] 



THE AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE. 



467 





.r 



i, 



~ """"*<> of these in after life, and whenever their 



W ith ^; U ° currcd to the scenes of their early days, 



T^Z lamatfon had constantly been, » Oh that we had 

 jhe,r exclamau unit|cg of acqlliring modern Ian- 



bad the ^ me am ^ faC ilities for acquiring scientific know- 

 Pf^'whfch exist in these days! How much we 

 ¥ gC ,7 Have been enabled to do which we have been 



cwS S Vrv^r i How much more might we 



have a 



decomposition with the ammonia contained in the urine, the other part of the field would hardly bend to the 



Tkio APciirs in tho frtll.t«in<r mmn»r . Th» cnlnhurir fiicklp lit *hf»srinp' time, 'his vpjir th#» Ha* is \ni\piner 



Wr^ve been enabled to do which we have been 

 should hare £ ^ ^^ | ^ ^^ m we 



^predated, and perhaps contributed to, those 



.nleadll realities in physical science which are now 



*? AMnl their beneficial influence over every country of 

 shedding tn ^ ^ ^ ^ M asgociates looked back 



« their own difficulties, it was doubly gratifying to 

 Zm to witness the advantages which were placed within 

 ♦weach of their young friends, whose exertions had 

 Afforded the audience so much pleasure in the course of 

 5k venine From what he bad seen he could not doubt 

 ♦Wthev had felt much delight in acquiring the know- 

 Eire the? had displayed. He could fully appreciate the 

 Sht of all persons who loved the promotion of educa- 

 tion at the successful results they had seen of the 

 attempt to combine the knowledge of foreign languages 

 and modern science with the usual branches of education. 

 It was to an improved knowledge in these branches of 

 education that they must look for an extension of that 

 Intercourse, and a strengthening of those bonds of mutual 

 gvm p a thy, which were calculated, the more they were 

 extended, to connect man with man, in the pursuit of 

 objects of the most elevated kind. He could not pass 

 over, without particular notice, the chemical lecture 

 which they had heard from one of the pupils. He could 

 not recommend too earnestly to the young persons pre- 

 ient the necessity of acquainting themselves with 

 chemical science. That young persons might do so, had 

 been most successfully demonstrated on that evening. 

 The cultivation of the love of science in young persons 

 was of the highest importance, even if it had no definite 

 purpose in connexion with their pursuits in afterlife, 

 which it sometimes influenced materially. The differ- 

 ence between youths who had been thus educated and 

 those who had not, was apparent to the most superficial 

 observer. Their mode of thinking, and even the tone of 

 their conversation, were influenced by this mode of 

 training to a very great extent, and he was satisfied that 

 the great exertions of their teachers would be appreciated 

 more and more as their pupils advanced in life, and found 

 the immense advantages of their education on the prin- 

 ciples adopted in this school, which would entwine 

 themselves with all their habits and associations, as well 

 as with the varied duties to which their future occupa- 

 tions might lead them. Physical science was universal 

 in its operations, and necessarily embodied everything 

 that was associated with the useful arts, as well as with 

 tbc Comforts and elegancies of life, and in one depart^ 



'toent, viz., agriculture, the young pupils preparing for 

 this profession would only be astonished as they pro- 

 ceeded, at the long and lingering slowness with which 

 the farmers had hitherto taken up and applied that know- 

 ledge, particularly of chemistry, which gave significant 

 proof that it would soon do as much for agriculture as it 

 had already achieved for arts and manufactures. Those 

 who had not been thus educated were frequently con- 

 suming their time unprofitably both to themselves and 

 Others. But when acquainted with science, young per- 

 sons were constantly engaged in the discovery of new 

 facts, or in some inquiry which had for its object the 

 pursuit, development, and demonstration of truth. — M. S. 



ON LIQUID MANURE.— No. II. 

 In pursuing the subject of the best and most eco- 

 nomical ingredient for fixing the ammonia generated 

 during the putrefaction of urine, we next come to sul- 

 phate of lime, known as gypsum, plaster stone, alabaster, 

 or plaster of Paris ; it exists abundantly in many parts 

 of England, and is composed of — 



Lime 



This occurs in the following manner : — The sulphuric 

 acid, which is in combustion with the lime in gypsum, 

 quits the lime and combines with the ammonia, forming 

 sulphate of ammonia; while the lime, the other consti- 

 tuent of the gypsum, combines with the carbonic acid 

 which was in combination with the ammonia before the 

 formation of sulphate of ammonia, and forms a carbonate 

 of lime or chalk ; this subsides to the bottom of the tank, 

 and will require to be removed occasionally ; the follow- 

 ing diagram will show the change which occurs in the 

 constituents : — 



_, . . , . r Carbonic add 



Carbonate of ammonia, { Ammon4a ^ s 



composed of (Um ^* 



Gypsum, composed of t Sulphuric acid 



Carbonate of 



lime. 

