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A BOOK OF INSTRUCTION FOR EVERY FARMER 
 AND HORTICULTURIST. 
 
 THE NEW FAEMER'S GUIDE: 
 
 SHOWING Br 
 
 EXPERIMENTS OF THE TRIAL FARMS IN EUROPE, 
 
 THAT WITH A JUDICIOUS APPLICATION OF 
 
 CHEMICAL FERTILIZEKS, 
 
 THE YIELD OF THE PRmCIPAL AGRICULTUEAL CROPS MAY 
 BE DOUBLED OR TREBLED ; 
 
 ALSO GIYINQ 
 
 SIMPLE AND EASY JVIETHODS 
 
 FOR THE 
 
 NITRIFICATION OF THE SOIL 
 
 MATHIAS SCHKOEDER 
 
 *, iS74 ^ , 
 
 NEW yoek: 
 
 BAKER & GODWIN, PRINTERS, 
 
 No. 25 Pakk Row. 
 
 /^p 
 
^1^ Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1874, 
 
 By MATHIAS SCHROEDER, 
 In the OfBce of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 
 
 O 
 
PREFACE 
 
 TuE following pages are submitted to the attention of 
 American farmers as a compendium cf the latest and most 
 reliable information obtained from the experiments and 
 trials made bj European agriculturists. The opinions* of 
 many of the ablest and most intelligent writers are given, 
 not with a view of unduly exalting the merits of chemical 
 fertilizers, bttt simply with the intention of showing how 
 these fertilizers may, with the exercise of proper judgment 
 and care in their manufacture and application, become of 
 the greatest value in increasing the productiveness of the 
 soil. 
 
 There has been much misunderstanding as to the rela- 
 tive value and excellences of farm-yard manures and chem- 
 ical fertilizers. I do not advocate the extreme views of 
 Mr. George Yille (from whose works I have quoted) as to 
 the comparative uselessness of farm-yard manure, although, 
 at the same time, I should not wish to be understood as un- 
 dervaluing the general excellence of the writings of that 
 gentleman. 
 
 My object is rather to hold the balance fairly between 
 the two kinds of manure, to explain the active qualities of 
 each, and point out the ingredients which must always be 
 present in manures in order that a favorable result be 
 attained. 
 
 In this way I seek to convince the American farmer that, 
 in a great majority of cases, it will be greatly to his ad van- 
 
4 PREFACE. 
 
 tage to use the fertilizers, if they are properly manufactured 
 from pure materials.' 
 
 I have also thrown out hints upon a variety of topics, 
 which will be found of some importance to agriculturists. 
 More especially do I direct attention to the interesting 
 questions connected with a discussion of the nitrification of 
 the soil — a matter that has recently obtained a good deal 
 of notice, but which needs to be much better understood by 
 farmers generally. 
 
 As a practical and theoretical agriculturist for a num^ 
 ber' of years, I feel anxious that the discussions introduced 
 in these pages shall receive general attention ; and with 
 that view, I invite the co-operation of members of Farmers' 
 Clubs and other kindred associations in the drssemination 
 of the information they contain, which I have endeav- 
 ored to present in such a form as shall be readily under-, 
 stood, and be easily applied to practical use in the improve-, 
 ment of our systems of cultivation of the soil. 
 
 Mathias Schkoeder. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 PAOB 
 
 Preface 3-4 
 
 Experiments at the French " School of Manures." — Lecture by George 
 
 Yille Y_20 
 
 Explanation of Terms. — Vegetable and Animal Kingdoms 21-22 
 
 Composition of Chemical Substances 23 
 
 Elements required in a Soil to produce Great Fertility 2-4-28 
 
 Effects of Various Kinds of Manure Explained, — Mr. Villc's Theories 
 
 Discussed 29-32 
 
 Absorption of Atmospheric Nitrogrn by Vegetation 33-38 
 
 The Passage of Gases through the Vegetable Colloidal Membrane. ... 88 
 
 Results of an Investigation in East India, — Nitrates. — Soda 89-42 
 
 Researches of Boussingault on the Nitrification of the Soil. — Percent- 
 ages of Saltpetre in the Soil. — The Nitre Beds of Algeria 43-45 
 
 Jeaunel on Nitrates and Nitrites 46 
 
 Analytical Tables compiled by Emil Wolf 47-56 
 
 Comparative Quantities of Potash, Lime, Phosphoric Acid, and Nitro- 
 gen, ill an aTci'age crop of the principal Agricultural Products of 
 
 Germany 57-58 
 
 Why American Agriculturists Object to Chemical FertiUzers 59-60 
 
 Approximate Exhaustive Time Table of Manures and Fertilizers, <fec., 
 
 By Count Von Lippe-Wichcnfcld 61 
 
 Stassfurt Potash Salts — of what they consist, &c C2 
 
 Artificial Plaster, or Sulphate (f Lime 63 
 
 Fermentation of Manures and Nitrification of the Soil 64-65 
 
 Deep and Shallow Plowing 66-67 
 
 "Why Yv'ct Lauds should be Plowe:! in Beds 68 
 
 Synopsis of Agricultural Trials made at Proskau, Germany 69-70 
 
 Grasses 71 
 
 Potato Trials, with Turf and Inorganic ]\Iatter 72-73 
 
 Trials on Sugar Beets, with Turf and Fertilizers 74-75 
 
 1* (5) 
 
6 CONTENTS. 
 
 Method of Determining the Quantity of Starch in Potatoes 'JQ-'l^ 
 
 Address of Baron Justus Von Liebig ; 18-19 
 
 V/hcat Trials by Messrs. Lav/es and Gilberts '. 80 
 
 Effect of Various Kinds of Manure on Oats and Barley 81 
 
 Miscellaneous Topics: Plow and Cart Horses. — Live Stock, Butter 
 and Cheese Factories. — Canals for Irrigation and Transporta- 
 tion. — All Seeds for Planting should be imported Free of Duty. . 82-84 
 
 Conclusion 85-8'7 
 
 French Kiloo-rararaes reduced to U. S. Pounds 88 
 
EXPERIMENTS 
 
 AT THE 
 
 FRENCH SCHOOL OF MANURES. 
 
 By GEORGE VILLE. 
 
 A series of annual conferences are held at Yincenues, 
 France, in connection with a national association known as 
 the " School of Manures," at which the attendance usually 
 includes a considerable number of the most eminent French 
 farmers, as well as gentlemen from other countries inter- 
 ested in the questions discussed. At one of these confer- 
 ences a very valuable paper, conveying information of 
 much interest, was read to the assembled agriculturists 
 (among whom was M. Duruy, Minister of Public Instruc- 
 tion) by Mr. George Yille, then superintendent of the 
 institution, under the appointment of the late Emperor, 
 Napoleon III. The main portions of this essay, wdiich was 
 published at the time in the Journal Officiel de V Empire 
 Frangais, have been translated. 
 
 We present Mr. Yille's lecture to the American public 
 without any comment, agreeing in the main with the prin- 
 ciples laid down, although, in another portion of this work, 
 it has been necessary to state points on which there is reason 
 to believe this very able agriculturist is incorrect in his 
 assertions. 
 
8 THE NEW FARMER'S GUIDE. 
 
 MR. YILLE'S LECTUEE. 
 
 The year 1869 will be prominent in the annals of agri- 
 culture for the progress that has been made, and more 
 especially for the number of experiments which have had 
 for their object the determining of the nature and effect of 
 the various chemical manures. By a brief review, we shall 
 be able to form an idea of the importance of the new sys- 
 tems which have been inaugurated by the Yincennes school. 
 
 Nearly six hundred experiments have been conducted, 
 and these have been made in every portion of our land, and 
 under the most varied circumstances, so that they have 
 encountered all the unfavorable chances which are met with 
 in practical agriculture. Not to multiply details, I will 
 confine myself to a statement of the results of these experi- 
 ments in relation to the three most important plants of our 
 climate — wheat, beet and potatoes. 
 
 As many as 138 experiments were made on wlieat, the 
 results of which are summed up in the following tables : 
 
 921 kilogrammes of chemical manure pro- 
 duced, on an average, of grain per hectare 29 hecto. 73-100 
 while with 
 40,203 kilogrammes of farm manure, the crop 
 
 was only 21 hecto. 6-100 
 
 This shows an excess, in round numbers, of 8 J hecto- 
 litres of grain per hectare in favor of the cheniical manure. 
 But that is not alb. from a classification of these 138 experi- 
 ments we find that the variations of crop were as follows : 
 
 ~ Crop of 'Wheat per Hectare. 
 
 Cheiuical Manure. Farm Manure. 
 
 No. of Experiments, Hectolitres. Hectolitres. 
 
 10 produced 46.50 89.22 
 
 22 " 35.90 26.84 
 
 20 " 31.20 19.81 
 
 22 " 27.42 14.50 
 
 26 *' 22.44 14.50 
 
 88 " ; 15.00 12.03 
 
THE NEW FARMER'S GUIDE. 9 
 
 Or, to pot the same statement in a simpler form, out of 
 every four trials, the crops have been in the following pro- 
 portions : 
 
 Crop of Wheat per Hectare. 
 
 , ' _^ 
 
 Chemical Manure. Farm Manure. 
 
 No. of Experiments. Hectolitres. Hectolitres. 
 
 Two produced 35.25 25.00 
 
 One " 22.44 14.50 
 
 One " 15.00 12.03 
 
 Hence, it will be seen that, with chemical manure, the 
 prospect would be two large crops, one good average crop, 
 and one middling crop, out of four plantings; while, with 
 farm manure, the result from the same number of trials 
 would be an average crop twice, and a middling cro}) twice. 
 
 The experiments with beet lead also to the same con- 
 clusion. There were 190 trials, and 
 
 1,326 Idle, of chemical manure gave an average 
 
 per hectare of ; 51,948kilo. 
 
 while 
 50,650 kilo, of farm manure gave a crop, per 
 
 hectare, of only 41,811 " 
 
 Excess in favor of chemical manure .... 10,137 " 
 
 When we proceed to classify these trials, the result 
 shows a contrast not less significant than in the case of 
 wheat, as to the proportionate eiticiencj of the two agents: 
 
 Crop of Beet per Hectare. 
 
 Chemical Manure. Farm Manure. 
 
