Charcoal as a Manure—Pigs—Weevil in Grain. 
181 
1842. I was not a little gratified to find my 
speculations sustained by so accurate an 
observer. 
As Mr. H. declined to enter into the chem¬ 
ical character of charcoal, I propose to supply 
that portion of the subject compiled from 
such writers as are within my reach. 
From Ure’s Dictionary of Chemistry, arti¬ 
cle Gas, we extract: “ Of all solid bodies, 
charcoal is the most remarkable in its action 
on the gases. In M. De Saussure’s experi- 
met, the red hot charcoal was plunged under 
mercury, and introduced after it had become 
cool into the gas to be absorbed without 
ever coming into contact with the atmo¬ 
spherical air. 
“ One volume of charcoal made from boxwood 
absorbed of ammonia, - - 90 volumes. 
Muriatic acid gas, - - - - 85 u 
Sulphurous acid, - - - - 55 “ 
Sulphuretted hydrogen, - - 55 “ 
Nitrous oxide,.40 “ 
Carbonic acid,.35 11 
Olefiant,.35 u 
Carbonic oxide, ----- 9.42 “ 
Oxygen, ------- 9.25 “ 
Nitrogen, - ..7.5 “ 
Gas from moist charcoal, - 5.0 “ 
Hydrogen,.1.75 u 
“ The absorption was not increased by al¬ 
lowing the charcoal to remain in contact with 
the gases after 24 hours, with the exception 
of oxygen, which goes on condensing for 
years in consequence of the slow formation 
and absorption of carbonic acid gas. If 
the charcoal be moistened, the absorp¬ 
tion of all those gases that have not 
a strong affinity for water is diminished. 
Thus boxwood charcoal, cooled under mer¬ 
cury, and drenched in water, is capable of 
absorbing only 15 volumes of carbonic acid 
gas; although before being moistened, it 
could absorb 35 volumes of the same gas. 
“ Dry charcoal saturated with any gas, gives 
out, on immersion in water, a quantity corres¬ 
ponding to the diminution of its absorbing 
power. When a piece of charcoal which is 
saturated with either oxygen, hydrogen, nitro¬ 
gen, or carbonic acid gas, is put into another 
gas, it allows a portion of the first to escape, 
in order to absorb into its pores a portion of 
the second gas.” 
Charcoal, when reduced to powder, will 
absorb but half the quantity of gas that it 
would when in the lump. 
The advantage of this article over every 
other that has been used as a manure is, that 
what is not actually consumed or washed 
away is retained on the soil, and will con¬ 
tinue to absorb and give off the vapours, 
gases, and saline solutions for an unlimited 
period. It would therefore be an experi¬ 
ment worthy of trial by our western agricul¬ 
turists, to make their wood into charcoal 
and spread it on the soil, rather than to re¬ 
duce it to ashes, which at most will last but 
a few years. 
Yours, &e., 
C. FI. Raymond. 
Buffalo , Aug. 6^A, 1842. 
A long letter we have recently received from Dr. 
Freeman, in which his success at renovation of worn- 
out Jands, by keeping a stock of hogs, the feed for 
which he had to purchase at first, as his land was too 
poor to produce it, is detailed at length. His experi¬ 
ments with the catch breeds of the country, till he pro¬ 
cured the improved stocks, are amusing, satirical and 
instructive to a high degree. He says, 
With many it is enough to have hogs that 
will gormandise and.grunt till they are tired 
of feeding, without regard to the quality of 
their meat, amount of hide, bone, and 
bristles. One neighbor told me lately, that 
his pork cost him 25 cents a pound, and he 
only kept them to please his wife, that she 
might make souse and sausages. One was 
brought to my place, not long since, which 
I could not but ridicule; it looked as if it 
could distance a greyhound, and I was told 
by its owner, that as he could not fatten it 
he had saved it to breed from !!! 
The owner had better point his hog’s nose for 
Symmesonia, and follow at the tail of his beast, as 
neither animal csn be put to any profitable use in this 
region. 
For the American Agriculturist. 
Tallahassee , July 22c/, 1842. 
Gents : I have become a subscriber to 
your paper, and therefore take the liberty to 
make a few inquiries. 
W r hat is the best mode of keeping the 
weevil out of corn 1 
I have heard it said by some, that if you 
put a female animal to a male on the increase 
of the moon, that she will certainly become 
pregnant; but if you put her on the decline 
of the moon that she is not so apt to become 
pregnant. Do you see any truth in this 
assertion 1 How in the world does the moon 
affect the animal, or does it affect it 7 
Yours respectfully, 
A Floridian. 
Reply. 
The weevil has been effectually kept from corn by 
spreading a layer of wild myrtle, (myrica cerifera), at 
the bottom of the corn crib, and alternating it through 
the entire heap. Fresh slacked lime, plentifully spread 
