THE CULTIVATOR. 
115 
for the ultimate result in cultivation is to convert this 
into sulphate of lime.” 
« Test the soil with muriatic acid; and having thus 
removed the lime, proceed as before, to determine the 
geine and insoluble vegetable matter.”* 
Sources of Geine or Vegetable Nutriment. 
[From Prof. Hitchcock's Geological Report .] 
Having now pointed out the situation and value, so 
far as known, of all the calcareous deposites in the 
state that can be applied to agriculture, and of other 
substances whose action on soils is somewhat analo¬ 
gous to that of lime, the next grand inquiry is, wheth¬ 
er there are any sources in the earth from which ad¬ 
ditional quantities of geine can be obtained, or mat¬ 
ters convertible into geine. I pass by the whole list 
of common manures, presuming that they will be fully 
discussed by the Agricultural Surveyor. And I shall 
merely notice the natural sources of vegetable nutri¬ 
ment within our limits. 
PEAT SWAMPS. 
The peat swamps of New-England have become a 
vast repository of organic matter, which is, and has 
been for ages, increasing. In addition to the larger 
vegetables, which, as they die, fall and are enveloped 
in the soft matter on which they grew, there is a thick 
mat of moss, which—especially the sphagnum—con¬ 
tinues to flourish at the upper part while the lower 
part dies and decays. In favorable circumstances as 
to wet and temperature, this mass of vegetable mat¬ 
ter becomes converted into peat. Only a small part, 
however, of what is thus accumulated, becomes peat 
of such a character that it answers well for fuel. Of¬ 
ten it is too much mixed witn mud to be easily burnt, 
and sometimes the vegetable fibre is scarcely changed. 
Yet the whole of it is capable of being converted in¬ 
to vegetable nutriment. And I am convinced, from 
all that I have seen and heard, that Massachusetts 
contains enough of this geine and vegetable fibre in 
her swamps, to render all her fields fertile for centu¬ 
ries. In other words, here is an exhaustless source 
of geine. Some of it is already in a soluble state ; and 
therefore the black matter from swamps, is rarely 
spread upon soils without producing some benefit. 
Yet for the most part the geine is in such a state as 
to require some chemical change before it will become 
soluble nutriment, fit to be absorbed by roots. It is 
an important inquiry then, what is the best mode of 
accomplishing this change. This has been attempt¬ 
ed, first, by mixing the peaty matter with good manure 
in alternating layers, and suffering them to ferment 
for a long time, the peat being in much the greatest 
quantity. Secondly, by mixing it in a similar manner 
with lime ; and thirdly, by mixing it with alkali, or 
some compound containing alkali. The principles re¬ 
specting geine which have been advanced in this re¬ 
port, will probably enable us to decide as to the pre¬ 
ference to be given to any one of these methods. 
And here I have it in my power to give the opinion 
of Dr. Dana, whose remarks I am always happy to 
substitute for my own, on a subject with which he is 
so tamiliar, and which he has done so much to eluci¬ 
date. 
“ The fact,” says he, “ that peat or turf is very 
soluble, in alkali, seems not to be known among our 
farmers. The usual practice of mixing lime with peat 
or turf is decidedly the worst which can be followed. 
The geine which constitutes a large part of peat bogs, 
forms with lime a compound little soluble in water, 
requiring at least 2000 parts of water to one of geate 
of lime: and if the compound has been dried and 
sun-baked, a still larger portion of water is required : 
it becomes, in truth, almost insoluble. With alumi¬ 
na, geine forms a compound still more insoluble than 
with lime ; and though the vegetable matter in com¬ 
bination with these earthy bases, is actually absorbed 
by the roots of growing plants, still the geine is in a 
state much less favorable than when in combination 
with alkali. Mix ley of wood ashes with peat, and 
we form a dark brown vegetable solution : the alka¬ 
line properties are completely neutralized by the ge¬ 
ine, and very often ammonia escapes from turf when 
treated by caustic alkali. When we add, that this 
geine absorbs and retains nearly its own weight of 
water without seeming moist, it is evident, that with 
the use of ley or wood ashes, the value of peat as a 
manure will be very much increased.” 
