VALUE OF ANTHRACITE COAL ASHES.-STALL FEEDING AND SOILING. 
55 
which for three acres is 180 lbs. to the hand. 
With the warm water process, I see no reason 
to doubt we would have three cuttings, a better 
quality of indigo, and probably more of it; and this 
Dr. Anderson stated is the case. 
My indigo-house has been built now two years, 
and I have only been prevented by the untoward 
seasons of the two years past from carrying out his 
plan. 
The following is addressed to yourself and Mr. 
Partridge, whose communications upon this and 
other subjects, I greatly value. Why not throw 
steam into your steeper, for 10 or 15 minutes, and 
then pump the water from your tank ? What is a 
little curious, steam allowed to pass off at the boil¬ 
ing point just heats to 160 degrees, the very point 
which Dr. Anderson found the proper temperature 
for extracting, or as I would say, taking off the col¬ 
oring matter from the weed. Again we find, in all 
applications of steam, it acts more promptly and 
more perfectly than water—as witness the Turkish 
hath. By this process much labor would be saved 
in heating the water ; we would have also an exact 
measure of heat; and experience would soon give 
the due measure of time. Nothing but my age and 
infirmities, combined with two bad seasons, have 
prevented my carrying out the experiment, but I 
would be gratified at having Mr. Partridge’s opinion 
upon the subject. Thomas Spalding. 
Sapelo Island, Ge orgia. 
VALUE OF ANTHRACITE COAL ASHES. 
I have been a subscriber to the Agriculturist for 
the year past, and among the variety of subjects of 
which it treats, but more especially under the head 
of manures, I have looked in vain for an article 
upon the properties of ashes from anthracite coal, 
as an article of manure, (a). There is a vast 
amount of ashes annually made from anthracite 
coal in this vicinity, and throughout the country, 
and it becomes an important matter of inquiry 
whether they possess those fertilizing properties 
common to wood ashes, or whether they possess 
any value at all. Among us there is a variety of 
opinions upon the subject, some maintaining that 
they are not only of no value, but a positive injury 
to most soils, while others maintain that they are 
nearly or quite as good as wood ashes. I incline 
to the latter opinion. I would not say that they 
are as valuable; but that they are of sufficient 
value to make it an object for those who burn coal 
to save all the ashes for the purposes of manure. 
I have tried them sufficiently to satisfy my own 
mind ; and if a simple statement of facts as brought 
out by my own experience will induce others to try 
the experiment, or will be the means of bringing 
up the subject for discussion in your paper, I am 
sure I shall feel gratified, and the community at 
large will be benefited. 
In the summer of 1842, I put upon a piece of 
ground which I planted with corn, on the most 
barren parts of it, some two or three cart loads of 
coal ashes, spread broadcast, and very thick. The 
result was, that there was a very perceptible differ¬ 
ence in favor of that part which was covered with 
the ashes, although it was on decidedly the poorest 
soil; and this difference was perceptible the''year 
following in the crop of oats. In the summer of 
1845, the same piece of ground was planted with 
corn (as the grass seed did not take well in conse¬ 
quence of the dry season of ’43), and coal ashes 
were again tried on another part of the piece and 
applied as before, and with the same results; 
the corn being much larger where they were 
applied, than where none was used—indeed it was 
much larger than where the barnyard manure was 
used. It w T ill be recollected that the summer of ’45 
was a very dry one, and such seasons are not com¬ 
monly considered as favorable for ashes of any 
kind; but for aught that I could see, the drought 
affected that part -where the ashes were the least of 
any. I am now trying an experiment which I think 
will test the matter thoroughly. Last fall I selected 
the most barren spot that I could find (and which in 
the spring I intend to plant with corn) of about 
four rods square, and sowed it very plentifully with 
coal ashes. If under ordinary circumstances, it 
yields a fair crop, I shall attribute it to the fertiliz¬ 
ing properties of the coal ashes; and the result I will 
make known to you in due season. 
Milton, Ct., Jan. 12,1846. Geo. H. Randle. 
(a) Our correspondent will find this subject treated 
at considerable length inVol. l,of the Agriculturist, 
pp. 236 and 324. Also a short notice of their value, 
Vol. 2, p. 11. We are not the less pleased, howev¬ 
er, to be favored with this communication, and trust 
the writer will forward us an account of the experi¬ 
ments he contemplates making the coming season. 
We intend to bring this subject before the Agricul¬ 
tural Association of this city the present month ; and 
get an analysis ol anthracite coal ashes by some 
good chemist. We can then compare it with those 
of other kinds of ashes, and learn their exact value 
to the farmer. 
STALL FEEDING AND SOILING. 
No person can carry out the system of stall feed¬ 
ing and soiling cattle, with a view of increasing the 
quantity and quality of manure, unless he has good 
premises for that purpose. Good barns and stalls, 
and good sized yards, are necessary for the profita¬ 
ble wintering of stock. Too few, I regret to find, 
are provided with these advantages. Let any one 
drive through the country and see with what small 
and scanty barns, sheds, and yards, the farmers are 
provided to make the most of their cattle through 
the winter. Many a man is cultivating from 200 
to 300 acres of good land, when he has not build¬ 
ings for more than half the quantity he works. I 
believe it is admitted by every one who has culti¬ 
vated strong, wet, clay land, that before any im¬ 
provement can take place, it must be well drained. 
This is not an expensive process. If the farmer 
will only take a good agricultural paper, in which 
he will see the best modes that have been tried by 
others, he may easily accomplish it with a little 
energy and perseverance on his part. He may be 
assured that the money and labor will be returned 
to him ten iold. I believe if the farmers of this 
present day will drain their lands where it is want¬ 
ed, get a good new improved sub-soil plow, and 
not be afraid to plow deep, they may accomplish 
more than they are aware of. 
Dutchess Co., N. Y. J. D. Williamson. 
