EXPERIMENTS OP AGRICULTURISTS, ETC 
377 
tinguish their forms clearly, I had to digest them 
successively in sulphuric and nitric acids, by which 
all extraneous matters were dissolved out between 
the shells as well as the lime of the little shells 
themselves. This lime is included in the analysis 
return, and did not amount to more than 3J per 
cent. This is so much less than might be expected 
from molluscous shells, and the quantity of phos- 
phoric acid in the whole marl being much less than 
even fossils should yield, that I am led to believe 
their ingredients, (lime and phosphoric acid,) have 
been dissolved out by the slow chemical action of 
time, and their place taken up by oxide of iron and 
silica, which has filtered into and fossilized the 
shells, and given them the dark color which they 
present on examination. After digestion in nitric 
acid, those grains lose their black color and are of 
a liver-brown tint, owing, (as I believe,) to the 
iron being converted into the red or peroxide by 
nitric acid. Small, however, chemically speaking, 
as the phosphoric acid is in amount, it is yet 
sufficiently abundant to give it a considerable 
agricultural value. This value is heightened by 
the amount of carbonate of lime, and above all by 
the large percentage of potash. 
Thomas Antisell, M.D. 
Chemist to American Agricultural Association. 
Laboratory of the A. A. A., 140 
Grand St., New York, Oct. 31st, 1849. 
EXPERIMENTS OF AGRICULTURISTS. 
When we consider the number of intelligent 
citizens who are engaged to a greater or less ex- 
tent in the cultivation of their grounds, we are not 
a little surprised, that we have no greater recorded 
variety of useful experiments from them, for the 
benefit of their brother farmers. Whatever may 
have been proved by one, would thus become the 
common property of the whole reading public, and 
available for all. These experiments need not be 
conducted on an extensive scale, nor embrace an 
important article of production, but may relate 
to anything connected with the subject of agriculture. 
How easily might an experiment be made with 
the different kinds of manures, as top-dressings 
upon a lawn, where the result would be obvious 
to every visitor. It might be staked into various 
patches, each of which might receive an applica- 
tion either of lime, gypsum, marl, ashes, guano, 
bone dust, compost, or other manures. The cost 
of these, the quantity, and the effect for one or 
more years, of each separately, and two or more 
combined, or successively applied, could be accu- 
rately ascertained, as well as the product of grass, 
the kind and quality of which should be noted. 
Separate parts of a field might also be laid down 
to different kinds of forage, as the various species 
of clover, grasses, rye, oats, corn, spuny, lucern, 
tares, peas, &c; and the comparative value of 
each, for feeding to different stock, at all seasons, 
early and late, might be ascertained. The proper 
rotation of these, and their order of succession, 
in various latitudes and soils, and with the different 
manures, would all form valuable additions to our 
agricultural knowledge. Similar information as to 
other crops, as of grain, roots, &c, would be 
equally beneficial to the community, which might 
be obtained with considerable accuracy, and with 
out much trouble, by an intelligent observing mind. 
It is true, there is but a small proportion of per- 
sons engaged in agriculture, who have that quick, 
discriminating and accurate perception, neither do 
they possess that habitual ardor and watchfulness, 
nor do they adopt that careful observation and re- 
cord of facts, which would entitle their conclusions 
to an unqualified acceptance. Yet there are some 
possessing these qualities in an eminent degree, 
who do not devote to the general weal, what they 
are so well capable of affording ; and we have 
many more, who, with proper application, might be 
readily self -trained to this important habit. It is 
not to be expected that any one mind will be capa- 
ble of accomplishing very great results j but each 
can contribute something to the object, and if all 
are thus attentive to it, the aggregate of benefit 
that will accrue, will, after a series of years, add 
vastly to our stores of agricultural information. 
COCHIN-CHINA FOWLS. 
I have four pullets and one cock of Cochin-China 
breed, raised from a pair direct from Shanghae. 
They are nicely formed, very hardy, and full large 
enough, with feathered legs ; but the feathers of 
the neck are not reversed on the back of the neck 
as is described in Richardson's little treatise on the 
domestic fowl. I would like to know whether this 
is a peculiarity of the breed or not. The cocks 
weigh, undressed, from 10 to 12 pounds. 
James C. Taylor. 
Atlantic, Monmouth Co., N. J., 
October 6th, 1849. 
New Whiffletree. — We observed, at the recent 
State Fair, at Syracuse, a newly-invented whiffie- 
tree, which may be used either with a single or 
double team, and is so constructed that one can 
throw off the tugs or traces, and detach the team 
from the vehicle at any speed, by simply pressing 
a spring placed in the bottom of the wagon, just in 
advance of the feet. The construction is perfectly 
simple, not liable to get out of repair, costs but 
little, and is susceptible of universal application. 
The operation of detaching the horse when under 
a full gallop, was repeatedly tried on the ground, 
and always with success. When a double team is 
used, an additional contrivance in connecting the 
holdbacks at the poles, prevents any obstacle to 
their escape. The inventor's name, who is a resi- 
dent of Syracuse, has escaped us. We hope to 
hear of its successful introduction. 
Guano. — Does guano afford a permanent improve- 
ment to the soil, or does it act on the first crop, and 
then leave the land as poor, or poorer, than it was 
before 1 This is a question so often asked, we will 
once more answer, that this is like all other stimu- 
lants, whether applied to man or the soil, unless 
furnished with some other food, the effect will not 
be permanent. But give the land a small coat of 
marl, manure, or green crops, for the guano to work 
upon, and then it will be found that the effect will 
be not only beneficial to the first crop, but several 
succeeding ones. None but the genuine Peruvian 
guano can be depended upon. "Manufactured 
guano," in many cases, is nearly worthless. 
