THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 



391 



of these absorptive powers. In the first 

 instance, we must bear in mind, that the 

 rule laid down in reference to the decompo- 

 sition of the different double silicates, ap- 

 plies only to the\ action of the salts of 

 different bases on the silicates. For in- 

 stanch, a solution of muriate of ammonia, 

 poured upon a soil containing the double 

 silicate of alumina and lime,* will give 

 rise to the ammonia doifble silicate and 

 the formation of muriate of lime ; but, 

 on the other hand, the free alkaline base 

 lime, will decompose the ammonia double 

 silicate, and cause the evaporation of it 

 in a gaseous form. Secondly, it is well to 

 remember, that the action of heat destroys 

 the absorptive properties of these double 

 silicates altogether, and also changes their 

 chemical properties materially. Thus the 

 double silicate ot alumina and lime, after 

 having been heated to redness, neither 

 absorbs ammonia from the atmosphere, 

 nor is decomposed by being brought in 

 contact with a solution of an ammoniacal 

 salt. In the third place, it is n-ecessary 

 to state, that although the double silicates 

 of alumina, with other bases, are nearly 

 insoluble in water, yet they are not en- 

 tirely so. Moreover, we must not forget 

 to observe, that they are not dissolved as 

 such, but that water dissolves out of each 

 a small quantity of the base with which 

 the silicate of alumina is united. Thus 

 Professor Way has shown that a gal- 

 lon of water dissolves from the ammo- 

 nia silicate about one grain of ammo- 

 nia, or one part in 70,000, and water 

 charged with carbonic acid 2 527 grains, 

 or 2^ times the quantity dissolved by 

 pure water. It was likewise observed 

 that common salt increased the solubility 

 of ammonia from its double silicate very 

 considerably ; direct determinations hav- 

 ing shown that 1000 grains of a solution 

 of common salt, containing 1-97 per cent, 

 of salt, dissolved 0-33 grain of ammonia, 

 or at the rate of 23-1 grains in the gallon, 

 which is twenty times as much as pure 

 water, (Way.) It will be perceived, ac- 

 cordingly, that notwithstanding the small 

 solubility of the double silicates, the ne- 

 cessary amount of fertilizing constituents 

 which they contain, may be furnished by 

 them to the growing plants ; for not only 

 are the soluble bases, such as potash and 

 ammonia, gradually dissolved by much 

 water from the double silicates, but also 



saline compounds occurring in the soil or 

 in the manure, promote their liberation to 

 a considerable extent. 



We have given a somewhat detailed ac- 

 count of Professor Way's researches, be- 

 cause they are replete with interesting 

 and practically useful information. Our 

 limits do not allow us to enter into a dis- 

 cussion of the practical inferences which 

 have been drawn by the learned Profes- 

 sor from his researches. But we cannot 

 refrain to observe, that they go far to 

 explain the differences in the natural 

 productive powers of soils, and are calcu- 

 lated to affect several agricultural prac- 

 tices, especially the application of ma- 

 nures to the land. To mention only one 

 particular, they teach us the important 

 fact that, in a practical point of view, it 

 makes no difference whether we use the 

 sulphate or muriate of ammonia, and that 

 consequently the cheapest salt is the 

 most preferable. For further particulars, 

 we refer the reader to the 11th and 13th 

 vols, of the Royal Agricultural Society's 

 Journal, in which two papers on the ab- 

 sorptive powers of soils, by Professor 

 Way, will be found. [a. v. J 



- To " Head" and Expel Rats. — A wri- 

 ter in the Boston Cultivator recommends 

 potash for this purpose. The rats trou- 

 bled him very much. They appeared in 

 great numbers, and were very troublesome, 

 so that he felt justified in resorting to ex- 

 treme measures 1o effect their expulsion. 

 He pounded up potash and strewed it 

 around their holes, and rubbed some under 

 the boardes, and on the sides where they 

 came through. The next night he heard 

 a squealing among them, which he sup- 

 posed from the caustic nature of the pot- 

 ash that got among their hair or on their 

 bare feet. They disappeared, and for a 

 long time he was exempt from any farther 

 annoyance. 



A Remarkable Cow. — A cow belong- 

 ing: to Mr. Lewis Cabell, of Amherst 

 county, died a few days since, in whose 

 womb was discovered one hundred and two 

 young calves! One of them was fully de- 

 veloped — but the others, though perfectly 

 shaped, were about the size of rats. This 

 is a remarkable instance — but we are in- 

 formed, on authority which we cannot dis- 

 I credit, that it is strictly and literally true. 



