172 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
MINERAL MANURES. 
Red 
White 
Rye grass. 
Clover. 
Clover. 
Lucerne. Sainfoin. 
s-si 
19-95 
31-05 
13-40 
20-57 
3-94 
5-29 
5-79 
6-15 
4-37 
7-34 
27-80 
23-38 
48-31 
21-95 
0-90 
3-33 
3-05 
3-4S 
2-88 
3-53 
4-47 
3-53 
4-04 
3-41 
Of all the manures termed mineral, those that come 
under the denomination of sulphates, or those in which 
the mineral base is combined with sulphuric acid, are 
perhaps the most important. Of these, the sulphate of 
magnesia, (Epsom salts,) sulphates of potash and soda, 
and sulphates of lime or gypsum, are the most common 
and useful. 
The action of the sulphates is most conspicuous on the 
cultivated grasses, leguminous plants and the roots; on 
grains they do not produce results as decisive, though 
occasionally instances of great benefit from their use may 
be adduced. The chemical analysis of plants, carried on 
so successfully by the German experimenters, by deter¬ 
mining the constituents of the several cultivated plants, 
has shown which of the mineral manures are the most 
necessary for each; and the results thus arrived at, are 
the more satisfactory, as they are found in the main to 
perfectly agree with those obtained in practice. To show 
this, we here append a table, for wdiich we are indebted 
to Johnston’s Chemistry. It shows the constitution of 
the ash of several vrasses and clovers, so far as relates to 
the sulphates. 0;-e hundred parts of the ash of each was 
examined. 
Sulphates. 
Potash, •• .. 
Soda, . 
Lime,. 
Magnesia,. 
Sulphuric Acid, 
Great as is the effect of the sulphate of lime on white 
clover, farmers we think will generally agree that it is 
exceeded by the action on red clover, a result to be ex¬ 
pected from the table; and still greater is the effect on 
lucerne, as some limited experiments made by us have 
demonstrated. This too, the analysis would indicate. 
The sulphates of potash we have never used, but the Eu¬ 
ropean journals declare the results of experiments on 
plants to conform to the analysis, and that as a dressing 
for white clover, it is superior to the sulphate of lime. 
Another useful hint may be taken from this table, which 
is, that a quantity of the sulphates which would be suffi¬ 
cient for one kind of plant, would be insufficient for an¬ 
other. Thus compare rye grass and clover, and it will 
be seen that a top dressing which would cause the first 
to thrive, would scarcely be felt by the latter. So far as 
regards the common grasses, rye grass, herds grass, 
timothy, &c. the nitrates are more efficient in promoting 
their growth than the sulphates, while for the clovers 
and their kindred plants, the sulphates are to be preferred. 
If, as Prof. Johnston supposes, the value of the sul¬ 
phates is to be mainly attributed to the sulp ric acid 
they contain, it would be important in forming an esti¬ 
mate of their respective values as a manure to ascertain 
the several proportions of sulphuric acid. This may be 
seen in the following table, in the first column of which 
the proportion of acid is shown, and in the second, the 
quantity of each that a gallon of water at the ordinary 
temperature w r ill dissolve. Thus 100 lbs. of burned gyp¬ 
sum contain as much sulphuric acid as 
126 lbs. common gypsum, Gypsum burned 1-Gth lb. to the gall. 
123 11 sulph. of potash, ‘‘ unburn. l-4th “ 
104 ' 1 “ soda dry, Sul. of potash, 1-2 “ 
235 “ “ ‘‘ crys. “ of soda dry, 1-2 tl 
180 “ “ magnesia. il crys. 3 1-2 “ 
“ of magnesia,4 “ 
These tables prove that the sulphate of lime is much 
the cheapest and best application of the sulphates, admit¬ 
ting that the value depends on the acid alone; and if w r e 
adopt the opinion of Liebig that its principal value is 
found in its being an absorbent of ammonia, the result 
will not be essentially different. Its effect too, will be 
the most durable; as the small quantity soluble in a given 
quantity of water, will prevent its speedy solution and 
disappearance in the soil. Where, however, plants are 
obliged to rely mainly on dews instead of rains for their 
moisture, a dressing of sulphate of soda or magnesia 
would be preferable, as more readily soluble. The bet¬ 
ter way then of applying the sulphates of soda or potash, 
would be in solution, very weak, and sprinkled over the 
growing crop from a water cart. Prof, Johnston thinks 
100 lbs. per acre would be sufficient. 
