &e., was a failure, as it proved 
the same in another field with Turnips, but no weights 
were taken. The time for applying this compost is, 
when it gets into that hot, steaming, stinking state. 
After being turned twiee or thrice, cover up rapidly, to 
prevent evaporation, and sow as quickly as possible ; 
thus the ammonia or fertilising effluvia would be 
brought into play, but as I had to dry the compost suf- 
ficiently to make it work through the drill, I lost the 
whole nutritive qualities during the process, rendering 
the mass perfectly inert. 
Experiment No. 10, in this field, likewise No. 7 in 
preceding field, as well as No.1 in experiments for 
1837, do not tell favourably for a light manuring in the 
autumn, and an application of pulverised manures with 
the seed. All these confirm me in the opinion formerly 
expressed, that the whole farm manure, and any that 
can be:bought, should be concentrated for the Swedes, 
and the common sorts aided with the pulverised 
manures. 
In farther confirmation of the above opinion, and 
adding additional results, I had another six-acre piece 
of Swedes ridged 27 inches apart, dunged with farm- 
yard manure, 24 loads to the acre; and although no 
weights were taken here, I am satisfied there were 12 
tons per acre. At another part of the farm there were 
other six acres sown on the flat 173 inches apart, and 
had pulverised manure applied with the seed, of the 
same mixture and quantity as used in No. 9, second 
field of this year's experiments, and the erop produced 
was light, although pretty regular in plant, the weight 
being estimated about six tons per acre. I feel.quite 
sure that if the manures had been reversed, the advan- 
tage would have followed the farm-yard dung to the 
same extent as above exhibited. 
0 experiments were made witlithe common Turnips 
this year, except in one field of eight acres, which was 
sown very late, in consequence of the land having been 
so foul, and having an extra quantity of green-crop 
land to clean. The sowing was effected. on the 9th and 
10th July, using the same mixed mauure as applied to 
No. 9, second field of this year's experiments, at the 
rate of 50 bushels per aere. On one portion of the 
field we tried Oxheart Yellows, Scotch Yellows, and 
Dale’s Hybrid, and on the other we used a mixture of 
the White Globe and Round Green-top. The first- 
named sorts were a poor crop, not more than 4 or 5 
tons per acre, leaves and bulbs ; the latter varieties 
were from 8 to 9 tons. Altogether I consider the;pro- 
duce only about half a crop. 
Another piece of light gravelly land of 5 acres was 
manured with indifferently rotted yard manure, about 
22 loads per acre; this was sown the 7th July with 
Round Green-tops, and produced 11} tons bulbs. A 
third, and our earliest piece of Turnips, measuring 
about 8 acres, sown with White Globes on the 29th 
May, having 38 bushels.of the mixed pulverised manure 
applied as already referred to, this produced 18 tons 
bulbs per aere.— i ‘anchester. 
FACTS ON THE POTATO DISEASE, 
Wais it becomes evident that notwithstanding all 
that has been stated or suggested, the cause of the dis- 
ease remains.a mystery, it cannot be preductive of mis- 
chief or delusion, and may be useful to enter into a 
cursory detail of experiments and results that I myself 
have conducted and observed. The surface soil on 
every part of this property is a gritty hazel loam about 
a foot deep ; under it is generally a stratum of reddish 
sandy brick earth, convertible by tillage into garden soil 
of first-rate quality, and under both there is a stiffer 
earth abounding with flints; the whole reposing upon 
