90 



THE AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE. 



[Ff.j,. i 



produce* great quantities of teed which if usually tnreshed 

 with the Flax-seed, and sown again with it iuthe succeed- 

 ing year. 



Several years since I took considerable trouble to ascer- 

 tain if all foreign Flax-seed was mixed with that of the 

 Dodder, and was led to the conclusion that the American 

 Flax-seed is nearly free from this j>e*t, and that that from 

 Russia, and especially Odessa, is peculiarly infested with 

 it. As this is a subject of much importance, I trust that 

 the cultivators of Flax will turn their attention to it. — 

 Charles C. Babinglou, St. John's College, Cambridge. 



ON MINERAL& INORGANIC MANURES.- No. VI. 



By Professor Charlks Sprengbl. 



{Translated from the German.) 



The duration of the action of lime manure depends, first, 

 on the quantity used, and on several other circumstances, 

 to be alluded to. If the amount of lime is calculate 

 of which the soil is deprived by one harvest, ir will be 

 found that 500 lbs. per acre should be sufficient for many 

 years; stiil the plants cannot absorb all the lime which 

 has been brought on a field, because they do not penetrate 

 with their roots every particle of earth ; and a great part 

 of the lime is also nearly lost to the plants by its com- 

 bining with the hydrated silica contained in tiie soil, 

 forming a compound insoluble in water. Another portion 

 is dissolved by the rain and snow-water, so much, viz., m 

 has combined with humic and carbonic acids into salts, 

 which are soluble in water. The silicated lime, it is true, 

 is again in its turn decomposed by the carbonic and humic 

 acids of the soil, whereby humate and carbonate of lime 

 will be formed ; but this always takes place so slowly, 

 that the plants cannot derive much benefit from it. These 

 processes, therefore, fully explain why the manuring with 

 lime needs to be repeated, and why its effect, although 

 (by using large quantities) it may last 25 or 30 years, will 

 not last with small ones more than 6 or 7 years. It is, 

 moreover, to be considered that the salts, which are pro- 

 duced in the soil by manuring with lime, are generally dif- 

 ficultly soluble in watrr. and consequently tint the soil 

 must contain a considerable quantity of them, if they are 

 to improve the growth of plant* or aid their nourishment. 

 The ways in which lime is u-ed as manure are different. 

 Generally, small heaps are formed of it on a field pre- 

 viously ploughed ; these heaps are covered very close!? 

 with a layer of earth, two or three inches thick, and the 

 lime has to remain in that state until it has become 

 slaked. These heaps are afterwards well worked up with 

 the soil above and beneath ; the lime is carefully spread, 

 then harrowed »md ploughed under about two inches 

 deep ; the land is then harrowed ; then another plough- 

 ing, somewhat deeper than the first, is performed ; and 

 the whole operation is concluded by harrowing. Although 

 this process is very simple, and requires little manual 

 labour, it is not to be doubted that it is still imperfect. 

 In the first place, as the heap soon becomes cracked by 

 the swelling of the lime, it will not be protected by the 

 earth from the influence of the atmospheric air, which 

 will cause it to lose its caustic property ; and consequently, 

 when subsequently mixed with the soil, it will not act so 

 powerfully on the organic matter and the coal of humus 

 contained in it. 



Another way of using lime is to throw it, at some short 

 distance from the fields, into one or more large heaps, and 

 to pour so much water upon it as entirely to slake it, and 

 convert it at once into a powder. Three pounds of burnt 

 lime will require for that purpose one pound of water ; 

 t. <•., the two combine chemically in that proportion, and 

 become converted into a dry, very fine powder. On the 

 other hand, not too much water is to be taken, else a pap 

 will be produced, which cannot be spread about, and which 

 when dry will form a hard mortar. If aome lumps of lime 

 ■honld not have been slaked, they are to be thrown aside, 

 when the limedust is conveyed on the fields, and these 

 again sprinkled over with water, and if they should not 

 then fall to piece*, they are either not pure lime, or have 

 not been sufficiently burnt, which can be easily ascer- 

 tained by trying them with a little acid. The main object, 

 after the lime has become slaked, is to spread it as soon 

 as possible over the field, and to proceed with it as stated 

 before ; because everything depends on the lime coming 

 in as caustic a state as possible on the ground, in order to 

 accomplish what we expect. 