 Sulphate of 



ammonia. 



From the difficult solubility of gypsum, only a small 

 portion of it can be taken up in solution at any one time, 

 which portion soon undergoes decomposition, and may 

 be replaced by another portion, and so on until all in its 

 turn lias become soluble, and undergone decomposition, 

 this change being greatly facilitated by frequent agita- 

 tion ; in fact, without it, the gypsum would remain at 

 the bottom of the tank as an inert mass, while the am- 

 monia would continue to escape from its surface and be 

 lost. From a series of experiments I have lately con- 

 ducted to ascertain the relative power of different bub- 

 stances to form fixed salts of ammonia, I found that it 

 required several days before the ammonia in putrid urine 

 was effectually converted into a sulphate by the use of 

 gypsum reduced to powder, even when the contents of 

 the vessel was stirred twice a day. The same result was 

 attained in less than half the time when a sulphate of 

 lime was used, which was expressly prepared for the 

 purpose by precipitation ; this was owing to a more 

 minute state of division of the particles of the sulphate, 

 and, consequently, more ready solubility. 



When burnt gypsum was used it became partly con- 

 solidated, and consequently of little effect, until again 

 reduced to powder, when it acted effectually. When im- 

 perfectly powdered gypsum was used, only those portions 

 underwent decomposition which were reduced to a fine 

 powder, the outer portion of the coarse granular powdeJr 

 becoming coated with a crust of carbonate of lime, which 

 totally prevented any further action of the ammonia on 

 the gypsum inclosed within. Hence it is evident that 

 unless gypsum be reduced to a very fine powder, it can- 

 not undergo perfect decomposition, and also, that this 

 action is greatly facilitated by frequently stirring the 



mixture. 



sickle at shearing time. This year the Hay is lodging 

 where the Moss was put on, while in the other part of 

 the field there is but a poor thin covering. — A.C. 



Ox-eye Daisy. — Having observed a paragraph from 

 11 A Subscriber," requesting to be informed of a method 

 of getting rid of the Ox-eye Daisy, I beg to 6tate that 

 in a field in my po-session that had recently been laid 

 down for permanent pasture, the Ox-eye Daisy sprung; 

 up in a part of it so thickly as to exclude other vegeta- 

 tion. The weed was mowed down when in flower, and 

 the field was close fed by sheep for the ensuing year, 

 when the Ox-eye Daisy entirely disappeared. — A.C.L. 



Phenomenon. — In a field of Rye-grass and Red Clover 

 now nearly fit for the scythe, we have observed more 

 than once, at mid-day, a thin vapour arise on the 

 windward side, and gradually spread over the whole sur- 

 face, measuring W acres ; and at the distance of half a 

 mile, it appeared like the smoke of a large brick-kiln, 

 and to parties near, quite a thin vapour. Now, the wind 

 was light, and the day perfectly serene and beautiful. 

 It travels along with the current of air, but there cer- 

 tainly was no appearance of disturbance in the air ; and, 

 what appears strange, it is confined to one field. The 

 soil is a rich loam, and in a very dry state, having^ had 

 no rain and but little dew for many weeks. — IV. D. 

 [May this not be owisg to the disturbance of the herbage 

 by a gust of wind, which would raise, here and there, in 

 the form of a vapour, the pollen of the ripe and dry Grass?] 

 Turnip-seed. — One man is born with a silver spoon 

 in his mouth, another with a wooden ladle. Some of 

 your happy correspondents, by soaking their Turnip-seed 

 in Linseed-oil, and drying it in flowers of sulphur, have 

 for years escaped the fly. I diligently soaked my Swede- 

 seed this year in Linseed-oil for 48 hours, rubbing it 

 repeatedly "to impregnate every seed. I endeavoured to 

 dry it with powdered sulphur,' rubbing it diligently with 

 more and more sulphur lor five days together, until it 

 was dry. I drilled it thick enough to please Mr. Morton, 

 so that it comes up like Mustard and Cr.ss ; but the 

 Turnip-flies seem as if they were a body of yeomanry 

 called out this month, and they dress by the Turnip- 

 rows exactly, and there is not a seed-leaf (such exact 

 discipline do they keep) which is not perforated by them 

 like a sieve, bating the numerous instances in which they 

 have eaten up the entire cotyledon. Wishing all other 

 farmers better success in the experiment, I am, &c. — 



W. P., Taunton. 

 Mare and Foal.— Not seeing any answer in your 



xlU re. Paper to your correspondent's question respecting a 



As a proof that the decomposition of the gypsum has « mar e and foal," I send the following -.—Tie the mare 



