1876.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
171 
aid us greatly in studying this subject, and I most 
earnestly recommend it to the reader’s careful 
and studious attention. It gives the composition 
of a great many different kinds of plants and ma¬ 
nures, and contains, in a very small space, a very 
great amount of most useful information. The 
table from which it is taken, was compiled from 
several thousands of analyses, made at the Experi¬ 
ment Stations and elsewhere, by a large number of 
chemists, who have devoted, in the aggregate, 
doubtless hundreds of years to investigations of 
plants and manures. The figures represent, of 
course, general averages. The analyses are, with 
very few exceptions, European. The plants would 
not differ greatly in composition from those grown 
in this country. The difference in the composition 
of a given kind of manure, is much wider than in 
that of plants. Stable manure, as is well known, 
is extremely variable in character. The commer¬ 
cial fertilizers of the table, are of the higher grades, 
and, in general, considerably better than the average 
of those in our markets. I hope to be able to give 
more detailed figures and accounts of some of these 
articles hereafter. 
Several correspondents inquire 
how much their soil is “ exhaust¬ 
ed ” by different crops. From the 
table let us make a calculation. 
Suppose that a given plot of ground 
produces grass enough to make, 
when mown and dried, one ton of 
hay. Of the different substances 
in this 2,000 pounds of hay, how 
much of each was furnished by the 
soil? If we were to keep a wisp 
of this hay for some time in a warm 
oven, the water which it contains 
would he dried out. If we should 
put the dried hay iu the fire, the 
organic matter would be burned up 
and pass off as gas or smoke, leav¬ 
ing the mineral matters in the 
form of ash. 
Now, as was explained in the 
March number, the plant derives 
all its mineral matter from the soil. 
Buc with the organic matter the 
case is different. Its carbon comes 
mostly, if not entirely, from the 
air. Its hydrogen and oxygen, (the 
components of water), are supplied 
in one way or another from the air, 
but through the roots in the soil. 
But the nitrogen, though furnish¬ 
ed to some extent by the air, comes 
mostly from the soil. So in our cal¬ 
culation of materials which our 
crops take from the soil, we have, 
to consider the nitrogen only of the 
organic substance, and all the in¬ 
gredients, potash, phosphoric acid, 
etc., of the ash. To find 
WJiat is Removed from tile 
Soil in a Ton of Hay, 
we have simply to multiply the 
figures which stand opposite “aver¬ 
age meadow hay ” in the table, and 
give the number of pounds of 
each substance in 1,C00 pounds of 
hay, by two, to find the amount of 
each in a ton of two thousand 
pounds. We should have 103 lbs. 
nitrogen, 2675 lbs. potash, 17 [ / 5 lbs. 
lime, 8y 6 lbs. phosphoric acid, and 
so on. As explained above, these 
are average figures, and are not 
claimed to he absolutely correct 
for any individual case. Any farm¬ 
er in this country can calculate 
from this table, how much material 
is taken from his field by a given 
number of pounds of hay or wheat, 
just about as accurately as he could 
estimate his own weight from that 
of the average man in Europe. It 
is to be earnestly hoped that investi¬ 
gators in this country may have the 
encouragement and support need¬ 
ful for the study of our farm 
products, such as has been done 
on the other side of the Atlantic. 
By comparing the composition of 
the manures with the crops, an idea 
may be formed of how the former 
restore what the latter take away 
from the soil, and how much of 
different fertilizing materials will 
be needed for production of a 
given crop. 
A Word of* Ca, it lion* 
If soils were all alike, and if we knew ju6t what 
they contained ; if we could tell how much of their 
plant food is in form to supply the wants of crops, 
how much is removed by other means than by crop¬ 
ping, and how much re-supplied by tillage, weather¬ 
ing, and the indirect action of manures, and if, 
finally, climate, moisture, and other conditions 
were uniform and favorable, calculations of form¬ 
ulas for fertilizers would he easy, and farming by 
tables quite a simple business. But such is un¬ 
fortunately not the case, as every farmer knows 
only too certainly. 
But I am making this article too long already. 
So we will resume this discussion another time. 