The third method of manuring with lime is the follow, 

 ing : - It is placed in conical heaps in alternate layers with 

 vegetable mould, taking three or four parts Iff earth t>one 

 of lime. over which the necessary qoantity of water is after- 

 wards poured ; the heap is then well covered either with turf 

 or straw, over which some earth is to be thrown, and the 

 whole left quiet for three or four weeks. Afterward-, the 

 Jime, winch by this time hss been converted into powder, 

 and the vegetable mould are well worked up, and the 

 carried on the field. There no doubt that this method, 

 provided earth be at hand, is to be preferred , any other 

 as all lime which has not combined with humic said will 

 remain caustic, and will act in the heap very powerfully 

 on the coal of humus. The greatest amount or labour it 

 occasions is fully repaid by the produce obtained, as a 

 considerable quantity of humate of licne is prom. - t, which, 

 as we shall see hereafter, is a superior manure. Vegetable 

 mould, however, is not to be had everywhere. 



In some countries the slaked lime-powder is strewed 

 over the clover-stubble, it is then shallow ploughed, and 

 >re Rye or Wheal is town, the field is harrowed 

 and ploughed several times. But it is not advisable, on 

 any account, to strew the lime-powder over growing crops, 

 because &s it is soluble in water it easily c idea tl 

 plants. It may, however, be used in thst way on meadows 

 on which much moss is growing, as it destroys those plants. 



f and after it has united with the humic acid of the soil it 



will elicit Clover and sweet grasses. 



It is also a general rule, never to manure with lime in 



wet weather, for it will then combine with the sand of the 



soil into mortar. If, however, the lime is onoe well mixed 



up with the soil, rainy weather is desirable, us it then soon 



becomes dissolved and thoroughly well mixed with the 



whole of the furrow-slice, and then acts strongly on hum us, 



the organic inntter, worms, ItC. Lime is burnt in kilns 



variously constructed ; wood, peat, brown or common c 1 



being used us fuel. The chief point in the operation is 



nut to expose it too SOOO to a great In at. nnJ to supply 



the fuel uniformly. To let it cool before it is thoroughly 



burnt is always very injur tout. It wood i* used, the 



ashes obtained will yield a manure superior to the lime 



itself. 



(To tie rnntinutd.) 







ON THE DESIRABLKM >S OF EXPERIMENTAL 



FARMS. 

 It may reasonably be asked, what is the practical 

 benefit likely to arise from the publication of experiments 

 of which the results are not only various, but often con- 

 tradictory, and which are, therefore, more likely to 

 render the farmer scepticul as to any good that is to be 

 derived from the use of the new manures, than to aid 

 him in the choice of that best suited to his own case, or 

 to teach him to calculate upon the result from any fixed 

 principle by which lie may judge of is applicability lo 

 his peculiar soil and situation, l'rofeseur Johnston, of 

 the Durham University, remaik-, in his clever and inte- 

 resting lectures on Agricultural Chemistry, after giving a 

 detail of many experiments with Nitrates, p. 4.01 : •• We 

 are obviously in want of better and more numerous ob- 

 servations, especially in regard to Turnips. The above 

 discordances will either vanish when we obtain a larger 

 collection of results, or they will find an tsplana'u n in 

 the more accurate observations we may expect to nbtsio 

 in regard to the cl mate, soil, and geological portion of the 

 locality in which the experiments are made." He then 

 Eoes on to urge upon »ho«e practical men who are redly 

 desirous of promoting the Vastly important work of Az 

 cultural improvement, to be more minute, exact, and 

 accurate, in the details of their experiments in these 

 respects. These, doubtless, are objects of most desirable 

 attainment, and I fully concur with Mr. Johnston in bis 

 wish and opinion on the subject ; and I gladly avail myself 

 of this opportunity to express my gratitude to him for 

 the benefit he has conferred on Agriculture, by proving, 

 like other philosophical men who nre engaged in the i 

 good work, its connection with, and dependence u 

 those principles of science, without which its practice "can 

 never be subjected to fixed laws, or be secured sgain.t 

 doubtful and unsatisfactory consequences. But if he 

 entertains the hope that such information as he desires, 

 involving the necessity in the party giving it. of sosen 

 knowledge, acute observation, and philosophic research, 

 is to he obtained from the practical farmer, I think I can 

 safely forewarn him of his disap intment. The farmr 

 as such, is the least likely of all men to pursue such 

 experiments to sn impartial and accurate conclusion. His 

 practice is founded upon the custom of his vicinity and his 

 own observation and experience, but he is generally 

 ignorant of the efficacy of chemical agents and too often 

 prejudiced against any innovation of ancient habits— and 

 were his knowledge and acquirements equal to the taik. 

 the time and attention necessary to conduct with due 

 vigilance and accuracy si details Sod experiments arc 

 not at the command of the iudustr . perse*crmg, rent- 

 paying farmer. He must secure his crop oft* H« v when the 

 tn shines, instead of occupying himself with Ihe minute 

 investigation an omperative weight of one plot that b« 

 been manured with this, and another with that ingredient. 