 No. of Experiments. Kilogi-ammes. Kilogiammes. 
 
 8 produced 91,664 V0,149 
 
 21 •' 63,507 49,900 
 
 35 " 53,673 43,670 
 
 61 " 43,640 • 34,784 
 
 40 " * . 85,373 28,920 
 
 25 " 24,433 23,453 
 
 Thus, in four plantings, the proportion with chemical 
 manure is two and one-half increased crops, one average 
 crop, and one-half middling crop ; while, in the three first 
 plantings, there was an excess of 10,000 kilogrammes over 
 the crops obtained by farm manure, 
 
10 THE NEW FAEMER'S GUIDE, 
 
 "With potatoes, 83 experiments were made, with similar 
 satisfactory results : 
 
 Crop of Potatoes per Hectare. 
 
 Chei 
 No. of Experiments. 
 
 17 produced 
 
 16 " 
 
 26 " 
 
 24 " 
 
 Chemical Manure. 
 
 Farm Manure. 
 
 Kilogrammes. 
 
 ELilogrammes. 
 
 38,271 
 
 80,812 
 
 24,288 
 
 16,871 
 
 17,266 
 
 14,021 
 
 11,119 
 
 11,683 
 
 The average crop per hectare would, therefore, be as 
 follows : 
 
 Crop of Potatoes per Hectare. 
 Kilo. Kilogrammes. 
 
 1,090 of chemical manure 22,736 
 
 89,946 of farm manure 18,559 
 
 Excess in favor of chemical inanure 4,177 
 
 EXPERIMENTS IX THE COLONIES. 
 
 The results which have been obtained from experiments 
 in the colonics with the sugar-cane are no less striking. 
 The yield of the cane is of two kinds, viz., the crop of the 
 first year, derived from a planting of cuttings, known as 
 planted canes ; and the canes derived from the mother stock 
 in succeeding years, which are called sprouts. The firet 
 crop is generally the largest. 
 
 I am indebted to the Marquis de Rancougne, proprietor 
 of one of the most important sugar manufactories in Guade- 
 loupe, for an abstract of the average yield of a plantation 
 of 21,000,000 kilo, (both planted canes and sprouts), which 
 is placed af 34,000 kilo. From the experiments which 
 have been carried on at Guadeloupe by M. de Javrun, dur- 
 ing the last three years, it appears that, with chemical man- 
 ure, the cane yielded the first year, 84,782 kilo., and the 
 second year, 26,875 kilo. This was an average of 55,000 
 kilo, per hectare, instead of 34,000. What is more remark- 
 able still, moreover, is that, where the chemical manure was 
 
THE NEV\- FARMEll'S GUIDE, 11 
 
 used, the canes gave ITy^^ per cent, of sugar, while those 
 cultivated without manure produced only lly^Tr P®^' cent. 
 
 The importance of these results, in an economical point 
 of view, is evident ; but I leave that to be developed by the 
 practical men who made the experiments. 
 
 M. Autier, who carries on the farm of Saint Denis, 
 near Lechesne, in the Ardennes, with great ability, writing 
 me on the 13th of February, 1862, says : 
 
 " My farm has the following distribution of crops : 
 
 Beet, with 50,000 kilo, of manure. 
 
 Wheat. 
 
 Clover. 
 
 Oats. 
 
 Hay (annual). 
 
 Colza, with 80,000 kilo, of manure. 
 
 Wheal. 
 
 "With these 80,000 kilo, of manure, divided over a 
 period of seven years, I have obtained, up to the present 
 time : • 
 
 17 to 20 hectolitres of wheat per hectare. 
 80 to 35 " " oata " 
 
 16 to 17 " " colza " 
 
 " With a supplementary expense of 100 francs per hec- 
 tare for chemical fertilizers, my crops have increased the 
 last year in the following ratio : 
 
 On 60 hectares of wheat to 80.72 hectolitres. 
 " 23 " " oats " 44.88 
 "11 " " colza " 24 67 
 
 " The soil in the neighborhood surrounding my farm is 
 rich — at least double the value of my land ; but nowhere 
 are chemical fertilizers used. The crops which I have ob- 
 tained through their application have exceeded by 30 per 
 cent, the crops of my neighbors." 
 
 M. Debaine, a cultivator at St. Remi, in the department 
 of Seine and Oise, gives the following words of advice to 
 the farmers of Beauce, whose vast tracts of land are poorly 
 
12 THE NEW FARMER'S GUIDE. 
 
 manured : " Concentrate your manure in tlie half of the 
 ground." And to others he says; "Employ chemical fer- 
 tilizers, and you will double your crops." 
 
 M. Schatteumann, the oldest and one of the most experi- 
 enced of French agricultui-ists, recently dead, goes even 
 further. " France," said he, " must lose no time in making 
 all possible use of chemical fertilizers, so that she may be 
 enabled to supply her own wants, and not be surpassed by 
 other nations." 
 
 Indeed, no one doubts the fact that with chemical fer- 
 tilizers crops are always more abundant than with dung- 
 heap manures; but some people raise the objection that 
 they are not really fertilizers — that the only action of the 
 so-called chemical fertilizers is to dissolve the elements of 
 fertility contained in the soil, and thus, sooner or later, ex- 
 haust it. Others raise the objection that these fertilizers 
 cannot take the plage of farm-yard ipanures, because they 
 are deficient in certain qualities which are always found in 
 the latter, and which plants cannot do without. What 
 amount of truth is there in these assertions ? Absolutely 
 none! In proof, take an analysis of farm-yard manure. 
 We find, in the first place, 80 per. cent, of water ; but it is 
 not to water that it is indebted for its good qualities. The 
 useful properties of farm-yard manures are, therefore, to be 
 found in the remaining twenty parts. But the value of 
 these is considerably reduced when other necessary deduc- 
 tions are made: 13.29 per cent, must be subtracted on 
 account of the woody fibres and straw, which contain hardly 
 any fertilizing properties. Silica, oxide of iron, sulphuric 
 acid, chlorine, soda, represent 5. 07 per cent., and all of these 
 the worst soils are full of. The really active properties con- 
 tained in farm-yard manures are, therefore, reduced to 1.64 
 per cent 
 
THE NEW FARMER'S GUIDE. 13 
 
 RrCAPITULATIOX, 
 
 Manure (farm-rard) '. , . 100.00 parts. 
 
 Water fcO.OO " 
 
 Woody fibres ,. 18.29 " 
 
 Secondary minerals , 5.07 " 
 
 Active parts 1.64 " 
 
 Total ■ 100.00 
 
 The active parts (1.64) arc composed as follows; 
 
 Azote 0.41 
 
 Phosphoric acid 0.1 8 
 
 Potassium 0.49 
 
 Lime .♦ 0.56 
 
 1.64 
 
 These are the very four substances of which mineral 
 manures are composed. 
 
 But there is another objection jet. Is it really certain 
 that in the 13.29 per cent, of woody fibres there is nothing 
 of any real value as a fertilizer ? We reply, [N'othing is 
 more certain. These fibres are, in fact, composed only of 
 carbon, liydrogen and oxygen, and each of these the plant 
 can obtain in sufiicient quantity from other sources— the 
 carbon from the carbonic acid of the air, and the hydrogen 
 and oxygen from the rain-water. Let some shavings or 
 sawdust be allowed to rot in a manure pit, and what do we 
 get ? A manure which is altogether worthless, of a similar 
 nature to turf, which is entirely inefficacious as a fertilizer. 
 ISTow, it is not reasonable to expect that carbon, hydrogen 
 and oxygen in straw will be of any value, when it is known 
 that the same agents in other substances are utterly worth- 
 less. Geology confirms us in this conclusion. In the order 
 of creation, vegetables were the first representatives of life 
 on the surface of the globe, and the coal deposits, which are 
 so extensive, were formed from the decomposition of the 
 primeval forests. At that remote period, vegetation pos- 
 sessed a luxuriance and vigor of growth which has since 
 2 
 
14 THE NEW FARMER'S GUIDE. 
 
 greatly decreased. The calamites and the lepidodendrons 
 of those primitive ages grew to more than 45 feet in height, 
 and formed extensive forests, but they are represented to- 
 day by simple plants— the lycopodes ai^d the shave grasses. 
 Now, did the lepidodendrons and the calamites find in the 
 soil any substances composed of carbon, hydrogen and oxy- 
 gen analogous to the humids? It could not have been so, 
 for the presence of these substances would necessarily pre- 
 suppose an anterior creation. It is evident, then, that the 
 new flora derived its Qourishment from other sources than 
 the substances which many now regard as highly produc- 
 tive of fertility, but which we declare to be altogether 
 worthless. Carbon, hydrogen and oxygen cannot be indis- 
 pensable to fertility now, for vegetation was much more 
 luxuriant at a period when the soil was altogether devoid 
 of them. 
 
 Another objection may be urged — that I have struck 
 out, from among the active parts of farm-yard manures, 
 silica, chlorine, sulphuric acid, oxide of iron, soda and mag- 
 nesia; these I call secondary minerak, and they make up 
 5.07 per cent, of this manure. These substances are not 
 useless in the promotion of vegetable life ; on the contrary, 
 plants cannot do without them. Why, then, should they 
 be left out of the calculation ? For this reason : that the 
 very worst soils possess them in abundance. Let them 
 either be added or taken away from the manure, and its 
 action as a fertilizer remains the same. Why, therefore, 
 should any ingredients be introduced which are of no real 
 value? 
 
 We have now arrived at this point in the discussion : 
 that farm-yard manures derives its active properties neither 
 from its SO per cent, of water nor from its 13.29 per cent, 
 of woody fibres, nor yet from the 5.07 per cent, of second- 
 
THE NEW FAKMEE'S GUIDE. . 15 
 
 avj minerals ; but only from its azote, phosphoric acid, po- 
 tassium, and lime, wliich form l^V P^^ cent., and of which 
 our chemical fertilizers are also composed. Hence, it fol- 
 lows that the superiority of chemical manures— demon- 
 strated bj the experience of large cultivators — is clearly 
 established and borne out by the analysis of chemical fer- 
 tilizers and farm-yard manures ; and this fact also becomes 
 clear — that, in spite of the difference in the quantity and 
 form, the active substances are one and the same, although, 
 in farm-yard manures, there are a number of ingredients 
 which are utterly worthless, and which, in the case of chem- 
 ical fertilizers, are carefully excluded. Can there any 
 longer be a shadow of doubt in the matter? 
 
