THE SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
103 
2.33. By a series oi progressive seed-savings 
upon the same plant, p'ants will be at length 
obtained, in which the habits ol the individual 
have become as it were fixed, and capable of 
such exact re-production by seed, as to form an 
exception to the generalrule ; as in turnips, rad- 
ishes, &e. 
251. But if the least neglect occurs, in taking 
the neces.sary precautions (252,) to insure a uni- 
form crop ot seed, possessing the new fixed pro- 
perties, the race becomes deteriorated, in pro- 
portion to the want of care that has occurred, 
and loses its characters ol individuality. 
255. In all vat ietfes those seeds may be ex- 
pected to preserve their individual characters 
most distinctly which have been the best nour- 
ished, (213;) it is consequently, those which 
should be selected in preference tor raising new 
plants from which seed is to be saved. 
256. When seeds are first ripened, their em- 
bryo is a mass ofcellular substance, -containing 
starch, fixed carbon, o-r other solid matter; and 
in this state it will remain until fitting circum- j 
stances occur to call it into active life. | 
257. These fitting circumstances are, a tern- i 
perature above 32 degrees Fahr., a moist medi- | 
um, darkness, and exposure to air. j 
253. It then absorbs the moisture of the medi- j 
um in which it lies, inhales oxygen (278,) and j 
undergoes certain chemical changes; its vital] 
powers cause it to ascend by one extremity for | 
the purpose of finding light and decomposing its 
carbonic acid (279,) by parting with its accu- 
mulated oxygen,, and to descend by the other ex- 
tremity tor the purpose of finding a constant 
supply of crude nutriment. 
259. Unless these conditions are maintained, 
seeds cannot germinate ; and, consequently an 
exposure to light is fatal to their embryo, be- 
cause (278) oxygen will not be absorbed in sul- 
ficient quantity to stimulate the vital powers of 
the embryo into action, for the purpose of part- 
ing with it again, by the decomposition of the 
carbonic acid that has been formed during its 
accumulation. (TTo be continued ) 
Artificial manures. 
From the Albany Cullivalor. 
The preparation and use of manures consti- 
tute one of the points in which the advance of 
modern agriculture is most apparent. For this 
advance, we are indebted to the application of 
chemical science to an investigation of the sub- 
stances most cotnmonlv used to promote the 
grow’th ot plants. An imitation of the operations 
ot nature ha.s thus been effected, in which 
there has been a decided improvement on the 
original, as the change necessary to conveit or- 
ganic matter into the fertilizing material is ef- 
fected in a very short time; the bulk diminish- 
ed while the efficiency is increased; and the 
disgusting offensive character beloging to some 
of the original compounds entirely done away. 
Substances, too, once wasted, or rather consi- 
dered of no value, are now in the cour.se of a 
lew weeks converted into manures of the first 
quality. Every discovery ot this kind is of im- 
portance to the agriculturist; for although some 
of them, it is probable, will not be made uselul 
on a large scale, and some of the preparations 
cannot become common in this country; sii.l 
there are many which we are confident will be 
extensively used everywhere; and the better 
they are known, the more highly appreciated by 
the farmer orgaidner. 
Poudrelte, or prepared night soil, isone of the 
most valuable of these prepared manures, con- 
centrating in a great degree the elements of fer- 
tility; and as prepared, being easily portable, 
used with facility, perfectly inoffensive, and very 
powerful in its action. The demand for this 
article is constantly increasing, and the prools 
of the value of the manure rapidly accumula- 
ting. The value of poudrette, compared with 
good stable or barn yard manure, is estimated 
as one ol the former to from 12 to 15 of the lat- 
ter; and some have even estimated the differ- 
ence as still greater. When we remember that 
this manulaciure is designed to convert what 
has always been a nuisance andsource of mul- 
tiplied diseases in onr cities, into a means ol 
fertility and wealth, its importance will be duly 
estimated. 
Another preparation, which is receivingsome 
favor, is that produced by Bommer’s patent, in 
which all ligneous or w’oody plants, such as 
straw, cornstalks, weeds, roots, sea grass, and 
in fact all vegetable matters, are converted into 
manure in a much shorter period than by the 
usual course ot decomposition. It is pronounc- 
ed, as- efficient as stable manure, more lasting, 
and costing but little. The process of prepar- 
ing this manure has nothing difficult about it. 
It is probable the patent, tor a time, even- were 
its value unquestioned, prevents the extensive 
use which this inode ot preparing vegetable 
matter might otherwise have obtained. Of the 
peculiar forms ot the process we know nothing ; 
but the testimony in its favor from those who 
have tried it, apjicars ample. Patent manures, 
patent implements, and patent medicines, are 
very apt, however, by practical farmers, to be 
placed in the same category. 
The English agricultural journals have with- 
in the past year frequently alluded to the quali- 
ties of a new fertilizing preparation called Dan- 
iel’s Patent Manure. The specifications of 
the patent have been received in this coun- 
try; and though evidently inte nded to m3'stify, 
rather than disclose, the real process of making 
the manure, it is easy to see that a powerful 
manure must be the result ol the combination. 
According to the specification, the materials of 
the manure are divided into three classes, — 
First: ligneous matters, peat, straw, weeds, &c. 
Second: bituminous matters ; sucli as mineral 
coal, (bituminous doubtless) asphallum, pitch 
made from coal tar, or other pitch, mineral 
resin, and also tar. Third: animal matter; 
such as butcher’s oflal, graves, flesh of dead ani- 
mals, also fish. 
The ligneous matters are reduced to powder 
by grinding, or by the action of caustic lime. 