I will only add, that in my opinion it would be very 
desirable to have a series of experiments performed 
* In applying Dr. Dana’s rules given In the text, to the soils 
of Massachusetts, I found it necessary to adopt some method 
of carrying forward several processes together. I accordingly 
made ten compartments upon a table, each provided with ap¬ 
paratus for filtering and precipitations, also 10 numbered flasks, 
10 evaporating dishes, and a piece of sheet iron pierced with 
ten holes, for receiving the same number of crucibles. I pro¬ 
vided, also, a sheet iron oven, with a tin bottom large enough 
to admit 10 filters, arranged in proper order, and a hole in the 
top to admit a thermometer. The sand bath was also made 
large enough for receiving the ten flasks. In this manner I 
was able to conduct ten processes with almost as great facili¬ 
ty as one could have been carried forward in the usual way. 
Prof. Hitchcock. 
by a practical chemist upon the different varieties of 
our peat, and especially upon the best mode of con¬ 
verting it into soluble geme. Since by the old me¬ 
thods of analysis the different varieties of peat wouid 
be found to differ from one another only in the quan¬ 
tity of organic matter which they contain, I supposed 
it would be useless to analyze them, and therefore did 
not collect specimens of the peat and other vegetable 
matters that occur in our swamps. The doctrines 
respecting geine put a new aspect upon the case, and 
lead me to regret that such a collection was not made. 
The labor of doing it now, however, is small; and 
when it is considered what an immense mass of or¬ 
ganic matter now lies useless in our swamps, while 
the fields around them yield but a scanty crop, and 
that the chief reason why our farmers make so limi¬ 
ted a use of this manure, is, that they find it difficult 
to convert it into soluble nutriment, l sincerely hope 
that the government will do all in its power to bring 
into use this important part of our fossil resources. 
MARSH MUD. 
Every intelligent farmer probably knows, that this 
substance forms an excellent manure ; although I ap¬ 
prehend it is employed far less than its value demands. 
An intelligent farmer in Maryland states, that he 
“ deems it more valuable than barn-yard manure ;” 
and that “ it never failed in any application he had 
made of it.” He also prefers it to marl, because “ it 
is more accessible, its effects are quicker, and much 
more can be done in the way of improvement for the 
same money.” At the same time he confesses, that 
the permanent advantages of marl arc much greater; 
and thinks that marl and marsh mud will both be im¬ 
proved by combination.* This last remark appears 
still more important, when we ascertain what it is 
that gives an agricultural value to this substance. 
The fact is, it sometimes contains a large quantity of 
geine, and sometimes but little, while the quantity of 
the salts of lime, soda, and magnesia, is rather large ; 
so that sometimes a mixture of marl will be of ser¬ 
vice, and sometimes not. The following analysis of a 
few specimens of marsh mud, both in the ordinary way 
and by Dr. Dana’s method, will show us, I think, what 
it is that constitutes its fertilizing power, and afford 
some useful hints as to its application. 
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A substance so rich in geine, or salts of lime and 
soda, or in both, as the above analyses show, cannot 
but prove a fertilizer of the soil if spread upon it. If 
a soil be quite poor, those varieties should probably 
be chosen that contain the most geine ; and this can 
be judged of by their comparative lightness when dry ; 
the lightest abounding most in organic matter. But 
if the soil already contain a good deal of inactive ve¬ 
getable matter, the varieties that abound most in 
salts will probably be most efficacious; though an 
additional quantity of geine can do no harm, and may 
do much good. If marsh mud be applied at random, 
it is not strange that varieties of it, almost destitute 
of geine, should be sometimes put upon exhausted 
soil, and that no good effects should follow. Hence 
the necessity of some fixed principles to guide the 
farmer. And since Massachusetts contains so much 
sea board, and so much land near the coast that may 
be benefited by this substance, a correct mode of ap¬ 
plying it is of great importance. 
Depend upon it, that if you do not fulfil what na¬ 
ture intended for your fate, you will be a morbid mis¬ 
anthrope, or an indolent voluptuary—wretched and 
listless in manhood, repining and joyless in old age. 
* Farmer’s Register, July 1834; p. 93. 
Young Men’s Department. 
Hints to Young Farmers.—No. 10. 
GOOD AND BAD LUCK. 