 Another argument may be used which will throw still 
 greater light upon the subject. If the venerable Mathieu 
 de Dombasles had been told, some thirty years ago, that it 
 was possible, through the use of certain chemical products, 
 to regulate the process of vegetation as surely as if it were 
 a simple piece of mechanism, that eminent agriculturist 
 would have received the assertion with a smile of incredu- 
 lity. Yet nothing can be more certain than that this has 
 been done in the experiments carried on at Yincennes dur- 
 ing the last ten years. The method by which this has been 
 accomplished is as follows : All known vegetables, despite 
 their different organizations and properties, are composed 
 of a small number of elements, which remain always the 
 same. These are divided into two groups, distinct in their 
 nature and origin. 
 
 Group I. 
 
 Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, azote. 
 
 Geoup II. 
 Manganese, phosphor, sulphur, chlorine, iron, silicum, 
 magnesia, potassium, and sodium. 
 
16 THE KEW FAEMER'S GUIDE. 
 
 These groups include all the bodies that arc found in 
 vegetables, notwitlistanding all differences of origin, form, 
 and quality. Scientists conceived the idea that it was pos- 
 sible to create ves-otation from these substances, iust as thev 
 would manufacture an ordinary commercial product, sucli 
 as alum or soap. In order to meet all objections, the ex- 
 periments were begun by selecting a worthless soil — cal- 
 cined sand — that is to say, ])ure silica, v/hich is an inert 
 matter. This was watered with distilled water, which is 
 pure water, and some wheat was sown. Vegetation, under 
 these conditions, produced hardly the rudiment of a plant 
 — the blade scarcely reached a height of 20 centimetres 
 (a.bout Y^Q- of an inch), with a diameter about the same 
 as that of a medium-sized knitting needle. In the sec- 
 ond experiment, some pure carbon was added, with no 
 better results — only stunted plants were produced, as on 
 the first occasion. On the third trial, a composition of car- 
 bon, hydrogen, and oxygen was added, but still the result 
 remained the same — the vegetation languished, neither in- 
 creasing nor diminishing. At this, of course, we are not at 
 all surprised, as we know that all the carbon, hydrogen, and 
 oxygen required by plants is furnished by the air and the 
 rain. 
 
 The next step in the experiment was to add the ten min- 
 eral substances of the second group, in the following com- 
 ])ositions, viz. : phosphate of lime, phosphate of magnesia, 
 sulphate of lime, chloride of sodium, and the silicates of 
 potash' of soda, of iron, and of manganese ; but even then 
 the result was no better. We are, therefore, led to the in-, 
 evitable but singular conclusion that, of the fourteen ele- 
 ments which enter into the composition of vegetiTbles, 
 
 thirteen are wholly inert. 
 
 «/ 
 
 In pure sand, we have only a stunted vegetation; in 
 
THE NEW FARMER'S GUIDE. 17 
 
 sand eontiiinlng an admixture of compositions of carbon, 
 hydrogen, and oxygen, the same result : and no appreciable 
 difference when all the minerals are added. One more 
 chance is left : let ns try the effect of the application of 
 azote in the form of ammonicical salt, and this produces a 
 certain action : the foliage of the plant becomes greener, 
 and from its appearance when it begins to germinate, one 
 might be led to suppose that the plant would continue to 
 slioot up. But this is not so ; first indications prove de- 
 ceptive; the plant doc^s not really flourish^some unfavor- 
 able influences seem to hang over it, and the crop turns out 
 bad. There is an early promise of success, but the result is 
 insignificant. 
 
 But now, as the last resource, let us persevere in the use 
 of azote in the form of ammoniacal salt, adding also the ten 
 minerals of the second group, and everything is changed at 
 once. In this soil, which beforef had appeared to be cursed 
 and. disinherited, in the absence of any fertilizing influence, 
 a plant springs up, grows, covers itself with flowers, and 
 bears seed exactly similar in every respect to the seeds pro- 
 duced in good soil. And now, for the first time, science is 
 the master of vegetation. 
 
 Observe, this is no mere theory ; it is a successful ex- 
 '^)crin)ent which speaks for itself; it is a fact, which every 
 one must acknowledge to be worthy of notice. 
 
 But, to proceed a step further, let us endeavor to solve 
 anotlier problem. Since azote, associated with the -above 
 ten minerals, produces in a sterile soil a crop equal to the 
 growth in a na^turally good soil, we will select a soil of cal- 
 cined sand, and add to it a composition of azote, as an in- 
 variable ingredient, and also all the minerals, less one. 
 Renew this trial as many times as there are minerals, so as 
 to observe the influence of the withdrawal of each one. 
 
18 THE NEW FARMER'S GUIDE. 
 
 Tlie result will be, that while with the composition of the 
 azote and all the minerals included, the crop is 25 gr-ammes 
 for 22 grains of seed, without the phosphate of lime the 
 plant dies ; the withdrawal of the potash reduces the crop to 
 nine grammes, and the absence of the lime lessens the crop 
 from 25 grammes to 18. As to the secondary minerals, 
 there is no need to speak further, as they are always found 
 in abundance in the soil. 
 
 Thus we have established, against all possible denial, 
 the proposition with which we started — that, by the action 
 of certain cliemical matters, vegetation may be produced ; 
 and we have proved, by trials made with known substances, 
 that different degrees of fertility may be attained. 
 
 [N'ow, let us proceed to inquire, what are the conse- 
 quences that follow as the result of these experiments ? If^ 
 l>y the aid of these chemical products, we can obtain, in a 
 soil altogether deficient in the essentials for producing veg- 
 etation, results exactly similar to those produced by good 
 soil, with the aid of manure, does it not follow that all the 
 ingredients of farm manure, outside of the chemical portion 
 which I have described, are useless, or, at least, of second- 
 ary importance ? I maintain that the identity of results 
 can only be traced to a similarity of causes. 
 
 Kow, as to the last objection that may be urged, Is 
 there any doubt as to the correctness of the experiments 
 themselves? let me say : M. Kieffel, manager of the school 
 of Grqjid-Jouan, had undertaken to superintend them, and 
 tiiey were conducted upon an uncultivated and worthless 
 piece of land, ploughed up specially for the purpose. He 
 sowed two parallel crops of wheat and buckwheat, and ob- 
 tained the following results per hectare : 
 
 * Chemical Fertilizers. Farm Manure. 
 
 Buckwheat 33 hectolitres. 19 hectolitres. 
 
 Wheat 20 " 16 
 
THE XEW FARMER'S -G'uIDE. 19 
 
 Chemical manure is thus seen to be superior to farm 
 manure. On land v%'itliout any manure, nothing at all was 
 produced, no crop whatever. It cannot, therefore, he said 
 that the larger crops obtained by the use of the chemical 
 fertilizers were the result of any substances inherent to the 
 soil. 
 
 But this is not all. I said that the withdrawal of one 
 of the ingredients in the chemical fertilizer annuls the effect 
 of all the other parts. M. Rioffel made new experiments 
 on this branch of the subject. He omitted the phosphate 
 of lime — thete was no crop ; he employed the azote jnatter 
 alone — no crop ; he then tried the soil without any manure 
 — still no crop ; but when all the elements were united, 
 there was an al:iundant crop. All my argument amounts 
 to this: that I would advise agriculturists to have done 
 with discussions, and make trials for themselves. Many 
 have done this, and the result of their experiments has been 
 to 2^rove that chemical manure is from two to three hun- 
 dred times more productive than farm manure. The ex- 
 planation of this is, that in farm-yard manure we have the 
 elements of the chemical fertilizer, but they are so mixed 
 up with useless substances as to retard tlieir good effects. 
 
 Finally, at my request, trials were made in producing 
 vegetation with the chemical fertilizer alone, to the exclu- 
 sion of all others, and the experiment succeeded admirably. 
 So that there need be no doubt or hesitation. The most ex- 
 tensive agricultural trials confirm our conclusions. The 
 chemical fertilizers derive their effects from the presence of 
 the same elements as are in farm-yard manure ; and ail that 
 the latter contains, in excess of the former, is not needed by 
 the soil. In order to demonstrate this fact more clearly, I 
 have united in the same table a statement of the composi- 
 tion of farm manure, of a plant, and of the soil^ taking as a 
 
20 THE NEW FARMER'S GUIDE. 
 
 unit of comparison the hectare. The manuring and crop 
 of a hectare, and the arable layer spread over a hectare — 
 what does this table tell us ? It shows that the dung-heap 
 possesses about the same composition as the plant, which is 
 quite natural, since it is derived from vegetable productions 
 modified by animal digestion. Again, it shows that the 
 ground contains enormous quantities of the minerals com- 
 prised in the second group, as silica, iron, manganese, sul- 
 pliur, magnesia, etc., and tlils renders their presence useless 
 in manure; while of azote, phosphoric acid, potash and 
 lime, the amount is limited ; therefore it is necessary to 
 give them back to the ground to make it fertile, and that is 
 why we make use of these four substances in the composi- 
 tion of our chemical manure. 
 
 "We repeat, then, that azote, phosphoric acid, potash 
 and lime are the elements which regulate the production of 
 plants. Practical agriculture acknowledges this to be the 
 case ; the vegetation of the primitive ages confirms it , and 
 the most precise and exact experiments develop and sub- 
 stantiate the trath of this theory. But what I must further 
 remark, although I have not before alluded to it, is that 
 these four substances, though always necessary, do not ful- 
 fill an equal role with regard to all plants. According to 
 the nature of the plant, one or other of tb.ese four substances 
 manifests an action more or less decided on the crop — that 
 particular substance dominates in the work of producing 
 the crop. In cereals and beet, the dominant agent is azote ; 
 while potash has the like effect in the case of beans, peas, 
 and the leguminous plants. But we must always remember 
 that this action never takes place without the aid and coop- 
 eration of the other three elements. If they are withdrawn, 
 the one substance alone would have no action whatever. 
 
THE YEGETABLE AND ANIMAL KINGDOM. 
 
 EXPLANATION OF TERMS. 
 