Meanwhile let me request any readers who may be 
Interested in these subjects as treated here, and do 
not keep files of the American Agriculturist , to at 
least preserve the above table for future reference. 
Conn. Agricultural Experiment Station , Middletown. 
Artificial Fertilizers. — Parties 
who 64 Guarantee?’ their Wares.—Last 
month, page 154, the form of contract or guarantee was 
given by which manufacturers and dealers stipulate with 
the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station to sup¬ 
ply fertilizers. The following parties have entered into 
the agreement, thus guaranteeing farmers in that State 
that “ they will get what they pay for.” In Connecticut : 
In New Ilaven: The Quinnipiac Fertilizer Co., Messrs. 
Strong, Barnes, Hart & Co., L. B. Bishop, and Robert B. 
Bradley & Co..—In Hartford: Messrs. Chas. L. Willard, 
Rodney Kellogg, and F. Ellsworth.—In Middletown: 
Southmayd & Gardener.—In Milford: George W. Miles. 
—In Middlefleld: Messrs. Geo. W. Miller and P. W. 
Bennett.—In Nonvich: John P. Rarstow.—In Northfleld: 
Messrs. Peck Bros.—In East Haddam: Messrs. D. B. 
Warner & Son.—In Hebron: John S. Wells.— In Strat¬ 
ford: W. E. Wheeler. Outside of Connecticut—N. Y. 
City: Messrs. H. J. Baker & Bro., Hobson, Hurtado & 
Co., Manhattan Blood Guano Co., Chas. Y. Mapes.— 
Boston, Mass: Messrs. W. H. Bowker & Co., Soluble 
Pacific Guano Co., Matfield Fertilizer Co.—In Spring- 
field, Mass: J. A. Byrnes.—In Linden, N. J.: Russel Coe. 
-—» « »i » - 
Forest Tree Planting-.—Evergreens, 
FOURTH ARTICLE. 
The restricted space makes our article necessarily brief 
—yet a few remarks upon evergreens are timely. What¬ 
ever other tree planting may be done for profit, some 
evergreens should be set out for shelter and ornament— 
not that some of these are not profitable for timber also, 
but just now we have special reference to their use as 
wind-breaks, and for ornament. Even ornament in this 
case is not without its money value, for should one ever 
wish to sell his place—a far too frequent occurrence—the 
cost of the trees would he many times returned in the 
advanced value they would give the estate. If one has 
determined to raise his evergreens from seed, ho must 
care for his seed beds for one or two years, and as small 
trees are sold at such very low rates by several who make 
a special business of raising them, most persons will find 
it cheaper to purchase than to raise them from seed. 
Small trees of two kinds are usually to he had: wild 
seedlings, pulled up from the forest, and those which 
have been raised in a nursery. Then one can obtain nur¬ 
sery trees one or two years old, direct from the seed bed, 
or those which have been once or twice transplanted, the 
latter being larger and more expensive. Young seed¬ 
lings, whether native or from the seed bed, should be 
fir3t set in nursery rows, and if small, or from the woods, 
should be shaded. Trees 0 in. or less in bight, may be 
set out in beds in rows from 6 to 10 in. apart, and 3 to 6 
in. in the row, according to size, and protected from the 
hot sun by a screen of lath or of brash. Trees that have 
been transplanted in the nursery, should he set in nur¬ 
sery rows. 30 in. apart, with the plants 6 to 13 in. apart, 
according to their size, and have a heavy mulch; partly 
decayed straw or other litter may he used. The small 
seedlings may grow in the bed for one or two years, and 
then he set in nursery rows, and the larger ones may re- 
main two years in the rows before setting in their per¬ 
manent localities. Those who wash to produce an im¬ 
mediate effect, can procure trees 30 to 30 or more inches 
high at moderate rates ; these having been several times 
transplanted or root-pruned, which produces the same 
effect, may be placed at once where they are to grow. 
There is no point upon which there is greater difference 
of opinion than the proper time for transplanting ever¬ 
greens; not only have spring and fall planting their ,ad¬ 
vocates, but there is a difference of opinion as.to uheth- 
TABLE 31. 
