THE CULTIVATOR. 
204 
public mind will come at last. It is admitted by all, 
that plants feed on carbon and nitrogen; and why 
should we not supply them with their appropriate food? 
Indeed, it is but a few years since the virtnes of char¬ 
coal as a manure, and as a medium of catching ammo¬ 
nia, were much vaunted by some of those who now con¬ 
sider it of little or no value; they even went so far as 
to declare, that it was, of all others, “ the cheapest 
and best manure” for this country. 
Although the writer of this never indulged a belief in 
the wonderful properties of charcoal, as put forth by 
some enthusiastic and sanguine theorists, he has never 
. doubted its actual value. He was convinced of this 
before he had ever seen any theory on the subject 
derived from chemical investigation. He had seen 
the effects of the substance on different crops; he had 
seen the yield of Indian corn increased ten bushels to 
the acre, simply by putting a shovei-full of coal dust 
from the beds of coal-pits, in each hill. He had seen a 
similar effect from its use on potatoes; the difference in 
both crops, between the charcoal dust and nothing, 
could be seen to a row or a hill, during the whole pe¬ 
riod of growth. Effects equally marked, were seen 
from the spreading of coal dust on moist grass land; 
the application of about three hundred bushels to the 
acre, having increased the quantity fifty per cent., and 
greatly improved its quality. The beds of old coal pits, 
which had been made more than twenty years, were 
found to produce a sward so much thicker and luxuri¬ 
ant than the surrounding ground, as to attract attention 
at a considerable distance, and the herbage was so 
much sweeter that these spots were more closely gra¬ 
ced by stock. The same superiority of these spots 
over the rest of the field, was seen when the land was 
plowed and put to any kind of grain; the straw was 
brighter, thicker on the ground, and the grain general¬ 
ly heavier. 
But it may be said that the good effects in the cases 
above cited, were owing to the ashes or alkalies, pro¬ 
duced in burning the coal , and the action of heat on the 
earth. To this it may be replied that spots of ground 
where heaps of wood had been burned and the ashes 
spread around, soon ceased to produce crops of extra 
yield; and while those on which coal dust had been 
spread, produced rich harvests, the former were cover¬ 
ed with moss. 
Nearly the same effects have been produced by the 
use of fine charcoal, from iron works and other places 
where quantities of coal had been gathered. 
It is proper lb say that the greatest benefits we have 
seen from the use of charcoal, have generally been on 
rather moist land, On very dry soils, we have seldom 
seen so favorable effects, except in moist seasons'. Con¬ 
siderable moisture is evidently necessary to reduce the 
coal to a soluble state. 
Some have supposed that charcoal acted wholly as 
an absorbent of ammonia. We are far from denying its 
♦fleet in this particular, though we see no reason to 
believe that this is its only use as a manure. We do 
not see why it may not, as \Vell as other carbonaceous 
matters, furnish carbonic acid to plants. Its decompo¬ 
sition is slow; but under the action of air and moisture 
it gradually wastes away; it is dissolved, and chemists 
assure us that charcoal, dissolved and combined With 
oxygen, forms carbonic acid, which plants are known to 
feed upon. 
Peat or “muck” is similar in composition to charcoal, 
but is more easily decomposed. When muck is applied 
to the soil, it is evidently dissipated with every crop 
that is taken, and finally disappears entirely. It is so 
with charcoal, only the decay is slower. 
The expediency of using charcoal as a fertilizer, 
must of course, depend on circumstances. Like other 
Valuable substances, it may be “ bought too dear;” and 
July, 
its cost in many situations is probably too great to ad¬ 
mit of its profitable use as an ordinary manure. But 
charcoal waste may frequently be had at a cheap rate; 
and peat, which we have before remarked, is similar in 
composition, is abundant and cheap in many situations. 
These substances are the best the farmer can use in 
his yards or stables for the absorption of urine, and the 
liquids of the manure heap, or for preventing the es¬ 
cape of gases. They hold the fertilizing principles 
with sufficient tenacity to prevent their loss by evapo¬ 
ration, but yield them, under the action of heat and 
moisture, to the wants of growing plants. 
Peat has, in some instances been charred, and in that 
form used as a manure with advantage. Further ex¬ 
periments are needed, however, to show its compara¬ 
tive effects in this form. It can be charred without 
any additional expense for fuel; the peat itself, being 
once ignited, will burn to any degree that is required. 
The peat should be first partially dried then a fire may 
be kindled, and the lumps of peat gradually placed 
round. When the fire is fairly started, it should be kept 
in a smothered state; because an open blazing fire will 
reduce the peat to ashes, without forming charcoal. 
Two hundred to three hundred bushels of charred peat 
per acre, have been found to produce effects equal to a 
copious dressing of animal manure. The acid of the 
peat is dissipated by this process,—it is reduced to a 
pulverised stale, and benefits vegetation immediately. 
Management of Grass Land* 
The improvement of grass land, has not generally re¬ 
ceived that attention in this country, .which the import¬ 
ance of this department of husbandry seems to demand. 
Throughout the northern states, the grass crop, in hay 
and pasturage, is of greater value than any other. 
With the exception of swine, grass constitutes the prin¬ 
cipal food of our domestic stock. It chiefly feeds our 
laboring animals, and is the “raw material” from 
which is produced most of our beef, mutton, butter, 
cheese and wool; and by thus supporting the live stock 
of our farms, furnishes in an essential degree, the ele¬ 
ments for the production of our breadstuff's, fruits* and 
vegetables. 
In those parts of our country where dairying and 
stock raising constitute the leading branches of farming, 
it is important to continue the production of grass on 
the same land as long as good crops can be obtained. 
In many situations, the product may be kept up for ma¬ 
ny years, with no diminution, without breaking the sod 
with the plow. Such is particularly the case with lands 
which are annually flooded, and it is so to a greater or 
less extent, with all rich, moist lands. The first requi¬ 
site is, that the ground be properly prepared and well 
seeded. If intended for mowing, the surface should be 
made smooth. Wet places, and those where the grass 
would be likely to 11 winter-kill,” should be under¬ 
drained. For permanent meadows, it is not advisable 
to sow much red clover; it dies out and leaves vacan¬ 
cies in the sward, which afford beds for the growth of 
weeds. The best grasses for the purpose under consi¬ 
deration, are timothy, (herds-grass of New England,) 
and red-top, with a little white clover—unless there is 
plenty of the latter in the soil. The quantity of seed 
to the acre, if the land is moist, may be ten quarts ti¬ 
mothy, one bushel red-top, and two quarts of white clo¬ 
ver. The different seeds may be mixed and sown to¬ 
gether, slightly brushing or harrowing them in. 
The time of seeding may be varied, according to cir¬ 
cumstances. If the ground is in good order, the grass 
may be sown in the spring with some kind of grain; 
if it is in a rough state, the seeding may be postponed 
till August or September, which will give the best of 
the season to work it and bring it into suitable condi. 