 "With the majority of farmers, there would probably be 
 some difficulty in understanding chemical experiments, un- 
 less an explanation were given of the technical and scientific 
 terms used. As far as possible, the use of these terms is 
 avoided throughout this pamphlet, but in order that every- 
 thing may be rightly understood, and a correct judgment 
 formed, I will now proceed to give such explanation as may 
 be needed. 
 
 Chemists have proved that the vegetable and animal 
 kingdoms consist entirely of fifteen substances, called chem- 
 ical ingredients. These are divided into two groups. The 
 first group comprises carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and azote 
 (or nitrogen) ; the second group consists of potash, soda, 
 lime, magnesia, silica, alumin, iron, manganese, sulphur, 
 phosphorus, and chlorine. These eleven included in the 
 second group are inoi-ganic matters, or salts contained in 
 the ashes of plants, and therefore they are called the inor- 
 ganic ingredients of plants. The first group are known as 
 gases ; although carbon is a solid matter, it is in the air, as 
 a gas, called carbonic acid. By the wonderful laws of 
 nature, each of these substances has such remarkable powers 
 of attraction or afianity for the others, in forming chemical 
 combinations or assimilations, they need only to be used 
 judiciously to be available in bringing all kinds of plants to 
 the highest degree of perfection. Now, for instance, we 
 
 (21) 
 
22 THE NEW FARMER'S GUIDE. 
 
 know that the air is composed of four-fifths nitrogen, one- 
 fifth oxygen, and ^^Vo" P^^^ carbonic acid, and that it holds 
 from 1 per cent, to 2t per cent, of water. We know that 
 water is composed of one-ninth hydrogen and eight-ninths 
 oxygen, the two gases chemically bound forming a liquid 
 body. Potash, soda, lime and magnesia are combinations 
 of oxygen, and these metals only. Ammoniacal gas is 
 c'.>mposed of azote and hydrogen ; and nitric acid is a com- 
 pound of azote and oxygen. Common salt consists of 
 chlorine and sodium — the first, a suflTocating gas, the second, 
 a metal that takes fire when brought in contact with water. 
 
 'We know, also, that carbonic acid is composed of 28 
 per cent, of carbon and 72 per cent, of oxygen ; that the 
 leaf of a plant absorbs carbon and nitrogen, while it rejects 
 the oxygen ; that 50 pounds of carbon and 50 pounds of 
 water produce 100 pounds of woody fibre; that 50 pounds 
 of carbon and 724 pounds of water produce 122|- pounds of 
 either sugar, starch, or gum ; and that 50 pounds of caribou 
 and 56 pounds of water make 106 pounds of vinegar. 
 
 We further know that about one-half the weight of all 
 the crops gathered, for the nourishment of man and beast, 
 consist of carbon — the oxygen forms a little over a third 
 part, the hydrogen enters into their composition only to the 
 extent of a little over 5 per cent., and the azote seldom ex- 
 ceeds 2^ or 3 per cent., with from 2 to 8 per cent, of ashes. 
 This is shown in tiie following analysis of the component 
 parts of different crops in perfect dryness : 
 
 Carbon. Hydrogen. Oxygen. Aiote. Ashes. 
 
 Hay 45.8 5.0 38.7 1.5 9.0 
 
 Hay and straw 47.4 5.0 37.8 2.1 7.7 
 
 Potatoes 44.0 5.8 44.7 1.5 4.0 
 
 Wheat 46.1- 5.8 43.4 2.3 2.4 
 
 Wheat straw 48.7 5.3 38.9^ 0.3^ 7.0 
 
 Oats 50.7 6.4 36.7 2.2 4.0 
 
 Oat straw 50.1 5.4 39.0 0.4 5.1 
 
THE I^EW FARMER'S GUIDE. 23 
 
 Composition of Chemical Substances. 
 
 The following will explain the composition of the vari- 
 ous substances and matters mentioned in the foregoing : 
 
 Ammonia consists of 14 parts of nitrogen and 3 parts of liydrogen. 
 
 K"itric acid consists of 14 parts of nitrogen to 40 parts of oxygen. 
 
 Phosphoric acid contains 31 parts of phosphorus to 40 parts of oxygen. 
 
 Superphosphate of lime contains, in 100 parts, about 60 parts of phos- 
 phoric acid, about 25 parts of lime, and 15 parts of water. 
 
 Carbonic acid contains 6 parts of carbon and 16 parts of oxygen. 
 
 Sulphuric acid is composed of" 16 parts of sulphur to 24 parts of oxygen. 
 
 Silicic acid consists, in 100 parts, of 46 66-100 of silicon to 63 34-100 of 
 oxygen. 
 
 Carbonate of lime, in 100 parts, contains about 44 parts of carbonic acid 
 and 56 parts of lime. 
 
 Protoxide of ijon consists of 28 parts of iron to 8 parts of oxygen ; and 
 peroxide of iron, 56 parts of iron to 24 parts of oxygen. 
 
 Magnesia contains, in 100 parts, 60 4-100 of magnesium to 39 6-100 of 
 oxygen. 
 
 Sulphate of lime contains, in 100 parts, 46 of sulphuric acid, 32 of lime, 
 and about 21 of water. 
 
 Common salt contains, in 100 parts, when pure, 60 68-100 of chlorine and 
 89 32-100 of sodium. 
 
 Nitrate of soda contains, in 100 parts, 63 53-100 of nitric acid and 36 
 47-100 of soda. 
 
 Potassa contains, in 100 parts, 53 41-100 of nitric acid, and 46 59-100 of 
 potassa. 
 
 Sulphate of ammonia contains, in 100 parts, 60 60-100 of sulphuric acid, 
 25 76-100 of ammonia, and 13 64-100 of water. 
 
ELEMENTS REQUIRED IN A SOIL TO PRO' 
 DUCE GREAT FERTILITY. 
 
 Every farmer is acquainted with this fact, that the bulk 
 of all soils consists of three distinct materials, as, for in- 
 stance, sand, clay and limestone soil. Fure sand is the 
 basis of. silica; pure clay is the basis of aluminum, and is 
 composed of about 60 per cent, of silica and 40 per cent, of 
 aluminum ; and lime, or carbonate of lime, is a composition 
 of lime and carbonic acid. But besides these three sub- 
 stances, the soil contains a great deal of organic and inor- 
 ganic matter, and upon the quantity and quality of this lat- 
 ter depends the fertility or the sterility of a soil. This 
 point is illustrated by the well-executed analysis of three 
 different soils, given below, which was prepared by Pro- 
 fessor Sprengel, a German chemist, w.hile he was at tlie 
 head of the Prussian High School of Agriculture. No. 
 1 in the analysis is a very fertile alluvial soil in Frisland, 
 formerly covered by sea-water, but which had been culti- 
 vated over 80 years, and yielded heavy crops without any 
 manure. No. 2 is a fertile soil near Gottingen, producing 
 good crops of clover, potatoes and turnips, yielding particu- 
 larly well when manured with plaster. No. 3 is a very 
 sterile soil near Kunebourg. After sufficient water had 
 been applied to these three varieties of land, to separate the 
 soluble parts from the insoluble matter, the coarse sand from 
 
 (24) 
 
THE NEW FARMER'S GUIDE. 25 
 
 the finer ingredients, the analysis for 1,000 parts showed as 
 follows : 
 
 No. 1. No. 2. No. 8. 
 
 Soluble saline matters 18 1 1 
 
 Fine earthy and organic matter .. . 937 839 * 599 
 
 Coarse sand 45 160 400 
 
 1,000 1,000 1,000 
 
 The most striking difference in these numbers is the 
 large quantity of saline matters found in the No. 1, these 
 consisting of chloride cf sodium, chloride of potassium, sul- 
 phate of potassium, and plaster, with traces of sulphate of 
 magnesia, sulphate of iron, and phosphate of soda. The 
 presence of such a large quantity of saline matters is, with- 
 out doubt, to be accounted for by the fact that the soil had 
 formerly been covered by sea-water, and it was probably 
 owing to the same circumstance that it had produced large 
 crops without any manure. No. 3, the sterile soil, is found 
 to be the lightest of the three — 40 per cent, of it was coarse 
 sand, but that alone is not sufficient to account for its ster- 
 ility, as there are soils which contain even a greater quan- 
 tity of sand without being sterile. The fine matters, sepa- 
 rated from the coarse sand and the soluble ingredients, were, 
 in 1,000 parts, as follows : 
 
 No. 1. No. 2. No. 8. 
 
 Organic matters 97 50 40 
 
 Silica C48 833 778 
 
 Alumin 57 51 91 
 
 Mixed iinie 59 18 4 
 
 Magnesia 8^ 8 1 
 
 Iron 61 30 81 
 
 Manganese 1 3 0^ 
 
 Potash 2 Traces. Traces. 
 
 Soda 4 
 
 Ammonia Traces. " " 
 
 Chlorine*. 2 " '* 
 
 Sulphur 2 0| 
 
 Phosphoric 4i If " 
 
 Carbonic acid • 40 4^ " 
 
 Loss 14 — 4^ 
 
 1,000 1,000 1,000 
 
26 THK NEW FARMER'S GUIDE. 
 
 The composition of No. 1 verifies the correctness of the 
 general principle laid down, that the jpresence of a great 
 quantity of inorganic matters of every Icind is needed to 
 render a soil eminently fertile. It is necessary, not only 
 that the soil contain a considerable quantity of soluble and 
 saline ingredients, but that it has, .in addition thereto, 
 nearly 10 per cent, of organic matters ; and this becomes of 
 still greater importance, in consideration of the large quan- 
 tity of inorganic ingredients — 6 per cent, of lime, and also 
 potash, soda, and the different acids. 
 
 The soil Ko. 2, though fertile, has but a very small pro- 
 portion of soluble saline matters, and amongst the insoluble 
 parts, there exist only traces of potash, soda, and the im- 
 portant acids — there is only 5 per cent, of organic matters 
 and about 2 per cent, of lime. The smallness of the quan- 
 tities of some important ingredients, and the entire absence 
 of several others, places this soil below that class of soils 
 which would be called, naturally very fertile; but, under 
 the treatment of a judicious farmer, it might be brought to 
 a high degree of productiveness, while, if cultivated without 
 manure, it would soon become unproductive. 
 