We are in the daily habit of hearing the casualties 
and misfortunes of life, and particularly in the opera¬ 
tions of the farm, ascribed to bad luck; and on the 
contrary, of hearing the blessings, comforts and en¬ 
joyments of life imputed to good luck —as though 
these things were casual, and did not depend upon 
the discreet or indiscreet conduct of those whom they 
befall. 
If we will but scan this matter properly, we shall 
be convinced, that our good and bad luck most ge¬ 
nerally comes through our own agency; and that we 
are in a great measure left to choose our own fortunes 
in this matter. The faithful practice of known duties 
with a due restraint upon our baser passions, seldom 
fails to insure good luck ;—while indolence, extrava¬ 
gance, the lack of probity and good will to our fel¬ 
lows, are almost the certain precursors of bad luck. 
And even though our crops may grow, from the exu¬ 
berant bounty of nature; and although our patrimo¬ 
nial wealth may extort for us the fickle applause and 
sycopancy of the multiiude, the pleasures which they 
afford are unstable, and are not to be put in compa¬ 
rison with those which result from a course of prudent 
industry and rectitude of conduct—from a conscious¬ 
ness of having performed, and of performing, the high 
duties imposed upon us, to our families, to society, 
and to our Creator. 
Let us trace some of the instances of good and bad 
luck, in the business of the farm, to their palpable 
causes. 
The diligent farmer, who personally superintends 
his business—who rises before the sun, sees that his 
laborers are at their appointed business, that his farm 
stock are in condition, hi? implements and fences in 
order, and his w T ork timely and properly done, is pretty 
certain of enjoying a round of good luck in all his 
farming operations. He will have good cattle, good 
crops, and good profits—and, if he takes care to bring 
up his sons in the ways of their father, he will have 
good luck with his family. 
On the other hand, look at that man who gossips 
away a portion of his time at public houses, at politi¬ 
cal clubs, and among his neighbors—and who trusts 
the management of his affairs to the discretion and 
fidelity of others, and ten to one but you find him an 
heir to ill luck ;—that his land is annually becoming 
poorer, his crops lighter, his cattle diminishing, his 
fences and his buildings dilapidating, his children idle, 
and perhaps dissipated, and his fortune going to 
wreck. Who does not see, in such a man, a foun¬ 
tain of bad luck. 
Our young readers have most of them, perhaps, 
heard of the bad luck that befel the man who neglect¬ 
ed, in time, to get a nail in the horse shoe : the shoe 
came off'; the horse became lame, and ultimately 
died—so that the owner lost his horse for want of a 
nail. The same bad luck attends him who neglects 
his fences : a rail or a board is down ; cattle get in and 
destroy his crops, and he is obliged to buy bread for 
his family. The drone too, is generally late with his 
work—he plants and sows late—and suffers the har¬ 
vest to waste in the field, before his crops are gather¬ 
ed or housed. 
The diligent farmer destroys the weeds that rob his 
crops, and the bushes that uselessly encumber his 
grounds : he carefully economises and applies his ma¬ 
nures, destined to feed his crops, and keep up the fer¬ 
tility of his soil; and he brings the best portion of it, 
though naturally wet and unproductive, into a pro¬ 
ductive state, by a system of judicious draining. All 
these are certain precursors of good luck. 
Now mark the farmer of almost inevitable bad 
luck upon that farm down yonder, who, although in 
the harvest time, is from home, gone to attend a 
petty law-suit, in which he is a party. Look at the 
fences, the buildings, the bushes, the weeds, the 
swamps, the cattle, the crops—at every thing. Do 
they not all betoken bad luck 1 —and speak in language 
not to be misunderstood, that the unfortunate master 
is going down hill ? 
We have one other suggestion, which we may even 
extend to the fair. Idleness is the parent of tattle— 
of mischief. Now the man or woman who attend to 
their own business as they ought, have neither time 
nor disposition officiously to intermeddle in the domes¬ 
tic concerns of their neighbors—they have no interest 
in sinking the reputations of others—but would rather 
raise them to their own level. Their habits, there¬ 
fore, tend to diffuse good luck to all around them. 
Chemical Catechism—Chapter IV. 
OF WATER. 
What is water ? 
Water is a compound, consisting of hydrogen and 
oxygen. 
In how many states do we find water 1 
In four : solid, or ice ; liquid, or water ; vapour, or 