 He must attend a distant market at Ihe time when, from 

 the state of the weather or some o'hrr cense, soasr 

 experiment would have been most accurately tested, and the 

 opportunity being lo«t, probably renders all the care pre- 

 viously beatowed a] i it of no avail. M a n y other reea 

 might be adduced to prove that it would be visionary 

 expect such results from the mere farmer, aud if by 

 dent one should be found with taste, habits, and ioclina- 

 tton for such pursuits, it might not be venturing a very 

 rash conjecture to suggest that he would not be toe first 

 to attend the summons on the rent-dav. But then there 

 are other pracncal Agriculturists besides the rent.pavina; 

 farmers. Where are the patriotic and f oce-lovmg 

 owners of many broad acres— the amateur Cocnnati of 

 ur Agricultural day, w to xealously and so laudably 

 bestow the r time, attention, and means, in a 

 advancement of the most important national work of 

 Agricultural improvement ? That theft are many such I 

 gladly admit, and their exertions entile them to the 

 nation s esteem and gtatimde— but it is not the business 

 or the duty of any in dual to subject himself to the 

 labour and incur the respond v of making etperimento 

 for the Agricultural world, through all the range of Afr 

 cultural science. He may so employ himself for his own 

 information or amnaement,and he may give the results Urn 

 chance of publicity, but still there might be wanting that 

 minute and rigorous investigation of ail the qualities 

 peculiar to the soil and situation, and that small yet in 

 fluential variation in either, which may cause a certai 

 kind of manure to be more or less appp ,Je, or not at 

 all ao, to the object ,o view. This can only be discove 

 by a close chemical analysis of the soil as well as the 

 ■ snure. by which to ascertain, in what property nttexearv 

 to its fertility the one is d tent, and which At other is 

 calcubted to supply. The farmer know, by t*££2 

 that he cannot grow the same kind of crop in sucsssZo 

 •ft the same land without a great falling o«f iu 





and that even with | I management, his land wTHT 

 time I nine unproductive of certain crop. Wllfll lQ 



at too short intervals— but it I* for the « mical IJvH 

 gator to explain, -f what peculiar property such crnnsh 

 exhausted it. aud what particular kind of manure is best *7 

 eniated for its restoration, ■• well as to detei nunc wlutnret 

 reroute certain . Usses of plsnts have for one kind of 

 nure over others. An extensive course of experiment** 

 well conducted under the dire* n of capable and wi/' 

 tiru men, aud their results published in a fvstenif 

 manner, would afford to the farmer a dictionary of jtl>i 

 cuhurr by wh-ch he would kn>w what r ta to **!l1 

 from the application of certain kinds of manure to eertaj 

 descriptions <>f toll and crops, without working in tV 

 dark and trying for himself hap-haxard exp« ents too 

 often ending in disappointment. But the qutttftm will U 

 asked, how i. this most desirable object »o be attained' 

 I confess that it seems to me to be •piitt within tht reach 

 of those sealous aud influential gentlemen who hare 

 already em d so much in the establishment of an i nit j. 

 ti n a* \et so » ung, but still so wealthy and prospered 

 as the Royal English Agricultural So y. Tlie m,d CT . 

 taking would doubtless be attended with trouble and labou, 

 to those who should engage in If, and what public and 

 useful work is exempt from them? but I cannot antirinite 

 anyinauperahle difficulties, nor conceive of any object more 

 worthy their attention and the appropriation oft part of 

 tbrir ample funds and resources than the establithsssut of 

 one farm at least for the purpose of coodur < expsria*nti 

 in Agriculture upon scientific principles, and on aoexten- 

 aive scale ; such experiments to be conducted, as a matter 

 f necessity, by aome tt*t or more persons thoroughly 

 conversant with then I ry. (asology, ll.tany. and tat 

 r branches of science bearing upon that object, sad 

 solely responsible, under the direction of a committee a? 