 In the " fine matters " of the soil, we find that soil No. 
 3 has less of the fertilizing ingredients than No. 2 — the or- 
 ganic matters amount to about 4 per cent., and the lime to 
 one-half per cent. ; but it contains 40 per cent, of coarse 
 sand, so that, out of 100 parts, there is only 60 per cent, of 
 fine matters, as the first table shows. The absence to such 
 a great degree of fertilizing ingredients would not, however, 
 in itself be suflScient to condemn such a soil as irremediably 
 sterile ; but there is another element in the case to be con- 
 sidered : in the fine matters of that soil we find over 5 per 
 cent, of oxide of iron, and experience has proved that where 
 there is so small a quantity of the vegetable matters, that 
 
THE NEW FARMER'S GUIDE. 27 
 
 proportion of oxide of iron is too great, and would exercise 
 a verj hurtful influence on cultivated plants. To improve 
 such a soil, it would be necessary not only to furnish it with 
 additional inorganic ingredients, but also with other reactive 
 matters, which should neutralize the injurious effects of the 
 oxide of iron. 
 
 In the analysis of these three soils, we find that the first 
 sample contains in itself all the elements of fertility in great 
 plenty ; the second sample presents a soil which, though 
 fertile, is wanting in several important elements, but which 
 could be supplied by manuring, and it is reported that 
 plaster produces a particularly good effect upon it ; and, 
 finally, in the third sample, we have a soil which is not 
 only wanting in a great variety of inorganic elements nec- 
 essary to the life and growth of plants, but which also 
 abounds in an inorganic substance that is always injurious 
 to vegetable life. 
 
 The following is an analysis of a very fertile soil in the 
 vicinity of the Zuyder Zee, in Holland, as given by the cel- 
 ebrated chemist, Mulder : 
 
 Insoluble sand with alumina 67.646 
 
 Soluble silica 2.340 
 
 Alumina, soluble. 1.830 
 
 Peroxide of iron 9.039 
 
 Protoxide of iron 0.350 
 
 Lime 4.092 
 
 Magnesia 0. 130 
 
 Potash 1.026 
 
 Soda 1.9'72 
 
 Ammonia 0.060 
 
 Phosphoric acid 0.466 
 
 Sulphuric acid 0.896 
 
 Carbonic acid 6.085 
 
 Chlorine 1.240 
 
 Humus, or mold, ve<'-etable remains and water chemi- 
 cally combined 12.000 
 
 ► Loss 0.828 
 
 Total 100.000 
 
28 THE NEW FARMER'S GUIDE. 
 
 This is a most remarkably rich soil, and few in the 
 world can compare with it in furnishing the raw material 
 for producing bread and meat. 
 
 These examples will help farmers to comprehend of what 
 great service a chemical analysis may be in enlightening 
 them as to the composition and real value of a soil, and 
 they will readily see the practical benefits to be derived 
 therefrom. 
 
EFFECTS OF VARIOUS KIXDS OF MANURE 
 EXPLAINED. 
 
 MR. YILLE'S THEOEIES DISCUSSED, 
 
 In the discussion of the advantages resulting from using 
 the various kinds of manures and fertilizers, the main object 
 will be not to set up new theories, so much as to show, by 
 reference to experiments and the views of writers on the 
 subjects, what we deem to be the most correct and best 
 established principles. 
 
 ITaturailj, in the consideration of such a question, the 
 point first to be referred to is the influence ot farm-yard 
 manure on the soil. 
 
 In a translation of the opinions of Mr. Yille (the gentle- 
 man already referred to), which has been made by M. A. A. 
 Fesquet, and published in this country, the following pas- 
 sage occurs : 
 
 FARM-YARD MANURE. 
 
 " Q. How does such a manure act upon the soil? 
 
 ^' A, It acts by its nite-ogenized matter, phosphate of 
 lime, potassa, and lime, which are the indispensable agents 
 for keeping up the fertility of soils, and obtaining all kinds 
 of crops. 
 
 " Q. Does farm-yard manure contain only these four 
 substances ? 
 
 "^. It contains at least ten more, which it is not nec- 
 essary to consider, since plants always find them in the 
 earth and in the air." 
 
 3* (29) 
 
30 THE NEW FARMER'S GUIDE. 
 
 The writer here apparently ignores altogetlier the bene- ' 
 ficial effects on the soil produced by the nitrification, the 
 fermentation, and the dissolvent power of farm-yard 
 manures. 
 
 In another part of the same work I find the following: 
 
 " Q. Is it known in what proportion the soil and air 
 furnish nitrogen for the principal crops ? 
 
 '* A. Here are the proportions indicated \>y carefully 
 made experiments : 
 
 Nitrogen. From the Air. From the Soil. 
 
 Clover The whole. None. 
 
 Barley 80 per ceut. 20 per cent. 
 
 Rye 80 " 20 
 
 Wheat 50 " 50 
 
 Beets 60 '• 40 
 
 Rape or cole seed (colza). . . '70 " 30 " 
 
 " Q. How can we prove that it is so, and that clover or 
 peas, for instance, take no nitrogen from the earth, and 
 draw it all from the air ? 
 
 " A. It may be proved in two different ways — by labor- 
 atory experiments, and by culture in the field. Let us 
 speak first of the laboratory experiments, because the results 
 are simple and certain. 
 
 " A sample of earth was calcined in a porcelain furnace, 
 in order to destroy all organized substances which may have 
 existed in it ; this earth was then mixed with phosphate of 
 lime, potassa, and lime, and watered with pure distilled 
 water. Clover sown in it grew perfectly well, and the crop 
 being analyzed, demonstrated the presence of a large pro- 
 portion of nitrogen, evidently due to the air, since there 
 was none in the soil. 
 
 *' The practical proofs are not less certain. When a soil 
 is cultivated without manuring, the crops become poor very 
 rapidly. When wheat is grown every other year, the crop 
 is better ; if wheat alternates with horse-beans, which con- 
 
THE NEW FARMER'S GUIDE. 31 
 
 tain a great deal of nitrogen, the yield of wheat does not 
 diminish. Indeed, the rotation with horse-heans is nearly 
 as favorable to wheat as a year of fallow land. Why is it so ? 
 Because horse-beans draw their nitrogen from the air, 
 whereas wheat extracts it from the soil." 
 
 My reply to this statement is, that the sample of cal- 
 cined earth, mixed as described, was in the very best con- 
 dition to form nitrates, and a crop of wheat even could 
 have been grown upon it. It cannot be stated in what pro- 
 portion the nitrogen was absorbed by the soil or by the 
 leaves. 
 
 The beneficial eJOiect of all the long-rooted and large- 
 leafed plants upon the soil is known perfectly well by all 
 practical farmers, but the proofs given by Mr. Yille, are 
 scarcely sufficient to warrant such sweeping assertions as 
 he has made. 
 
 Concerning the calcined or burned soil, I take the op- 
 portunity of stating that, in the mountainous regions of 
 Europe, the most unproductive soils are, from time to time, 
 thinly over-sliced and burned in small heaps in the dry 
 season ; then the dried heaps are left for nitrification un- 
 disturbed until the seeding-time, when the heaps are evenly 
 spread, and the seed sown, the burnings being hoed in in 
 small rows.. Low, wet, turfy lands, which can readily be 
 drained, are, when dry, burned to the extent of six or seven 
 inches deep, and one-half, more or less, of the burnings is 
 used for the manuring of other soils, as it is said the whole 
 quantity, if used, would render the soil too rich. The char- 
 acteristics of the crops of these fields are : stiff straw, with 
 \rell-filled ears, and a good quality of grain ; they render 
 about double the amount of grain, in proportion to the 
 straw, of tlie growth of cultivated land — that is to say, one 
 pound of straw gives as much grain as would be obtained 
 
32 THE NEW FARMER'S GUIDE. 
 
 from two pounds of the straw of cultivated land. This is 
 due to the dissolvent power of burjiing on the inorganic 
 matter, which is the cause of nitrification. 
 
 Mr. Yille also says that '' 30 per cent, of nitrogen is lost 
 during the decomposition of animal substances," and that 
 this loss is altogether unpreventible and without remedy. 
 This is not so, as tlie application of plaster in large quanti- 
 ties would have prevented the loss of nitrogen. In com- 
 posing his fertilizers, he calls the sulphate of lime, lime — 
 the incredulous believe that it is more soluble ; but the fact 
 is, that 500 parts of water will dissolve one part of plaster, 
 while it takes 1,000 parts of water to dissolve an equal 
 quantity of calcined lime; therefore, how can his theory be 
 correct? It should be noted that Mr. Yille constantly 
 speaks of plaster as lime, when it really contains only 32 
 parts of lime, the rest being sulphuric acid and water. 
 Several times he says, also, that soda has no effect on plants ; 
 but, in the end, he found that, practically, it was useful for 
 roots, and even potatoes. 
 
 In the same work, referring to potassa, we find the fol- 
 lowing : 
 
 " Q, Which is preferable, nitrate of potassa, or refined 
 potassa % 
 
 " A^ E"itrate of potassa is preferable, because its potassa 
 costs 0.75 francs per kilogramme (or about seven cents per 
 pound), whereas, that of the refined potassa amounts to 
 1.50 francs per kilogramme (or 14 cents per pound)." 
 
 At the very time this was written, in Germany, refined 
 potassa, of 50 to 54 per cent, of pure potassa, was quoted 
 from 2 to 2 J cents, gold, per pound. Is this not very much 
 like intentionally ignoring known facts? 
 
ABSORPTION OF ATMOSPHERIC NITROGEN 
 BY VEGETATION. 
 
 This subject has been treated upon by M. S. P. Dehe- 
 rain, a well-known writer upon agricultural topics, and 
 member of the French Academy of Science. The sub- 
 joined is an abstract of a lecture delivered by M. Deherain, 
 some years since, before the members of the Academy: 
 
 Numerous analyses of arable earths have been made, 
 and form part of the records of agricultural science. We 
 find this fact to be clearly demonstrated-rthat there exists 
 in the soil a considerable quantity of combined nitrogen, 
 the origin of which cannot be attributed to old dressings, 
 inasmuch as M. Boussingault has discovered that the amount 
 of nitrogen absorbed by vegetation during the growth of 
 crops, upon a given surface, exceeded the quantity con- 
 tained in the manure wdiich that surface had received. 
 The excess is often very considerable ; and the explanation 
 must be, either the admission that plants draw nitrogen 
 directly from the air, and retain it in their tissues, or that, 
 in consequence of some reaction, as yet imperfectly under- 
 stood, arable eartli becomes charged with atmospheric nitro- 
 gen, which is then transmitted to the vegetation. 
 
