GOOSEBERpaES. 
279 
crenic acids they contain. The former is a new 
organic acid found in all soils, and in mineral 
waters, as well as in the juices of plants. It was 
first discovered in the Porla Spring, by Berze- 
lius, and was named by him, crenic acid, from 
the Greek word signifying a fountain or spring. 
It abounds more in subsoils than on the surface, 
owing to the solubility of some of its combina- 
tions, particularly those with lime and alkalies. 
It possesses highly fertilising properties, when 
neutralised by bases forming soluble salts. Apo- 
crenic acid, is another new acid, first discovered, 
also, by Berzelius, in the waters of the Porla 
Spring. Its name signifies " from the crenic," 
as it is always found with that acid. It is one 
of the constant ingredients of the organic mat- 
ter, or mould of soils, and is an active fertilising 
agent, being highly charged with nitrogen. It 
is found combined with protoxide of iron, form- 
ing bog-iron ore. Its combinations with bases are 
called % ' apo-crenates," some of which are highly 
soluble, as the apo-crenates of the alkalies, pot- 
ash, soda, and ammonia; others, again, are 
difficultly soluble, as the apo-crenates of lime, 
alumina, manganese, and of the protoxide of 
iron. Alkalies decompose all the insoluble apo- 
crenates, and form, with the acid, fertilising 
manures. [See Jackson's Final Report of the 
Geology of New Hampshire, pp. 365, 366.] 
Melted snow, or rain water, it is well known, 
is a true manure, containing carbonic acid, a 
little ammonia, and a small amount of salts. Its 
fertilising effects on vegetation are too familiar 
with most of our readers to need repetition here. 
Common river water usually contains more or 
less of the constituents of vegetable and animal 
bodies; and. after rains, there is generally a 
greater proportion of these constituents than at 
other times, which is habitually largest when 
the source of the stream is in a cultivated coun- 
try. Whenever the water has flowed over or 
through a calcareous or limy bed, it is generally 
found impregnated with carbonate of lime; and 
such water tends, in that respect, to ameliorate a 
soil in proportion, as though any, of the modifica- 
tions of lime and charcoal were deficient; but 
where these are already in excess, water, charged 
with a limy sediment, should be withheld ; while 
that impregnated with sand, clay, plaster of Pa- 
ris, or particles of iron, would be beneficial. 
But most of the benefits of irrigation, as be- 
fore intimated, may be derived from any k«ind 
of water, (salt water excepted,) provided the soil 
be not already overcharged with the prevailing 
ingredients in the deposit, or sediment left by 
the water; and provided, on the other hand, that 
the ingredients of the soil and the ingredients of 
the deposit are not pernicious when combined. 
For instance, water containing ferruginous im- 
pregnations, (particles of iron,) tends to fertil- 
ise a calcareous or limy soil, while on a soil that 
does not effervesce with acids, which is one of 
the tests of the presence of lime, it is injurious. 
Again, calcareous waters, which are known by 
the earthy deposits they afford, when boiled, are 
of most benefit on silicious or flinty soils con- 
taining no appreciable amount of carbonate of 
lime. 
Thus, if the farmer has a complete command 
over a neighboring quantity of water, contain- 
ing a suitable alluvial deposit, he may render a 
cultivated level, or an incline plane, requiring 
rest and a cheap manure, extremely productive 
with comparatively little labor, by irrigating on 
the principles we have laid down. 
GOOSEBERRIES. 
This delicious fruit seldom attains perfection 
in this country owing to our dry, hot climate. 
In England and Scotland, where the climate is 
much cooler and moister, the gooseberry grows 
to a much larger size, and acquires a very fine 
flavor. Entire success has been secured in their 
cultivation in this country, by thoroughly cut- 
ting out the tops; manuring with saltpetre or 
common salt, mulching with salt hay, and by 
the use of other fertilisers. 
One of our friends adopts the plan of rearing 
them in alternate rows between his grapevines, 
which are trained on wire trellis work. The 
gooseberry starts early, and has the full benefit 
of the sun, while the spring and early summer 
rains abound. When the sun has attained 
greater power, and the ground and atmosphere 
have become drier, the fresh manures from the 
vines, and their broad and thickly-clustering 
leaves afford ample protection to the gooseber- 
ries. This practice is so successful, that he as- 
sures us he has sent many bushels to market 
this season, from a few bushes, besides supply- 
ing his large family with all they could consume. 
DIXON'S PATENT FOR FIRING KILNS FOR 
POTTERY, &c. 
The following is a description of the princi- 
ple, or character, which distinguishes the above 
improvement in firing kilns for baking pottery, 
bricks, draining tiles, etc., from all other things 
before known, and of the manner of making, 
constructing, and using the same, reference be- 
ing had to the accompanying engravings, mak- 
ing part of the specification, in which fig. 74 is 
an elevation of the front of the kiln, and fig. 75 a 
horizontal section. The same letters indicate 
like parts in the figures. 
Pottery and porcelain or other kinds of earthen 
ware, require a greatly diffused heat, on account 
of the amount of room occupied in the kiln. If 
the heat be not diffused, the articles near the 
fire ; that is, at the bottom of the kiln, will be 
" overtired,'' or burned, and those at or near the 
top will be " slack burned," or not sufficiently 
baked. The only kinds of fuel heretofore used 
for this purpose, are wood and coal, the former 
being preferable, on account of the greater 
amount of flame produced by the combustion; 
but even with the kinds of wood that give the 
most flame, the lower part of the kiln will be 
" overtired," while the upper part is " slack 
burned." 
In all kinds of fuel heretofore used for 
this purpose, after the combustion has pro- 
gressed sufficiently to have distilled out the 
volatile parts, there remains in the furnace a 
mass of incandescent coals, which give out 
an intense, but not a diffused heat, and over- 
fires the lower part of the kiln. 