taken place, the following test maybe applied: — Remove nn in n atahU whwi the foal is to be admitted to her, 



a portion of the precipitated powder, place it in a glass 



vessel, and pour over it vinegar or diluted muriatic acid as 



long as cflfer?aacence occurs ; should a portion of powder 



remain undissolved, it will, in all probability, be unde- 



composed gypsum, but should the whole dissolve with 



effervescence, the decomposition of the gypsum has been 



complete. It would always be advisable to have a por- 

 tion of undecoraposed gypsum in the tank, ready to act 



on the ammonia as soon as generated, and to have the 



contents well stirred, at least twice a week. 



In using sulphate of lime or gypsum in liquid manure, 



to convert the ammonia into a sulphate, for every 148 lbs. 



of (unburnt) gypsum, one cwt. of sulphate of ammonia 



will be formed; the same quantity will be obtained by the 



decomposition of 118 lbs. of burnt gypsum, or common 



plaster of Paris.'— Alfred Gyde, Painswick. 



(To be continued). 



Sulphuric acid 

 Water . 



28.5 

 40.0 

 18.0 

 86.5 



Tp 86.5 



it gypsum be subjected to a red heat, it parts with its water, 

 is easily reduced to powder, and is known as ordinary 

 plaster of Paris : in this state it has a great affinity for 

 water, readily combining with it, and in a short time 

 setting into a hard mass. Sulphate of lime is sparingly 

 soluble in water, at ordinary temperatures ; 500 parts of 

 water only dissolving one part of sulphate of lime. It 

 exists in some soils, and is dissolved by rain water as it 

 sinks through the earth. Hence it is found in the waters 

 ot many springs and rivers, and it Is frequently the 

 cause of hardness in water. 



' gypsum strongly recommends itself to the English 

 wrmer, from the low price at which it may be obtained, 

 a* a means of converting the volatile carbonate of am- 

 ™ia contained in putrid urine into a sulphate of 

 mmonia, which is not volatile. But to insure its pro- 

 first 1 effect » ifc is necessary that it should, in the 

 * Place, be reduced to an impalpable powder, since it 

 niy when in solution that gypsum can be decomposed 



■oluhl t,0n ° f ammonia » and as it: is so SP 3 ""^ 

 oie, every precaution is necessary to insure success ; 



8, nce, the finer the powder it is reduced to, the more 

 "HMilj 'soluble does it become, it is necessary that this 



coarLi G Cl ° 8eiy attende d to. If it were only crushed or 

 h#J T ground, it would be in vain to expect it to 



!*y 



*e soluble, or to fix the 



ammonia. 



It is also ueces- 



e 



t ^ en t«y raked up from the bottom of the "vessel or 



brineir? ^ hi ° h il ia used ' 8ince ifc is onl y b 7 fre( l uentl y 

 tha* If. U into contact with fresh portions of liquid 



\vf io,ution « effected. F 



Home Correspondence. 



Fixation of Ammonia.— There is a slight mistake in 

 the Notices to Correspondents of your Paper, June 15th, 

 upon the subject of my experiments with sulphuric acid 

 as a fixer of the ammonia in decomposing urine. 

 According to my experiment, 16 gallons of putrid urine 

 require for neutralisation 60£ ounces by weight of sul- 

 phuric acid of sp. gr. 1.850. The quantity, however, will 

 vary according to the strength of the add or the state of 

 decomposition of the urine. I should prefer using diluted 

 acid, in the proportion of 1 pound of acid to 6 or 8 of 

 water adding the solution until all effervescence ceases. 