 The numerous experiments of M. Boussingault, in 
 France, and Messrs. Laws, G-ilbert and Pugh, in England, 
 attempted with a view of ascertaining if plants absorb nitro- 
 gen direct from the air, have failed. The ammonia, or 
 
 (83) 
 
o4 THE NEW FARMER'S GUIDE. 
 
 nitric acid, which may be produced by meteoric phenom- 
 ena, rain, snow, or dew, is scarcely sniEcient to cover the 
 loss occasioned by the evaporation of ammonia in the air, 
 by the draining of superficial and subsoil (wliich would 
 easily be the means of carrying away nitrates), and by the 
 emission of free nitrogen, which is produced during the de- 
 composition of organic matter used as manure. It is, there- 
 fore, evident, d priori, that some powerful cause must act 
 upon the soil to produce that fraction of nitrogen, the pres- 
 ence of which is proved by analysis. After reflecting upon 
 the various circumstances under which the union of the two 
 elements of the air occurs, it is found to habitually accom- 
 pany the oxidation of the organic ijiatter, and it seemed to 
 me, that oxidation of the organic matter arising from the 
 remains of former vegetation, or from manure, might, per- 
 haps, produce tlie combination of atmospheric nitrogen 
 with oxygen. 
 
 To render this certain, I resolved to undertake two 
 series of experiments. By the first, I have ascertained the 
 absorption of gaseous nitrogen during the oxidation of or- 
 ganic matter. In the second experiment, I examined the 
 nitrogen in combination, w^th the view of discovering and 
 pointing out those reactions which produce the black mat- 
 ter (or humus) of arable earth. After several attempts, I 
 succeeded in obtaining a regular absorption of nitrogen by 
 the following means : Into a matrass of green glass, capable 
 of containing 200 cubic centimetres, was introduced a mix- 
 ture of equal volumes of air and oxygen, w^hose exact com- 
 positions had been ascertained, and then a liquid, consisting 
 of 15 grms. of glucose, dissolved in 15 c. c. of water, and 
 15 c. c. of common ammonia. This is closed before the 
 blowpipe, and if the manipulation is rapid, only a very in- 
 significant portion of air can ente^* the matrass. Even 
 
THE NEW FARMER'S GUIDE. 35 
 
 should a larger quantity obtain entrance, tlie experiment 
 will not be spoiled. The proportion of nitrogen in the 
 matrass will become rather larger than is indicated by the 
 analysis, only a small quantity of the nitrogen absorbed 
 passing unperceived. Heat is applied for 100 hours by the 
 water bath, and when completely cooled, the height of the 
 liquid is marked upon the neck of the reversed matrass, and 
 the end is broken under water. Compared with the pre- 
 ceding proportions, the absorption is considerable, nothing 
 but nitrogen remaining ; all the oxygen and carbonic acid 
 will have disappeared. The gas is collected in a graduated 
 eprovette (or tester) ; the entire absence of oxygen, or car- 
 bonic acid, is ascei^ined by the application of potash and 
 pyrogallic acid ; and the remaining quantity of nitrogen is 
 read oif, the quantity being considerably less than what was 
 introduced. Here are particulars of .the two experiments : 
 
 Of 100 parts of gas introduced, SS-^Q^g- consisted of oxy- 
 gen, 41y%0q- of nitrogen ; the liquid glucose and ammonia 
 occupied 30 c. c, and the gas contained in matrass 
 184 c. c. Before the experiment, there were 76y|-jj- c. c. 
 of nitrogen , in the mixture ; when, after heating the 
 matrass, the end was broken under water, only 70 c. c. of 
 gas were found, containing neither oxygen nor carbonic 
 acid — 6y|-o c. c. of nitrogen were, therefore, absorbed, or 
 8y|-g- per cent. 
 
 In one of the experiments, made with the nitrated glu- 
 cose of H. P. Thenard, and with ammonia, with gas con- 
 taining 62 of nitrogen to 48 of oxygen, an absorption was 
 ascertained of 113 c. c, against 53 introduced; that is to 
 say, 215 per cent. Six experiments were made with huraic 
 acid mixed mth potash, acting upon atmospheric air ; and 
 of 100 volumes of nitrogen introduced, an average of seven 
 volumes was absorbed. Two experiments were made with 
 
36 THE NEW FARMER'S GUIDE. 
 
 decayed wood mixed wnth potash ; the introduced gas was 
 ' rich in oxygen — 3G volumes were absorbed per cent. . Upon 
 substituting ammonia for the potash, no absorption of nitro- 
 gen was perceived ; on the contrary, at the end of the ex- 
 periment, more nitrogen was found tlian at the commence- 
 ment. In twenty of these experiments, made with glucose 
 and ammonia acting upon equal volumes of air and oxygen, 
 an average absorption was established of 5yf^ c. c. of nitro- 
 gen to 100 introduced. Lastly, in four experiments, in 
 which a mixture of M. P. Thenard's nitrated glucose with 
 ammonia was employed, an average absorption of 15.4 to 
 100 of introduced nitrogen was observed. 
 
 Thus, in the presence of slow coimbustion of organic 
 matters, atmospheric nitrogen enters into combination, 
 probably to form nitric acid, which, from contact with excess 
 of carbonaceous matter, is reduced, and yields its nitrogen 
 to the organic matter. This last reaction has been estab- 
 lished by M. P. Thenard, and having verified it, we may, 
 by depending upon it, endeavor to imagine what is the 
 origin of the excess of nitrogen found in plants, and in the 
 soil, over the quantity furnished by manures. The condi- 
 tions under which atmospheric nitrogen is brought into 
 combination, require that some organic matters should be 
 consumed in the air ; every plant, whose leaves remain upon 
 the soil which bears it, is the means of more or less fixation 
 of nitrogen. This reaction continues during many years, 
 and ends by accumulating, upon soil abandoned to spon- 
 taneous vegetation, such as waste land, a quantity of nitro- 
 gen sufiicient to enable a cultivator, after clearing, to obtain 
 several crops without the action of nitrated manure. 
 
 The productive powers of the soil of forests and prairies 
 are, however, not to be compared to those of arable land. 
 The vegetable remains left upon the former are not in so 
 
THE NEW FARMER'S GUIDE. 87 
 
 * 
 favorable a state for fermentation as those which form the 
 dressing received by the latter ; lor we have already seen 
 that nitrated glucose, which occurs during the manufacture 
 of farm-yard manure, is the most favorable of all mixtures 
 employed for the fixation of atmospheric nitrogen. The 
 action of manure upon vegetation is not due only to the 
 nitrogen it holds, but also to the decomposing carbonaceous 
 matter which constitutes the entire mass. When buried in 
 the earth, this matter is preserved there some time, if the 
 cultivator does not endeavor to finish its oxidation. To 
 this end, he tears the earth, he aerates it, he is unsparing of 
 his means ; under the influence of the air, the organic mat- 
 ter burns, producing in the soil those considerable quantities 
 of carbonic acid which the analyses of Messrs. Boussingault 
 and Levy have discovered in the air. This combination 
 determines the union of the two elements of the air, and 
 there is added to the nitrogen, which the dressing naturally 
 contains, that which, drawn from the atmosphere, is thence 
 conducted through a series of metamorphoses, from the soil 
 to the plant, and from the plant to animals. 
 
 What are the conditions of composition, aeration, and 
 moisture most favorable to the fixation of atmospheric 
 nitrogen in arable soils? This is an important question, 
 since, by experiments, the circumstances under which the 
 combination of gascDus nitrogen occurs are very clearly 
 defined ; and it is also known that it does not so easily take 
 place if the oxidation is either too rapid or too slow. 
 
 The French Association at Paris for the Encouragement 
 of Science has recognized the importance of making further 
 inquiries upon this subject by offering a prize of 2,000 
 francs for the best mode of procuring the absorption of at- 
 mospheric nitrogen, either in the form of nitrates, ammonia, 
 or cyanogen. The prize is offered for tlie year 18T6. 
 4 
 
38 THE NEW FARMER'S GUIDE. 
 
 «r 
 
 ]t^itrate of potassa is obtained by the decomposition, 
 under large open sheds, of materials of animal origin- mixed 
 with earths holding clay and limestone, and which are after- 
 wards lixiviated, in order to extract the nitre. This salt, 
 for a long time, was produced from old building materials. 
 It is not generally known amongst agriculturists that, by 
 such a very simple process, nitrogen can be obtained. 
 
 THE PASSAGE OF GASES THROUGH THE YEG- 
 ETAELE COLLOIDAL MEMBRANE. 
 
 The recent experiments of M. Bartholomy lead to the 
 conclusion that the natural colloidal surfaces of vegetables 
 have 13 to 15 times greater admissive power for carbonic 
 acid than for nitrogen, and six to seven times more than for 
 oxygen. These experiments, proving the dialysis of car- 
 bonic acid through the cuticle of leaves, are of the same 
 nature as the investigations of Dutrochet, on membranes 
 and aqueous solutions, made with a view to determine the 
 endosmose by the cellules. In a word, cuticular respiration 
 appears sufficiently proved by the presence of this mem- 
 brane on all the organs. 
 
RESULTS OF Al^ INVESTIGATION IN EAST 
 
 Ii\i)IA. 
 
 Some additional information may be . js^atliered on tliis 
 subject bj a perusal of the following extract from a very 
 valuable and carefully prepared report made to the British 
 Government by Mr. Edward Nicholls, a gentleman who 
 was appointed specially for the purpose of making an inves- 
 tigation as to the quality and composition of water for 
 drinking purposes in Eastern India : 
 
 JSTlTRATES. 
 