The bituminous matters are also ground into 
powder; if sticky like pitch, a small quantity 
of dry quick lime is added to prevent adhesion 
to the machine ; if liquid, they are converted 
into vapor by dry distillation, in which vapor 
the ligneous materials are saturated; or it pre- 
ferred, the soft bituminous matters are di-'^sol ved 
in water, to which caustic alkali has been added, 
and in this the ligneous matters a-e steeped. — 
The animal matters are mixed with the ligneous 
and bituminous ones, and then the wdiole re- 
duced to a powder. 
Such a preparation cannot fail to be a fertili- 
zer of the mostpowerlul kind, though it is evi- 
dent the process needs much simplification be- 
fore it can be adapted to the use of farmers gen- 
erally. 
Guano is probably the most powerful natural 
uianure known ; and the artificial one that shall 
most nearly resemble that, will doubtless be the 
most valuable. Voelckel’s analysis, the latest 
and best ol this substance, as given by Dr. Dana 
in his Muck Manual, shows tiiatit contains in 
the various salts of ammonia 32 parts in 100, 
sulphates ol potash and soda 9 parts, phosphate 
o! lime 14 parts, soluble geine or hurniis 12 
parts, and insoluble undetermined organic mat- 
ter20parls. The auificial manures are valua- 
ble in proportion as they furnish the materials 
for the ammonia, phosphates, and sulphate.s, 
which abound in guano. It is likely, indeed 
certain, that the immense masses of guano ex- 
isting on the islands of the Pacific, are in a very 
different chemical condition from what they 
were when first deposited by the sea fowl tha't 
frequent those coasts and islands; consequenily 
in no fresh manures in any country, can we ex- 
pect to find the same combination ol fertilizing 
substances as in guano. In no other country 
could such masses have remained without me 
wasting or dissipation of their most valuable 
parts, or their entire substanr-'; the nearly total 
absence of rain in the guano region, preventing 
such a result. The guano is, therefore, not on- 
ly the result of the accumulation, but the che- 
mical combination of ages, and what agricul- 
ture requires of science, is the discovery of the 
means of effecting in a short time what nature 
has been centuries performing. 
In all preparations of artificial manures, two 
conditions are requisite; first, value as a ferti= 
lizer; and second, facility and simplicity of 
preparation. With the first, the labor of man= 
ufacture is lost ; without the second, few far= 
mersvill be able to avail themselves of the be- 
nefits such manures offer. Thus far, we are 
inclined to the belief, that of all the artificial 
manues, poudrette best fulfils these two condi- 
tions; but it by no means follows that other 
combinations may not be discovered, equally 
simple, and more powerful. Of one thing we 
may be assured ; all such preparations, when 
brought within his reach and his means, will 
be hailed by the farmer with pleasure. 
Time is Money'. 
From ilie Unioa Agriculturist. 
Dear Sir : — I begin to fear that yourself and 
others may think that I do nothing but write; 
as I send you something for every number of 
your paper. Well, suppose that should be the 
conclusion, — if I had nothing else to do all 
would be well. But farmers have somethingto 
do, besides writing for agricultural papers. — 
This all know; how then, many will inquire, 
does C. find lime to write. If I may answer 
the question myself, I shall say, that I am 
troubled to dispose of my spare time — of the 
long winter ev'enings — of the stormy days, and 
a great many bits and ends of time. 
I may be answered — leach your children; 
make and mend such articles as you can that 
you need; read the newspapers, and such books 
as you Lave or can get. This 1 do, and yet there 
is spare time. 
My wife and self manage to teach seven 
children; and during the winter, keep them at 
their studies more hours than if they were at 
school. I make and repair all the wood part of 
ray tools, and some of the iron, and repair all 
our boots and shoes; my wife and daughters, 
the oldest sixteen, work up our wool, about 70 
pounds, both spin and weave it; myself and 
boy, thirteen years old, till about forty acres, 
and provide for stock that require 40 tons ol hay, 
besides all the coarse fodder that we can mus- 
ter; this, besides all the incidental work about 
the house and farm, we do without hiring.— 
Books and papers are literally worn out by be- 
ing read. The Chicago Democrat or Union 
Agriculturist, is hailed with as much joy as an 
old friend ; and if, as we frequently do, we re- 
ceive a paper Irom distant friends, nothing could 
give greater pleasure, except the appearance ol 
those friends. 
A great wonder with me is, how men and 
families spend their time, without even a 
paper or a book, nr any thing else of the kind. 
Even their Bible might as well be made of 
w’ood, bound and gilt, to save appearances, as 
to be filled with the words ot God. 
Never have I written, except in the evening; 
and then generally have some half dozen chil- 
dren about the same time at their studies. — 
Some with slates, some w'ith books, and some 
with more mischief than study. Even now, one 
little one pops up her head, with, “Father, how 
much is eleven fmes six T’ “Set down eleven 
and muhiplv it by six.” “ What, six times 
eleven 1” “No. six times one, and then six 
times one again.” “ O ! I see ; sixU’-six.” “Now 
multiplvT, 8 and 9 in the same way?” 'Sol 
wri'e, teach a.nd rest mvself; at the same time 
killing three birds with one stone. 
Now to mv reasons for writing. If I say I 
write to benefit others, none will believe me ia 
these selfish times; well then, I write to amuse 
myself, and to use time. A. Churchill. 
Avon, Mavek. 1841. 
' ' HJ PI L I' 
A correspondent ot the Charleston Evening 
Post mentions a rattlesnake that was found dead 
in the woods, near Georgetown, South Caroli- 
na, which was 7 feet long, had 73 rattles^ and 
teeth an inch and a half long. 