 nianage-nestt, for the truth and accuracy of their details 

 and result*. To enter into soy particulars of the ar- 

 r an ge meats of such sn • ation «oald be pre ma tan at 

 the prose. :ime. ' ertaiii examples of the kind do exist 

 on the Continent of Europe, but they are in many respects 

 deftc:i«e, and capable of much improveanttit The sub- 

 ject bts been ably treated in an lest article is the 

 •I >urnal of the English At issttJ Society, b . I Wester 

 li-ubcoy. which u may be hoped will attract thtatlei 

 it mer 1 . in addition to ao etpttisneatal farm f< 

 by the Kngliah Agricultural Madefy, the National 

 of Soot land and Ireland would alto follow its 

 and if a regular inte rch a n g e of eoaamtsiicalion were maia- 

 tained between the sOs t a wilt swan at the head of eae 

 blishment, under some p r t i to sjady-ar ranged plan 

 ducting ai.oitor exp- risnen? - the variet » tf climate 

 the aeetrai h ae tkations would iiiistsiiilj embrace, ant 

 the variety of soil whit* ftt t tj rtl e sreo ma t tnees, tided by t 

 little care in the I late ti e n . sweat elso Of**, would give 

 them ample means of detecting the taxes* n.flaenca 

 a i the variations of soil and rlinsate are found ta 

 rxerciae on the vrgatable and aaisaal worlds. A summary 

 and digest of their cc axsa wa wd r laatiioai judicsattly pre- 

 pared for publication, would present to the public such s 

 • mpendium of Agricultural knowledge, be sad upon scien- 

 tific pnr ■% and reduced to practice, at it has never yet 

 poeeested. nor is ever likely to patten, bet through 

 tmbinatio tf e lsan att equally extent and ei 

 iwerful for good, s - fetch I have enumerate 

 would add tatjre to oar information on this all i 

 •abject in the enaatog ttt) year, that) is lit' » o be 

 If a century of oniaiitaad awd tssttal otaev'.tlon.-r"/- 

 /rosfef, ** prrauMiee, /raws m ■■UssWsf " frveusst t/ 

 F.*j»r%m**U % |rt,* Ay Jokm Grep. / Di 



I »N OORSI, A » 



r.,fwaawst f~m aaaje 

 Trooom almost every fartstt In that pert of Wales aid 

 which 1 am a iq iaswt td feeds hn boreea with Gorse V » 

 grow. tueally on any part of hie hind ■ ve .mall 

 torn of them Uke the » r.tmg it fur that , 



poeo, except upon the tape of thai r fewcv* bank. f<* •'«* 

 use a roasiderablt quant. t T of seed t. im twitted froai Ire- 

 land, the price rliai.ttsag frttt Sat to 1. po- If ">f 



person cultivates it for tale, they prefer purrh 



crop of him at the rate of ** en acre, to the 



•y of capital, in raising . pweeantal supply 



which ocr the soil for two or three years bessre it 



comes to its f. t,!,,,. At my sssfjaalasii the sseaagaf 



t"" 1 Railway « «»4 t upon the embar.ktatt*) 



thst work, with the doubl bjeot of preve 



•rtd prodwehsg aome retain. The . inual sale ifltf ttt 



»«ar prodweed I0f/.. and the rate, per ttf t. at 



which the better j sa jf loess of the rr ••« W *J 



I ave stated eta Tbt perthttlra were tt •tft* 



farmers, emsjioytd in carrying t^.aaatr assd slate from tat 

 m.nea end qua ^ in the sicn U hile s ? • "f • 



rfolk, durir lf over, dry snmsatt •» wh.rh the tUj 

 rrwft were K reai|y d i i tif t , I proposed to a faraw •*• 

 was ont rtg a wont wf feawier for his horses during 



en* g winter, to u*e far tl parpen* tot Q*^ 

 which was growmg in ■tfniioi [ ■haajdnssrs on the frnovt 

 of his farm and on the - atat gronnd of toe lanes so* 

 rounding it. I .aisiil i i in evnvfeeine; him of th* tulot 

 of it, but the pcejadsost of bis men preerated bit odm-nj 

 the sugf-atJon. and he pr » ferr t d pnrchsajang Hay at a ai|» 

 When land already sjajskr arable catture il »"* 

 tended to he laid sWa wrtb Gorse. a crop of Oats sriayij 

 taken with it, bat toey should be town thin, or they wdJ 

 injnre the young plants. The usual allowance of Got* 

 aead is from 12 to 15 lbs. per acre. If intended to » 



awl atasald bt 



m 



pon rough land under pastaee. tbt 



pared and burned, and a crap of Oats msy be taastft 

 nrst year, under the precautions I hare ment 



Should Ihe land with this treataae^t ba> ssasb that a 