 ^N'itrates are invariably found in well-water derived 
 from subsoils of decomposed felspar or of clay. Ammonia, 
 whether that normally found in the atmosphere or that pro- 
 duced by organic decay, becomes oxidized when in contact 
 w4th porous soil ; and in presence of bases with v^eak acids, 
 such as silicates and carbonates, it changes into nitric acid, 
 and expels the weaker acid. As there are few soils that do 
 not contain silicates or carbonates of potassium, sodium, 
 magnesium, or calcium, the presence of nitrates is nearly 
 universal, and we would naturally Qxpect to find them in 
 the washings of salt mounds. The filtration of water 
 through, soil containing silicates or carbonates would gener- 
 ate nitrates, even if none were present originally. I found 
 as much as 15 per cent, of nitric acid in the solid residue of 
 a sample of earth washings — a quantity equal to 76 centi- 
 
 (39) 
 
4:0 THE NEW FARMER'S GUIDE. 
 
 grammes per litre of the fluid, and tlie moisture adhering to 
 the crystals of salt, .subsequently obtained, was- highly 
 nitrous. The nitrates present in earth washings are always 
 deliquescent nitrates of calcium and magnesium, the sodium 
 salts being excluded, in consequence of earthy sulphates and 
 chlorides having already decomposed any sodium silicate 
 or carbonate that would have been available for the satui-a- 
 tion of nitric acid, as it is formed. 
 
 Potassium, being of comparatively rare .occurrence in 
 these soils, is excluded also from combination as nitrate. 
 Nitrates, existing in every sample of earth washings that I 
 have examined, are consequently wasted ; while, if the 
 mother liquor of the salt crystals was treated with wood 
 ashes, or other convenient source of potash, the earthy 
 metals would be replaced by potassium, and nitrates would 
 be obtained ; the quantity obtained, it is true, w^ould be not 
 more than two or three per cent. 
 
 The nearest place where 1 could find nitratesto be regu- 
 larly made was at Sirragirri, about 20 miles north of Bel- 
 larg. From the account given me of the process by the 
 nitrate maker of Sirragirri, it would appear that earthy 
 nitrates are never utilized, and that soil containing potas- 
 sium nitrate already formed, is the only kind worked. To 
 obtain nitrates at once in this condition, in a country where 
 potassium salts are in the soil, the nitrate maker must con- 
 tine his operations to soils in the neighborhood of villages, 
 selecting those spots where, from infiltration of urine, from 
 drainage of cattle-sheds, or from the vicinity' of ash-heaps, 
 the earth has become artificially supplied with potash. 
 Considering that Indians generally use the manufacturing 
 processes w^hich are best adapted to circumstances, and 
 which, though rude, prove quite as profitable to them as 
 the more ingenious, but more expensive, processes of Euro- 
 
THE NEW FARMER'S GUIDE. 41 
 
 pean industry, I am rather surprised that the addition of 
 potash to earth washings containing earthy nitrates is not 
 practiced in India as in Europe. The earth washings are 
 allowed to evaporate, and are lost in the mother liquor. 
 The nitrate is obtained, tolerably clear, in small prismatic 
 crystals, mixed with the cubic crystals of common salt; 
 this impurity varies from six to twenty per cent., or more ; 
 if required to be refined, it is purified by solution and re- 
 crystalization — a most wasteful process, under the circum- 
 stances, as about 30 per cent, of the nitrate is lost. 
 
 The impure nitrate is sold at one rupee per mound of 24 
 lbs. ; when purified, the same quantity costs one rupee 
 twelve annas ; this low figure is, I think, occasioned by the 
 nitrate being impure for shipment, as the manufacturers are 
 not acquainted with the process of refining economically. 
 The nitrate might be bought and refined at a total cost of not 
 more than 12<§. per cwt., it being worth 28^. to 30^. at home. 
 Ignorance of an economical refining process afibrds the only 
 explanation of the low prices obtained for an article of such 
 value.* To refine it economically, it would be necessary to 
 accumulate a large quantity, mix it well, and determine by 
 analysis of a sample the process to be adopted for its puri- 
 fication. The process applicable to a nitrate containing five 
 per cent, of impurity, would be quite inapplicable to another 
 containing 40 per cent, of impurity. 
 
 Soda. 
 I have not been able to meet with any instance of this salt 
 being produced near Bellarg ; that sold in the ceded districts 
 is made, I believe, near Cuddolph ; the sodium carbonate, of 
 which impure soda principally consists, is the result of de- 
 composition of sodium silicate by atmospheric carbonic 
 acid. Silicate and carbonic acid are of equal strength, and 
 4« 
 
42 THE NEW FARMER'S GUIDE. 
 
 it entirely depends on circumstances which acid can expel the 
 other from the combination. Silicic acid expels carbonic acid 
 from solution, whilst carbonic acid acting in excess, and for 
 long periods of time, expels silicic acid from silicates. In 
 parts where soda is produced, it is found principally as an 
 efflorescence on the surface, the sodium silicate of the soil 
 having evidently been decomposed by atmospheric acid. 
 Its presence is incompatible with that of earthy chlorides, 
 sulphates and nitrates, and as these are constantly found 
 accompanying the salt and nitrates yielded by black cotton 
 soil, it is evident that the production of salt or nitrates ex- 
 cludes that of soda, l^atural sodium carbonate does not 
 appear to be produced in India to any considerable extent 
 — perhaps little in excess of the limited requirements of 
 washermen. The main features of the production of these 
 earth salts may be thus summarized : 
 
 Salt is derived from marine deposits in the black cotton 
 soil ; it may be mixed with the following impurities: 
 
 (1.) Marine earthy salts, principally magnesium chlo- 
 ride and sulphate. 
 
 (2.) Sodium sulphate, produced by decomposition of 
 marine sulphates by sodium silicate. 
 
 (3.) Nitrates, principally magnesium and calcium. 
 Nitrates do not accompany salt as such (as potash nitre), 
 but indirectly as earthy nitrates. Potash can only be ob- 
 tained from soils to which potassium has been added acci- 
 dentally or purposely ; soils containing the nitrified pro- 
 ducts of decayed animal matter are alone profitable to work ; 
 even in these there is a great loss, unless potassium salts be 
 added. Soda is pi^oduced by action of carbonic acid on the 
 sodium silicate of decomposed felspar rocks ; both carbonate 
 and the silicate of sodium being decomposed by the soluble 
 earthy salts which invariably accompany salt; and nitre 
 soils yioldiii;^ the hitter salts caunot yield soda. 
 
RESEARCHES OF BOUSSWGAULT ON THE 
 NITRIFICATION OF THE SOIL. 
 
 M. Bonssingault, in the reports presented bj him to 
 the Academj of Science, at Paris, France, gives the results 
 of experiments made in hermetically sealed glass balloons, 
 during a period of eleven years, with specially prepared 
 soils and common air. These experiments proved that no 
 more nitrates were produced during that eleven years than 
 were formed during the first sixteen or eighteen months ; 
 in all cases it was found that not one-fourth of the nitrogen- 
 absorbing capacity of the soil was saturated, and the quan- 
 tity of nitrogen in the inclosed air did not change, although 
 nitrification took place. Therefore, we infer that confined 
 dry air with a dry soil will not ofier the best conditions for 
 promoting nitrification, as is proved in another part of this 
 work. 
 
 Odc of M. Boussingault's experiments was on ten kilo- 
 grammes (equal to 22 pounds) of air-dried garden soil, 
 which was first washed, to deprive it of the most of its 
 nitrates, and then exposed to the air under cover, being 
 every two weeks moistened. The indications of the pres- 
 ence of nitrates was as follows : 
 
 Nitrates in Grammes. 
 
 On the 5th of August 0.096 
 
 " 17th" " 0.628 
 
 2d "September 1.800 
 
 mil " " 2.160 
 
 " 2d " October 2.260 
 
 (48) 
 
44 THE NEW FARMER'S GUIDE. 
 
 After the last-mentioned date, the nitrification was con- 
 tinued but very feebly ; and several other trials made in 
 the same way showed but little variation in the quantity of 
 nitrates present. 
 
 Percentages of Saltpetre in Soil. 
 
 M. Bonssingault also shows the percentages of saltpetre 
 contained in some of the soils in France, which had been 
 worked for a number of years in the manufacture of pow- 
 der, to be as follows : 
 
 Quantity of Saltpetre in each 
 Kilogramme of Earth. 
 No. of Grammes. 
 
 In the Northern ProYinces 1.2 
 
 In Touraine 8.5 
 
 Earth artificially nitrified 10.0 
 
 " exceptionally rich 30.0 
 
 " of a sheepfold , 8.4 
 
 The artificial nitre beds consisted of clay soil, mixed 
 with lime and animal matters, under an open shade, and 
 worked over as a compost heap, generally for a period of 
 15 to 18 months. 
 
 In the same address, which was delivered about a year 
 ago, M. Bonssingault repeated a statement which he said 
 he had made before the Academy many years previous, 
 that land well plowed and manured possessed very much oi 
 the same qualities as a nitre bed — in both cases the miner- 
 als are associated with inorganic matters in forming the 
 composition. 
 
 Among the nitre mines on the equatorial line, the most 
 important is that known as the Tacunga, which is very rich : 
 it is composed of humus, phosphates, silicate of lime, and a 
 great proportion of alkalies. In many parts of Spain the 
 soil is so rich that the farmer can produce either saltpetre 
 in great abundance or very large crops of wheat. In the 
 
THE NEW FARMER'S GUIDE. 45 
 
 valley of the Ganges, in India, the saltpetre of Houssage is 
 very much renowned ; it is found in great quantities on the 
 surface of the soil, where it is deposited by the waters of 
 the river, and it is found side by side with rich crops 
 of tobacco, indigo, maize, &c. Therefore, it is certain that 
 the association of mineral elements with organic matters is 
 not the only condition upon which depends the formation 
 of nitrates. There is in Peru an inexhaustible deposit of 
 the nitrate of soda which, for its great abundance, is com- 
 pared to the deposit of the common salt, except that it has 
 a different origin. 
 
