14 ILLINOIS DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 



One solitary experiment rarely settles a question of this magnitude be- 

 yond a doubt; therefore, I give you this for what it is worth. 



My object at this time has been to invite your attention to scientific re- 

 searches in regard to the soil and its production. 



This would appear to be a favorable time for the increase and diffusion 

 of dairy and agricultural knowledge. 



The growth of our country demands it. Thinking, practical men, with 

 brains, are seeking after and anxious to receive instruction ; scientific men 

 are on the alert, for the purpose of making new discoveries and clearing up 

 what is yet unknown to the great producing world. 



It is claimed that much of our wet land in Illinois contains more or less 

 iron, frequently in the state of sulphate. Now, we not unfrequently hear 

 the farmer say that such land does not produce well, because it is sour. Who 

 of you have ever proven this to be a fact ? 



Did it ever occur to you that a very simple experiment would settle, 

 pretty conclusively, the existence of sulphate of iron if held in aqueous solu- 

 tion in the soil ? If au infusion of green tea, white oak bark, or other sub- 

 stance containing tannin, be mixed with such water, the infusion becomes 

 at once dark colored or black; this being the case, the simple application of 

 common quick-lime, a substance which has a stronger affinity for the sul- 

 phuric acid than the iron, will take up the acid, forming with it sulphate of 

 lime, which is nothing more or less than gypsum. By this simple treatment 

 of the soil, which is within the reach of almost every dairy farmer, he can 

 change his sulphate of iron, which renders his soil unproductive, to a sub- 

 stance which serves to quicken and render it productive. The sulphuric acid 

 being removed from the sulphate of iron, leaves the latter in a state of first 

 oxide, which, on exposure to air, will, in a short time, be converted into the 

 second or red oxide, which is not hurtful to vegetation, but, on the contrary, 

 is frequently used by the ladies in the earth about their plants, to increase 

 the brilliancy of the color of the flowers. There are frequently other acids in 

 the soil connected witb decaying vegetable matter. Humus is a mixture of 

 humic, ulmic, and some other acids with decaying vegetable matter. This, at 

 the expense of the oxygen of the air and water, forms more soluble acids, 

 like tfie ulmic, acetic, lactic, crenic, mudesic, etc , among which is some car- 

 bonic. Now, is not the farmer perfectly correct in saying that his wet soil is 

 sour? Will he not be induced to give it a moderate dose of quick-lime, to 

 change that aridity and render it more fertile? 



Before leaving this subject you will please allow me to make one sugges- 

 tion which bears upon my mind with much force at the present time, which 

 is, that you dairy farmers, located wherever you may be, organize yourselves 

 in your respective neighborhoods into a dairy or farmers' club, for the pur- 

 pose of mutual improvement and pecuniary benefit, where you may meet 

 once a month, or oftener, as the case may be, there to discuss and familiarize 

 yourselves with subjects pertaining to your calling. At the same time, do 

 not forget to invite your wives, together with your daughters, and your sons, 

 also, to meet with you and take part in the discussion. Ladies should unhes- 

 itatingly post themselves in matters connected with the daily walks of life 

 in which their husbands are engaged, as well as the other sex, for who 

 knows how soon the messenger of death may knock at the door and remove 