For Calculating the Exhaustion of Soils by Crops and Enriching by Manures. 
Average quantities of Water, Organic Matter, Ash, Nitrogen in Organic 
Matter and Potash, Lime, Phosphoric Acid, and other Ingredients in Ash , 
of Fresh ( Green ) and Air-dry Materials. 
A.—PLANTS. 
Ingredients of Ash. 
VEGETABLE MATE¬ 
RIALS. 
1000 LBS. CONTAIN 
GRAIN AND STRAW, fts. 
Wheat, grain.... 
Wheat, straw..... 
Rye, grain. 
Rye, straw.. 
Oats, grain. 
Oats, straw.. 
Indian Corn, gram..... 
do. stalks and leaves.... 
Buckwheat, grain. 
Buckwheat, straw. 
Beaus .... 
Beau straw....... 
Peas.... 
Pea straw.... —.. 
HAY. 
Average Meadow Hay.... 
Timot >y Hay—...... 
Red Clover Hay. 
Swedish Clover Hay... 
Lucerue (Alfalfa). 
GREEN CROPS. 
810.1 
8jj.S 
831.4 
81J.6 
810 8 
853.0 
813.0 
835.3 
811.G 
837.0 
818 2 
803.2 
833.2 
81G.G 
841.8 
833.7 
811.7 
803.5 
820.0 
194.4 
204.6 
205.7 
190.8 
194.7 
Young Grass..... 
Timothy Grass. 
Fodder Rye. 
Fodder Corn.. .... 
Clover in blossom. 
ROOTS (tubers) & TOPS. 
Potatoes, tubers. I? 0 
do. vines, nearly ripe... j 7<J 
99!o 
UO> VlUcSj UCdil ij J ir " 1 • ° j » 
Turnips, roots. 
Turnips, tops—.. 
Sugar Beets, roots 
Sugar Beets, tops 
Carrots, roots.... 
Carrots, tops.. 0113 
Hops, entire plant. 
Hops, the cones..... iti j Sm’.t 
Tobacco, leaves....^.-.. 11 ,w - u 
1-1 
o 
N-Sg 
£ -C 
11* 
<s 
I 
its 
42 
£ 
*£ 
k-cTS 1 
1 
e 
<§ 
£ 
Q 
& 
*§ 
g 1 
^ 1 
BS. 
tbs. 
Ibs. 
lbs. 
lbs. 
BS. 
BS. 
Ibs. 
Ibs. 
1G.9 
20.8 
5.3 
0.4 
0.6 
2.0 
7.9 
0.1 
0.4 
3.2 
4G.1 
6 3 
0.6 
2.7 
1.1 
2.2 
1.1 
3L2 
17.6 
17.9 
5.6 
0.3 
0.5 
2.1 
8.4 
0.2 
0.4 
2.4 
40.5 
7.8 
0.9 
3.5 
1.1 
2.1 
1.1 
22.9 
19.2 
2 i.O 
4.4 
0.6 
1.0 
1.9 
6.2 
0.4 
2.0 
4.0 
49.4 
8.9 
1.2 
3.6 
1.6 
1.9 
1.3 
19.0 
16.0 
13.0 
.3.7 
0.2 
0.3 
2.0 
5.9 
0.2 
0.2 
4.8 
41.9 
9,6 
6.1 
4.0 
2.6 
5.3 
1.2 
11.7 
11.4 
11.8 
2.7 
0.7 
0.5 
1.5 
5.7 
0.2 
0.1 
13 0 
51.7 
24.2 
1.1 
9.5 
1.9 
6.1 
2.7 
2.9 
40.8 
80.7 
1 S.l 
0.4 
1.5 
2.2 
11.9 
0.8 
0.2: 
13.3 
43.9 
18.5 
1.1 
9.8 
3.3 
£.2 
1.6 
3.2 
35.8 
23.5 
98 
0.2 
1.2 
1.9 
8.6 
0.8 
0.2 
10.4 
44.0 
10.1 
1.8 
16.2 
3.5 
3.5 
2.7 
3.0 
14.2 
51.5 
13.2 
2.S 
8.C 
3.3 
4.1 
2.4 
13.9 
18.3 
62.1 
20.4 
1.0 
4.5 
1.9 
7.2 
1.8 
22.1 
21.3 
56.9 
18.3 
1.2 
20.(1 
6.1 
5.' 
