1846. THE CULTIVATOR. 79 
M>w.»j *!^ w BBm«g8WggllB3ggt«m8BmBHHlns»^ 
proportion; hence we cannot avoid the conclusion that 
there are some important ingredients beyond the power 
of analysis to detect. 
One or two examples may be given. A bushel of 
gypsum has often doubled the clover crop on land, as 
frequent observations have proved. But, a bushel of 
gypsum, dissolved and distributed through the soil as it 
usually is by the first rain which falls upon it, and by 
which it is rendered accessible to the roots of growing 
plants—rconstitutes only the ten thousandth part of the 
soil of an acre at the usual depth. Even one tenth of 
that quantity, or the hundred thousandth part, would 
doubtless in many cases exert very visible effects. 
Hence we may safely infer that there are such substan¬ 
ces now actually as component parts of soils, which are 
far beyond the reach of analysis. 
A hundred pounds of guano on an acre will some¬ 
times produce important results. But a hundred pounds 
in the soil would only constitute a ten thousandth part. 
Guano consists of many different substances, some of 
which would be in exceedingly less proportions. To 
detect the presence of an equal quantity of those sub¬ 
stances naturally in the soil is therefore quite out of the 
question. 
There are however, some substances existing in much 
larger proportions, whose presence and quantity, may 
be well ascertained. For instance, it is often impor¬ 
tant to know the quantity of sand in a soil,—common 
terms of description being very indefinite,—which may 
be ascertained with tolerable precision by mixing with 
water, allowing the sand to settle, drying well and 
weighing. The proportion of clay may be nearly as¬ 
certained by the same way, the clay remaining in sus¬ 
pension for several hours, settling and drying in the 
same way. Carbonate of lime may be detected by effer¬ 
vescence in acids. Mould, though chiefly indicated by 
color,, may he determined with somewhat of accuracy 
by burning, the lost weight indicating the quantity; 
though this cannot always be accurate, as for instance, 
if carbonate of lime be present, the carbonic acid would 
be driven off, which would also lessen the weight. 
But we very much question the propriety of farmers 
undertaking to analyze soils. If imperfectly done, it is 
of little value or might mislead; and to be well done, 
requires an excellent apparatus, costing some money, 
and a great deal of time, which the farmer cannot well 
devote; and a considerable previous knowledge and ex¬ 
perience, in order to attain skill. It is better to send 
the soil to an eminent chemist, and pay him for the job; 
although even then there are doubtless many very im¬ 
portant ingredients he cannot detect, as already shown. 
For ordinary practice, common observation will assist 
much. For instance, a decidedly tenacious or clayey 
soil is indicated by the clods upon the plowed surface, 
and perhaps the number of pounds required to draw 
apart a certain packed portion of soil might indicate 
somewhat the relative proportions of clay and sand. 
Vegetable mould is indicated by color and texture; lime, 
if carbonate, by the method just described. In many 
cases, direct experiment with manures is worth more 
than any analysis could be, though analysis often sug¬ 
gests or points out in what direction experiments may 
be most advantageously made. 
2 . With regard to the orchard, apple trees thrive 
well on soils which are well adapted to the growth of 
corn and, potatoes. Wet or springy land would be im¬ 
proved by underdraining; if poor, by manuring for 
crops; and a great benefit would no doubt result from a 
good thorough cultivation of the soil. To suffer young 
trees to stand in grass, or to be closely surrounded by 
wheat, barley, or any sown crops, is only another name 
for ruin; Indian corn will not thrive in a pasture or 
wheat field; neither will young trees. Old trees will 
endure such treatment better, being larger, hardier, 
and deeper-rooted, and consequently not so much affect¬ 
ed by slight causes. Com will do as a crop for an or¬ 
chard of large trees, while potatoes do admirably as 
one for small trees. Large trees may occasionally be 
surrounded by a crop of grass or grain; but no orchard 
can continue in a good condition, unless it is occa¬ 
sionally at least, well cultivated arid manured. 
An orchard which has stood many years in grass, has 
probably become stunted and scrubby in growth; in 
which case judicious pruning would doubtless be a 
benefit. 
VARIOUS FARM EXPERIMENTS, 
Condensed from accounts in exchange papers. 
Experiments with Different Manures. 
A correspondentof of the New England Farmer re¬ 
ports the following experiments with different kinds of 
manures for turneps applied to land of “ shallow loam, 5 ’ 
which was enriched in 1844, by a green crop of buck¬ 
wheat plowed under—four square rods were appropri¬ 
ated to each kind of manure—the rate per acre is given 
for cost and yield. 
Material. 
Rate per acre. 
Cost. 
Yield. 
Crushed bones,. 
80 bu. 
$60 00 
160bu. 
a « 
3 qts. lime and 2 lbs. sul. 
30 « 
22 oi 
120 “ 
acid,. 
4 bu. 80 lbs. 
6 Of 
80 « 
1 load muck, 10 lbs. guano, 
40 “ 400 “ 
24 00 
150 « 
Dana’s compost,. 
40 loads, 
13 50 
* 
Muck,. 
40 “ 
12 00 
* 
Leached ashes,. 
400 bushels, 
40 00 
180 « 
Manure,. 
40 loads, 
40 00 
80 « 
Coal ashes,. 
40 “ 
20 00 
* 
Bone and leached ashes, .. 
30 bu.bone & 
[ 300 bu.ashes. 
300 " 
The bone and sulphuric acid, with 5 quarts water, 
were soaked seven days, and then mixed with half¬ 
bushel loam. Dana's compost was of one load muck, 
one bushel salt, and one cask lime. The stars indicate 
that no turneps grew worth gathering, though larger 
than where nothing was applied. All were spread 
after plowing, and harrowed in. From our own expe¬ 
rience, we think the stable manure would have given 
more than double, if it had been plowed in, and espe¬ 
cially well mixed by harrowing. The same results 
are not to be expected on dissimilar soils, and not at all 
with different kinds of crops. 
Management of Privies. 
Levi Bartlett, in his Address before the Merri- 
mac Ag. Society, states his practice in substance, as 
follows, and it is one of the best modes we have seen 
noticed:—Adjoining his hog-house, is a yard 18 by 14 
feet, dug 15 inches deep, the bottom level, and with a 
plank floor, and plank sides. A close board fence sur¬ 
rounds it. The privy, adjoining, has a tight box under 
it; and in an outer room is another box or sink in 
which all the soap suds is emptied. On washing days, 
a gate is opened in the sink, and all the soap suds passes 
by a large spout into the box under the privy, and 
escapes by a gate opened for the purpose, from this box, 
to the yard. The bottom of the yard is covered with 
muck or soil; a fresh supply of which is added once a 
month in summer. Thus by the hogs, vault, and soap 
suds, he gets one load a week of the richest kind of 
manure. Gypsum is thrown into the vault frequently. 
“How much,” he asks, “is a barrel of soap worth for 
manure ? It is worth none the less after having been 
used to wash clothes.” 
Experiments with Corn. 
Joseph Frost, of Elliot, Maine, gives a statement 
in the Boston Cultivator, of several experiments with 
the culture of corn, the substance of which we here 
give in a condensed form. The soil was all gravelly 
loam, except in the 4th experiment. The loads were 
40 bushels, except in the two last experiments. In the 
second and fifth, the manure was plowed in by a 
second plowing—in the others it was harrowed in by 
the harrow or cultivator—the superiority of the crops 
I in the former cases will be noticed. The different crops 