 The composition found to be of so much value by your 

 correspondent " H. D.," of Witham, is strictly in accord- 

 ance with chemical theory, or rather fact. H. D. 

 supplies to his plants all the elements of their composi- 

 tion The crop being Turnips, the loss of the ammonia 

 of the urine is not felt. If he were to fix his urine with 

 dilute sulphuric acid, and then use it in the same way 

 and apply it to Wheat or Beans, he will have excellent 

 crops. In the way in which he has used the urine, it is 

 probable no fresh combinations were entered into, or 

 were necessary. Bones, charcoal, and urine contain 

 everything, except silica, which the plant requires ; and 

 of this Turnips want little or none. Chemical Science 

 will in the end, attain its proper position in Agriculture. 

 Practice may be, and is frequently wrong. Science maybe 

 applied incorrectly, but its truths are incontrovertible, 

 and must be right— C. R. Bree, Stowmarket. 



Peat as a Top Dressing for Gravelly Sotl.—in i»*- 

 I pTantd a ten-acre field it this soil with Potatoes and 

 after the Potatoes were gathered in l**™^ 1 *™* 

 part of it a covering of about three .inches deep of raw 

 Moss, and over that again a slight sP™ k * m f° f J w ^ h 

 Last year it was sown with Barley, and laid *°*»™* 

 Clove' and Rye-grass ; the Barley was lodgm « n the 

 part that got the covering of Moss, whilejhe Barley in 



up in a stable when the foal is to be admitted to her. 

 and let a man stand behind her armed with a broomstick 

 (a suitable broomstick — a switch or whip will not do)* 

 and when the sare offers to bite or kick the foal, let it 

 be applied to the fleshy parts of the hind quarters. 

 There is great virtue in a broomstick, but it all depends 

 upon its being well applied, and with right good will. I 

 have made a very savage mare take her foal in this way. 

 Let vour correspondent observe, I much prefer gentle 

 measures, and onlv recommend the broomstick in ex- 

 treme cases, where all such have failed. I have no 

 doubt, though I never had occasion to try it, that a foal 

 might be brought up on cow's milk from a bottle, as used 

 by shepherds for lambs, till it was old enough to drink 

 it from a pail, taking care not to give the milk too cold. 



-— D., an Old Dragoon. 



Bran.— In answer to H. Lawson s request, 1 beg to 

 refer him to page 108 of Sir H. Davy's «' Agricultural 

 Chemistry," where the constituents of 100 parts of ashes 

 of bran are said to be — 



Soluble salts . . . 44.16 

 Earthy phosphates . . < 6 - 5 



Silica J 



Metallic oxides . • •" 



Loss ...» 8 - 5 9 





Wh 



dissolved 



100.00 



//. S., Bedhampton. [Another correspondent " C. J.' 

 refers us to Dr. lire's" Dictionary of Arts ^Manu- 

 factures," under the word Bran. Saussure found bran 

 to contain a large proportion of inorganic matter almost 

 identical with that of Wheat ; vix., very rich m potash 



and the phosphates.] . , 



Farmyard Manure.-lt is now known to mo, far- 

 mers that, when cattle are full-grown, nearly all he 

 mers imy, w " . , H are re turned with the 



mineral ing«d.enU of the o ^ ^ .^^ 



wUh Pt th g e S To d Cerements. Because we find certain 

 ^er 1 sub tances contained in all plants in definite 

 *nrHnns we may conclude that these are absolutely 

 ^^STfiMhSr^gorau. growth. It is, therefore, 

 m<v to understand how farmyard manure supplies the 

 crops with food, as it contains it in the proportions re- 

 ouired by them. Of what importance must it not be 

 carefully to preserve this manure I In its natural state, 

 however, it contains ingredients which, if left to them- 

 selves, are dissipated in the air, thus occasioning loss to 

 the farmer. How are these ingredients to be preserved, 

 and what are they ? They are nitrogenous substances, that 

 is to say, they contain that element— Nitrogen— whicn en- 

 ters so largely into the composition of the plant, and serve^ 

 to form the most nutritious portion of it. They *"* 

 tained in two forms— as urea, and carbonate or kd ^ 

 nia. The urea, as such, cannot serve as too ^ 



plant, and is only of use when converted into ^^ 

 ammonia. Now it so happens that such a c&ang ^ fc 

 place when urine is left to itself ; and a c ^ ^ 



[•lace ttu^u uiiuv *« *%,•» -- - . 



in luav gu v »***> ™-- * — — . formed — carbonate of ammonia * { it 



r T he urate of the l^^ A ^\^^^T^ I "^ M ™ triment T^JjJuTput it into 

 Pypsum heated to redness, and thrown into putna unnt., Tolatility . and we must endeavoar to i 



removed, dried, and crushed. I 



•erve 



is its 



an un. 