1.7 
1.4 
24.5 
39.7 
11.0 
1.2 
13.5 
5.0 
4.0 
1.6 
1.6 
23.0 
62.1 
15.S 
1.3 
26.2 
3.8 
5.5 
3.7 
8.8 
5.6 
20.7 
11.6 
0.4 
2.2 
0.6 
2.2 
0.8 
2.1 
5.4 
21.6 
7.4 
0.5 
1.6 
0.7 
2. 
0.6 
7.7 
4 3 
16.3 
6.3 
(1 1 
1.2 
0.5 
2.4 
0.2 
5.2 
3.2 
12.0 
4.3 
0.5 
1.6 
1.4 
1.8 
0.4 
1.7 
5.3 
13.7 
4.4 
0.3 
4.8 
1.5 
1.4 
0.4 
0.8 
3.2 
9.4 
5 7 
0,2 
0.2 
0.4 
1.6 
0.6 
0.2 
4.9 
19.7 
4.3 
0.4 
6 4 
3.3 
1.6 
1.3 
0.9 
1.8 
7.3 
3,3 
0.7 
0 f 
0.3 
0.9 
0.8 
0.1 
3.0 
11.9 
2.8 
11 
8.S 
0.5 
0.9 
1 1 
0.5 
1.6 
7.1 
3 9 
0.7 
0.4 
0.5 
0.8 
0.3 
0.1' 
2.0 
9.6 
2 8 
2.3 
0.9 
1.1 
1.2 
0.7 
0.2 
2.1 
7.8 
2.8 
1.7 
O.S 
0.4 
1.0 
0.5 
0.2 
5.1 
26.0 
2.9 
5.2 
8.5 
0.9 
1.2 
2.0 
2.9 
81.4 
? 
20.1 
2.8 
18.1 
6.4 
7.5 
3.7 
16.4 
66.8 
? 
23.( 
1.4 
11.1 
8.7 
11 2 
2.4 
11.1 
51.0 
46.0 
130.31 5. if !. b 
,17.'i 
. 4.? 
5.8 
13.5 
* See explanations below. 
B.— MANURES. 
FERTILIZING MATERI¬ 
ALS. 
1,000 (Or 100) LBS. CONTAIN. 
ANIMAL EXCREMENTS. 
1000 LBS. CONTAIN 
Stable manure, fresh. 
ilo. moderately rotted 
do. thoroughly rotted 
Dungheap liquor. 
Faeces, fresh. . 
Urine, human, fresh. 
Night soil, fresh...... 
COMMERCIAL FERTIL¬ 
IZERS. 100 LBS. CONTAIN 
Peruvian guano. 
Dried blood.......... 
Ibs. tbs. tbs. 
So 
24S44.1 
132 53.0 
145 65.0 
7 10.7 
773 198 29.9 10.0 
933 24 13.5 6.0 
935 51 16.0 7.0 
710 
750 
790 
932 
Ibs. 
Ingredients of Ash. 
14.3 51.4 38.8 13.0 
14.0 79.0 , 7.0 11.7 
PHOSPHATES. 
Bone meal, average. 9-9S' 
Bone-meal,from solid parts 5.0 ol.5 w. 
do. from porous parts 7.0 37.O.M. 
Bone black,fresh.. 6.0 10.0 84. 
Bone black, spent.......... 10.0 6.0 84 
Bone ash........I 6.0 
Baker guano. ILO 
Jarvis guano. 1L° 
Navassa phosphates........ «.o 
‘ supe RpnospnvTES. 
Rectified Peruvian guano.. 13.0 
Baker g’no, superp’sphated 15.0 
Navassa “ ...15.0 
Boneblack “ .. '5.0 
Bone-meal “ .. 13.0 
MISCELLANEOUS. 