Considerable difference of opinion has existed among 
farmers as to the best time for the application of sulphate 
of lime to the soil or crops. We have found the most 
benefit when applied directly to the plants, but whether 
applied to the soil or to the crop, we have rarely if ever 
found it fail. We prefer using it after the plants are well 
advanced, and this opinion would seem to receive coun¬ 
tenance from the experiments instituted by Prof. Iiorte 
to test this point. The plant was clover, and it was 
found that the produce of different parts of the same field 
was in the following proportions; 
Undressed,. 100 lbs. 
Top dressed, 30th of March,. 132 “ 
“ 13th of April,. 140 te 
“ 27th of April,. 156 “ 
This result would seem to confirm the opinion of Pes- 
chier, that gypsum on the leaves of plants is converted 
into a carbonate, by the absorption of the sulphuric acid. 
TURNEPS. 
Turneps are better adapted to light, than heavy soils. 
Sandy soils that are too light for potatoes, will frequent¬ 
ly give a good crop of turneps, by the application of a 
top-dressing of ashes and some compost manure. 
As a crop for winter feeding, the turnep is valuable, 
both for sheep and cattle. The common English flat 
turnep, may be sown as late as the latter part of July or 
the first of August, in this latitude, and will give a good 
yield. This kind does pretty well for feeding the fore 
part of the winter, but becomes soft and corky by Janu¬ 
ary, and is not worth much. Other kinds keep better. The 
Yellow Aberdeen and the Swedish or Ruta Baga are proba¬ 
bly as profitable for late feeding as any. The Ruta Baga 
should be sown in June, (as early as the 20th) to ensure the 
greatest yield. Much depends on the quality of the seed, 
and care should be taken to get that produced by the best 
shaped roots, and the more particular has been the selec¬ 
tion, and the longer it has been continued, the better will 
be the seed, and the truer the roots. The same princi¬ 
ple applies in this case as in animals —selection is the 
grand source of improvement. The turnep comes to the 
greatest perfection in rather northern latitudes; hence it 
is quite an object to obtain seed from those regions. The 
English and Scotch are usually very particular in selec¬ 
ting their turneps for seed, and on this account their seed 
is generally preferable. 
The Ruta Baga keeps well, and with proper care will 
be good till May. It is considered a good root for sheep 
and young stock, but is not so well liked for milch cows 
on account of its tendency to impart a flavor to the but¬ 
ter. On this account, carrots or beets are preferred for 
cows. 
The yield of the turnep crop, varies according to the 
quality of the soil, cultivation, &c., from 400 to 800 
bushels per acre. The flat turnep may be sown after a 
crop of hay has been taken off the ground, and if w 7 ell 
cultivated, will do well. 
We prefer the drill mode of sowing turneps. It is the 
most exact—the roots are made to occupy the ground 
better—there is a better chance of working among them 
to keep down the weeds—there is a saving of seed, and 
a general saving of labor and expense, besides getting ge¬ 
nerally a better yield. 
There are various machines for sowing seed. There 
is one made in the vicinity of Boston at a cost of only 
about five dollars, that answers well for sowing turneps, 
onions and seeds of that size. Others may be had of 
larger size, at ten to fifteen dollars. 
For the Ruta Baga, the rows may be two feet or more 
apart, so as to give room for working the spaces with a 
small harrow or cultivator. By planting two rows pret¬ 
ty close together, say a foot apart, the other spaces may 
be left three feet apart, which will give ample room foi 
the use of the cultivator, and the crop will not, probably, 
be diminished in yield. 
Sprinkling gooseberry and currant bushes with soap 
suds, is recommended to prevent mildew. 
