1851 
THE CULTIVATOR 
205 
gradually added in small successive quantities as long as 
its odor and reaction disappeared.” At a certain point 
it was found that the odor and reaction reappeared. It 
thus became evident that ammonia was rapidly and 
rather largely absorbed. The peat was still quite dry 
to the touch, but from the known quantity of ammonia 
added, was found to have absorbed no less than two per 
cent of its weight. The same sample was afterward 
spread out in a layer, and exposed to the air for 15 days, 
when the quantity o ammonia was found to be still 1| 
per cent. “ It appears then from this experiment, that 
peat is capable of absorbing fully two per cent of am¬ 
monia without acquiring an alkaline reaction, and when 
exposed to the air until it again becomes tolerably dry, 
of retaining no less than about 1| per cent.” 
The results of subsequent experiments which are de¬ 
tailed in the report, correspond very well with the above 
statements, and seem to establish the fact that peat is 
extremely valuable as an absorbent of ammonia, the 
above quantity being larger than that contained in ordi¬ 
nary yard manure. 
Some samples simply dried in the air, also afforded 
a most encouraging degree of success. I see no reason 
why the same action is not to be expected from our 
more easily decomposible muck, nor why some of its well 
known beneficial effects in composts may not thus be clear¬ 
ly explained. The material from the Scottish swamps be¬ 
comes hard when dried, and requires considerable power 
to reduce it to a fine state of division; ours crumbles 
naturally away, and might easily be dried if spread out 
in the hot sunny weather of summer. It would then be 
in the most advantageous state for mixing with manure 
heaps, spreading over the bottom of barn-yards, or 
soaking up the liquid of tanks. For such purposes as 
the latter, it might even be found advisable to dry small 
quantities by means of artificial heat. 
I consider the new view of this subject thus offered 
by Dr. Anderson, as of very high importance. It in¬ 
dicates to those farmers who have already discovered 
the value of the muck-heap, the best way of reaping ad¬ 
vantage from it ; it points out the inestimable importance 
to the future agriculture of this country, of those vast 
vegetable deposits which have been for ages accumula¬ 
ting, as it were for the express purpose of repairing the 
ravages which short-sighted ignorance has made, in the 
almost utter exhaustion of many of our fairest and 
originally most fertile districts. 
I would recommend experiments in mixing severally 
dried and undried peat, common earth and charcoal, 
with like quantities of barn-yard manure. Yours truly, 
John P. Norton. 
Profits of Farming:. 
This was the subject of discussion at one of the farm¬ 
er’s meetings at the State House in Boston last winter. 
The speakers expressed different opinions in regard to 
the profits of farming. This diversity of opinion is not 
strange, when it is considered that the profit and loss 
of farming varies according to many circumstances. 
Thus a good farmer, favored with a good farm, and en¬ 
joying advantages in regard to markets, would have no 
hesitation in declaring that “ money could be made by 
farming,” while another, differently situated, states 
that “ it is a general opinion in his section that farming 
was not profitable.” As some of the estimates and state¬ 
ments may interest our readers, we abstract the follow¬ 
ing from the Plowman’s report. 
Mr. Barrett of Belehertown, said he had seen men 
commence by running in debt for land and pay for it, 
and increase the dimensions of their farms. The farmer 
should study the nature of his soil and what is adapted 
to it. Some kinds of produce would be profitable while 
other kinds might not. In various breeds of stock, 
there was nearly one-half difference as to profit. Some 
breeds w r ould give nearly as much again profit as others 
on the same keeping. He referred to a man who pur¬ 
chased a farm worth $2500, who had paid for it, and now 
had money at interest. Where they had one farmer fail, 
fifty manufacturers were blown sky high! 
Mr. Sheldon, of Wilmington, thought farming 
under good management, as profitable as any other 
business. Mechanics and traders could not subsist unless 
there was profit in farming. As an example of the dif¬ 
ference in management, he said he had seen two men 
with two small yokes of oxen plowing in one field, 
in the adjoining lot he had seen a boy with one yoke of 
large cattle doing a better business. He cited the case 
of a woman whose husband died $800 in debt. Her 
oldest boy was now 21. She had paid off the debt, 
brought up her family at home—the buildings were im¬ 
proved, and the whole would sell for 50 per cent, more 
than when she took charge of the farm. 
66 A change has been going on.” 
In years past there has been a constant tide of emi¬ 
gration running from country to tow r n. Young men and 
maidens, to gratify their pride, ambition and acquisitive¬ 
ness have left their father’s firesides and taken up their 
abode with strangers. Old farmers in a great many in¬ 
stances, have been unable to keep one of their sons at 
home, to take care of them in their declining years, and 
to take the homestead when they are “ gathered to their 
fathers.” In some rural districts there is now scarcely 
a young person bet ween the ages of sixteen and twenty- 
five. It is not strange that the professions are full, and 
that all industrial occupations are crowded with opera¬ 
tives. The supply of manufactured commodities is ex¬ 
ceeding the demand, and prices are decreasing • conse¬ 
quently wages are not so high, and there is not that in¬ 
ducement there was once, to engage in other than rural 
pursuits. 
u A change came o’er the spirit of their dream.” 
Man, like the lower animals, loves the pure air and free 
sunshine, to roam over the green fields, and to find 
u pleasure in the pathless woods.” Confined to toil year 
after year, between walls of brick and mortar, hearing 
only the everlasting hum of machinery, or engaging in 
the unvarying routine of business, is a life hard to be 
endured. Hence the eagerness with which the tired 
denizens of the city, rush out into the country when an 
opportunity presents itself. The poor artisan who is 
obliged to labor every day for his daily bread, must stay 
in the smoke-stained atmosphere, whereas if he could 
u vote himself a farm,” he would soon leave the crowded 
