354 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
Nov, 
selves of its advantages. We do not see why this Insti¬ 
tution need wait long to secure the confidence of the farm¬ 
ing population, and acquire the reputation it will justly 
deserve. Let it receive prompt patronage, and it will 
not he long before its influence will be seen in improved 
farms and enlightened farmers. 
Analysis of the White Sugar Beet. 
By J. H. Salisbury, M. D. 
For the samples examined I am indebted to the kind¬ 
ness of S. G. Noyes, Esq., of Greenbush. They were 
very large, fleshy, and crisp. Average length of root, 18 
inches. Average widest diameter, 4 inches. 
Percentage of Water, Dry Matter , and Inorganic Matter. 
Root. 
Percentage of water,. 90. 55 
do dry matter,. 9. 45 
do inorganic matter,. 0.995 
do do in dry matter,. 10.534 
The above results show this variety of beet to be high¬ 
ly charged with water, of which it contains 90.55 per 
cent; leaving of dry inorganic matter only 8.455 per cent, 
and of inorganic matter, 0.995 of one per cent. The 
fresh roots contain about one pound of inorganic matter 
to the hundred, the dry roots 10£ pounds. 10.050 lbs. 
of the fresh roots yield 100 lbs. of inorganic matter. 
Composition of the inorganic matter of the roots. 
Carbonic acid,. 17.31 
Silicic acid, ... . 0.78 
Phosphoric acid,. 10.80 
Phosphate of iron,. 0.91 
Lime,. 1.85 
Magnesia,. 1.09 
Potash,..... 13.42 
Soda,. 50.84 
Chlorine,. 0.78 
Sulphuric acid,. 1.76 
The analysis shows the inorganic matter of this variety 
to be made up mostly of soda, potash, and phosphoric 
acid. Besides these three, it contains in small propor¬ 
tion, lime, magnesia, sulphuric acid, chlorine and iron. 
The analysis readily suggests the materials best suited 
for its inorganic nourishment. 
Proximate organic composition of roots. 
100 parts of 100 parts of 
fresh roots, dry roots. 
Water,. 90.550 
Fiber,. 2.295 24.039 
Sugar, . 5.730 60.023 
Dextrine. 0.440 4.608 
Casein. 0.595 6.242 
Albumen,. 0.443 4.617 
Starch,.. t . trace. trace. 
Resin,. 0.020 0.260 
Gluten, . 0.015 1.157 
Oil,. 0.010 0.105 
In the above analysis we see the nutritive qualities of 
this variety of beet. One ton of the fresh root contains 
of sugar, 114| lbs. j of dextrine, 9 lbs. j of albumen, ca¬ 
sein and gluten, 21 lbs. 
Ultimate organic composition. 
100 parts of dry roots gave of 
Nitrogen, . 1.465 
Carbon,. 40.729 
Oxygen,. 41.511 
Hydrogen,. 6.529 
Inorganic matter,... 10.534 
Albany , Oct., 1851. 
Deep Plowing, on some soils, improves them aston¬ 
ishingly. The Michigan Farmer says that Lewis Cone, 
the great wheat grower of Oakland county, in that state, 
commenced his system of deep plowing 15 years ago, 
since when his wheat crop has been more than doubled, 
taking one year with another, through the whole time. 
Manure—Query. 
Eds. Cultivator —It is a query amongst farmers in 
this neighborhood, (and probably elsewhere,) whether 
stable manure, hauled out and spread upon oat stubble, 
preparatory to sowing wheat, thus exposing it to the ac¬ 
tion of the sun and dew during a continued drouth, will 
lose much or any of its fertilizing properties. Some are 
of the opinion it will not, believing that the generation 
of ammonia is prevented by its being thus scattered, and 
therefore none of the active principle can be lost by evapo¬ 
ration. If any of your able correspondents can give any 
information upon the subject, tending to a satisfactory 
conclusion, it will be gladly received. John J. Moore. 
Quakcrtown, 8 mo. 11th, 1851. 
The nitrogen of animal manure is converted into a 
carbonate of ammonia by fermentation. It is in this 
state both soluble and volatile. Therefore when manure 
containing ammonia is spread out, exposed to the direct 
action of the air, more or less loss would ensue. When 
guano is spread on the surface of dry ground, and left 
uncovered, it is in a great measure lost, unless rain enough 
soon falls to dissolve the ammonia and carry it into the 
soil. If the surface was hard, so that water would not 
soak into it, the ammonia, if brought into solution by 
rain, would be mostly washed off. This illustrates the 
effect which would take place with stable manures. If 
the manure should be spread before fermentation takes 
place, the loss of ammonia would undoubtedly be less, 
but that there would still be a loss of fertilizing ^'oper- 
ties, is at least probable. The solid excrement, which 
is dropped on pastures by horses and cattle, does com¬ 
paratively but little good; it gradually wastes away un¬ 
der the effects of rain and evaporation, without produc¬ 
ing very marked results on the herbage. The urine, 
however, which soaks at once into the soil, shows its ef¬ 
fects in a striking manner. We would suggest to those 
who deny that manure can be wasted by evaporation, to 
try an experiment by placing 1,000 pounds in shallow 
troughs, or in a basin formed of rock. Here let it be 
exposed as much as possible to the alternate effects of 
rain and sunshine, thoroughly wet and dried as often as 
practicable—for a year or longer. Then let it be applied 
to any crop, under the same circumstances, -with 1,000 
pounds of the same kind and quality of manure, as that 
which had been exposed was at the beginning of the 
experiment, and compare the yield produced by each 
lot. Eds. 
Sheep Poisoned by Peach Leaves. —The poisonous 
quality of the leaves of the wild cherry has been long 
known, and cattle and sheep have frequently lost their 
lives by eating them. The substance which produces 
these effects, is supposed to be prussic acid. Peach 
leaves are known to contain this acid, and a writer in 
the Wood- Grower states that two sheep had died from 
eating freely of peach leaves. Various remedies have 
been given for the relief of animals which have eaten 
poisonous substances. In regard to sheep and cattle, 
we have formerly experienced good success from giving as 
soon as the illness of the animal is discovered, sweet-oil, 
lard, or butter, mixed with salt. For a sheep, a gill of 
oil, with a table-spoonful of fine salt, was the quantity 
given. A cow might have four times that quantity. It 
is very important that the dose be given as soon as the 
symptoms of poisoning are manifest; the longer it is 
delayed, the less likelv it will be to afford relief. 