Sulphate of Ammonia__ I 4.0 
Nitrate of Soda .. 2.6 
Plaster. 20.0 
Gas-Lime. 7.0 
Sujar-house Scum.34.5 
Ashes,Evergreen Trees... 5.0 
Ashes, Deciduous Trees... 5.0 
Leaehed Ashes. ..20.0 
Peat Ashes. . 5.0 
Anthracite Coal Ashes_ 5.0 
3.0 91 
9.0 81 
8.2 80 
5.4,92 
6.2 73.8 
2.5 82.5 
8.0 77.0 
23.8,63.2 
80, 
1.3 91. 
24.5 41, 
5.0 90. 
5.0 90, 
5.0 75, 
.. 95 
5.0 90 
0 .. 
7 0.' 
.0 i.; 
.0 .. 
,0 .. 
.o: .. 
.o .. 
.o .. 
i 
o 
•e 
o . 
£ . 
£ „ 
§ 
•So 
I 
£ 
e 
S3 
§ 
s 
s 
£ 
8| 
$5 
¥ 
r 
IbS. 
BS. 
Ibs. 
n>8. 
Ibs. 
Ibs. 
lbs. 
ibs. i 
5.2 
1.5 
5.7 
1.4 
2.1 
1.2 
12.5 
1.5 
6.3 
:.9 
7.0 
1.8 
2.6 
i.e 
16.8 
1.9 
5.0 
1.3 
8,8 
1.8 
3.0 
1.3 17.C 
1.6 
4.9 
1.0 
0.3 
0.4 
0.1 
0.7 
0.2 
1.2 
2.5 
1.6 
fi 2 
3.6 
10.9 
0.8 
1.9 
0.4 
2.0 
4.6 
0 2 
0.2 
1.7 
0.4 
5.6 
2.1 
3.8 
0.9 
0.6 
2.6 
0.5 
6.2 
4.0 
2.3 
1 4 
11 0 
1.2 
13.0 
1.0 
1.7 
1.3 
0.7 
0.6 
0.7 
0.1 
1.0 
0.4 
2.1 
0.4! 
0.2 
O.S 
31.3 
1.0 
23.2 
0.1 
8.5 
0.3 
0.1 
0.2 33.0 
1.0 25.2 
0.1 8.0 
0.2 
0.2 
0.3 29.0 
1.0 20.0 
0,1 
3.5 
0.2 
0.1 
0.3 43.0 
1.1 32.0 
0.4 
5.0 
0.1 
0 ■?. 
37,0 
1.1 2G.0 
0.4 15.0 
0.3 
0.6 
46.0 
1.2 35.4 
0.4 
6.5 
0.2 
1.2 
41.5 
1.5 34.8 
1.5 
0.8 
6.3 
0.4 
0.3 
83.1 
0.5 20.6 18.0 
0.5 
0.2 
37.5 
0.6 33.2 
0.5 
5.0 
0.1 
2.0 
1.2 
9 5 
1.0 10.5 15.0 
1.5 
1.1 
0.1 
0.8 
25 9 
0.9 21.8 28.5 
0.9 
0.2 
? 
17.0 
0.3 15.4 
19.5 
2.3 
? 
0.1 
25.0 
0.7 10.2 
21.0 
9.3 
6.2 
.. 
0.1 
0.2 
22.4 
0.7 
16.6 
19.5 
2.5 
0.5 
58.0 
8.0 
1.4 
.. 
.. 
35.0 
0 2 
0.7 
1.5 
1.7 
31.6 
6.1 
41.0 
4.0 
6.2 
64.5 
1.5 
12.5 
3.0 
Oil 
0.2 
0.6 20.7 
0.3 
1.5 
0.3 
9.1 
6.0 
2.0 35.0 6.C 
4.5 
1.6 
18.0 
0.3 
10.0 
2.5 30.0 5.C 
6.5 
1.6 18.0 
0.3 
2.5 
1.3 24.5 
2.5 
G.f 
0.3 20.0 
6.2 
1.5 
O.f 
? 
1.5 
0.6 
l.E 
? 
0.1 
0.1 
1 ? 
1 3.0 
0.1 
5.0 ? 