 The Nitke Beds of Algeeia 
 
 Have been described somewhat minutely by Colonel 
 Chabrier, an officer of the French army, who, when serving 
 in Algiers, embraced the opportunity of studying them very 
 carefully. They are found on the sites of destroyed villages, 
 and are composed of organic and animal matter mixed with 
 mineral ingredients, such as lime, phosphate, silicates, and 
 alkali salts, in a more or less decomposed state. The rich- 
 ness and consequently the value of these nitre beds de- 
 pended upon the quantity of organic and mineral matters 
 found in them, those containing the §reatest proportion and 
 in the most advanced state of decomposition being the 
 highest in point of value. 
 
JEAUNEL ON NITRATES AND NITEITES. 
 
 The following is an extract from a paper by M. J. 
 Jeaunel, a member of the French Academy : 
 
 '^ Many physiologists and horticulturists believe that it 
 is imj^ossible to group plants in a sterile soil by means of 
 artificial food composed of mineral substances dissolved in 
 water. My aim is to prove by experiments, (1) that nitrates 
 and nitrites are naturally found in soils containing organic 
 vegetable matter when in contact with air ; (2) that it is possi- 
 ble to feed plants with solutions of mineral compounds suit- 
 ably prepared, so that the plants receive from these solutions 
 the mineral constituents they require, and may thus grow 
 more vigorously even in pure sand than in the best garden 
 mold. 
 
 "This opinion was put forth in 1856 by Boussingault, 
 as the result of his experiments, and now the same conclu- 
 sion is arrived at by Mi'. Yille. 
 
 '^ Soils containing humus or lime determine, while dry- 
 ing, the combination of the elements of the air, without any 
 intervention of ammonia, so that either nitric or nitrous acid 
 is formed, whicli is at once fixed by the lime," 
 
 When a moist nitrogenized animal matter is exposed 
 to the action of the air, ammonia is always liberated ; nitric 
 acid is never formed. But when alkalies or alkaline bases 
 are present, a union of oxygen with the nitrogen and 
 nitrates is formed. — -Liebig. 
 
 (46) 
 
ANALYTICAL TABLES. 
 
 COaiPILED BY Dr. EMILE WOLF. 
 
 The following analyses are selected from a sel'ies pub- 
 lished in a very celebrated analytical work by Dr. Emile 
 Wolf, Superintendent of Experimental Department at the 
 Koyal Agricultural Academy at Hohenheime, Wurtem- 
 burg, Germany. 
 
 Table I shows clearly the dominating influence of the 
 four principal ingredients — potash, lime, and phosphor, 
 with nitrogen — over the secondary mineral salts in the 
 principal agricultural crops. In the crops described as 
 maximum, where the four dominating ingredients are 
 found in the largest quantities, the secondary ingredients 
 are also present to a great extent ; while, in the minimum 
 crops, where the four dominating ingredients are in the 
 smallest quantity, their influence on the secondary ingredi- 
 ents is nearly lost, because the latter can scarcely be found 
 present in the crops. 
 
 Table II shows the influence upon the ashes in plants 
 of the alkali salts — potash and soda — when present in either 
 a maximum, mean, or minimum quantity. The study of 
 this table will be of great interest, as the presence of a 
 larger or smaller quantity of the alkalies is seen to have a 
 strikingly different effect upon the other ingredients. This 
 contradicts altogether the statements of Mr. Yille and 
 others, that soda has no influence upon vegetable growth. 
 The alkalies also play a very important part in the nitrifi- 
 cation of soils. 
 
 The tables are of great importance to the practical agri- 
 culturist — they are the best upon this subject that have ever 
 been prepared, and deserve the most careful study and 
 perusal, 
 
 (47) 
 
48 
 
 THE NEW FARMER'S GUIDE. 
 
 COMPARATIVE STATEME]\^T OF THE PERCEIITAGE OF ASHES 
 
 FOUNB IN AN ANALYSIS OF 
 
 THE PRINCIPAL AGRICULTURAL CROPS. 
 
 IN ion PARTS OF PURE ASHES 
 
 DESCRIPTION.* 
 
 Hay 
 
 Red Clover in Flower., , 
 
 .max. 
 med. 
 min . 
 
 .max 
 
 med.!98 
 min 
 
 Lucerne. 
 
 .max. 
 med. 
 
 Winter Wheat (grain) . . , 
 Summer Wheat (grain). , 
 
 Winter Rye (grain) 
 
 Barley (grain) 
 
 Oats (grain) 
 
 Indian Corn (grain) 
 
 Peas (grain) ,... . 
 
 Horse Beans (grain) . . . 
 
 Beans (grain) ^. 
 
 Kapeseed (grain) 
 
 11.30 56.5S13.78I32. 70 16.65 4.93 21.31 8.64 63.21 
 6.02,25.54 4.43116.72 6.31 1.25 8.01 4.56 27 01 
 2.20! 7.63 0.30! 8.38 2.52, 0.13 4.61 0.6510.44 
 
 max.! 
 med. 98 
 
 max 
 med. 14 
 min . ■ 
 
 j 
 
 max 
 med. 20 
 min 
 
 i 
 max . 
 med. 50 
 min . 
 
 max. 
 med. 23 
 min . I 
 
 max . I 
 
 max. 
 me.i. 29 
 min . 
 
 max. 
 med. 15 
 min . 
 
 9.15'52 02t 
 6.83i32.15! 
 
 5.02j 8.77J 
 
 9.53'41.9l! 
 
 7.46:24.581 
 5.36:il.40| 
 
 2.46 36.601 
 1.97 31.16| 
 1.58 23.18 
 
 ^.14 29.P9I 
 2.07 25.04' 
 
 8.89,53.36 26. 07 
 2.03 85.22 10.89 
 21.91! 5.34 
 
 3.52 
 2.09 
 1.60 
 
 2.60 
 1.90 
 
 4.07 
 3.14 
 2.50 
 
 37.54' 
 31.471 
 
 27.78 
 
 32. 20! 
 20.15i 
 11.39| 
 
 24.301 
 i6.8Si 
 12.94i 
 
 6 22 
 2.05 
 0.40 
 
 9.07 
 
 2.25 
 0.00 
 
 4.06 
 1.93 
 0.2i 
 
 4.45 
 1.70 
 0.00 
 
 6.00 
 2.53 
 0.00 
 
 5.27 
 2.24 
 0.00 
 
 max. 
 med. 
 min . 
 
 13 
 
 max . < 
 med. i 18 
 
 min .! 
 
 1.72 31.861 7.54 
 1.5127.93! 1 
 1.28 24.33: 0.00 
 
 4.27 51.411 8.57 
 
 2.73 41.79: 0.96 
 2.36 35.801 0.00 
 
 62.88 9.00 
 42.17 5.24 
 24.74 2.80 
 
 8.2116.26 
 8.3411.97, 
 0.90; 9.10' 
 
 I I 
 
 4.1213.62! 
 2.98 12.09 
 2.0710.68 
 
 5.0115.00 6 65 20.20 
 
 1.06 9 87 3.01 2.37 
 
 0.32 4 01, 1.26! 0.00 
 
 3.01 19.34 8.58 19.85 
 
 1.38 8.80 5.93; 6.07 
 
 0.50 4.54 3.94 0.81 
 
 J 1 I 
 
 2.99 52.62 2.22 5.91 
 
 1.31 46.98| 37| 2.11 
 
 0.00 39.20 0.00 O.OOl 0.00 
 
 0.59 51.00 2.48 2.14' 0.80 
 
 0.5148.63 1.52| 1.64 0.48 
 
 0.30 44.20; 0.20! 0.23i O.OT 
 
 21.39 
 
 7.22 
 1.88 
 
 11.76 
 3.89 
 1.20 
 
 8 05 
 3.45 
 0.95 
 
 1.01 
 0.22 
 
 4.11! 
 
 2.63 
 
 1.34; 
 
 .60 
 
 8.35 
 3.73| 
 1.3] 
 
 14.37 
 11.54' 
 10.13! 
 
 I 
 12. 47 1 
 8.6ii 
 5.00, 
 
 9.72I 
 7.06 
 4.93 
 
 1.63 
 
 0.20 
 
 2.93 
 0.97 
 0.00 
 
 2.05 
 67 
 0.00 
 
 50.35 
 46.931 
 39.90! 
 I 
 42.56 
 34.68i 
 26.01; 
 
 32.29 
 23.02 
 15.64 
 
 3.76!17.85! 2.00 53.69 
 
 2.2814.98 1.26 45.00 
 
 0.27 12. Ill 0.00 37.63 
 
 I ! I 
 
 7.90 13.02! 3.8344.41 
 
 4.99! 7 96 0.8636.43 
 
 2.211 5.80! 0.00 29.30 
 
 4.30 47.89 2.61 
 3.57 42.49 1.34 4.73 
 3.28 35.64 0.00 2.86! 
 
 3.02i 4.51| 1.50 
 1.101 1.88 0.61 
 0.00, 0.52 0.00 
 
 I 
 3.5036.78 5.24 
 1.69 27.54" 0.93 
 0.0017. 27 00 
 
 ! 
 4.0155.95 2.88 
 1.36144.33 58 
 0.00133.46 0.00 
 
 4.13! 5.54' 4.79 
 1.80 1.88 1.42 
 0.00 0.00 0.00 
 
 9.46 
 
 4.02 51.90! 4.20 
 
 3.22 44.01 1.49 
 
 2.85 87.30 0.00 
 
 5.1929.49! 8.28 
 
 4.44 24 50! 1.63 
 
 9.86! 1.06 44.49 4.63 
 7.08 0.57 88.74! 2.53 
 5.33 0.00 32.51 1.37 
 
 13.40 12.12 
 6.38 7.62 
 1.20 5.80 
 
 17.80115.55 
 14.18'll.80 
 
 8.3621.841 0.00!10. 
 
 0.70 46.601 6.40 
 
 0.32 35.52! 4.05 
 
 0.00^27.10 1.38 
 
 8.8247.49 9.41 
 
 1.56 42.83 2.39 
 
 0.6335.57 0.00 
 
 8.02 6.50 
 
 0.86 1.54 
 
 0.00 0.00 
 
 5 24 6.85 
 
 0.78 
 0.00 
 i 
 1.71' 
 0.57 
 0.00 
 
 5.99 
 1.42 
 0.00 
 
 1.57 
 0.00 
 
 2.80 
 0.86 
 0.00 
 
 88 
 0.16 
 0.00 
 
THE NEW FARMER'S GUIDE. 
 
 49 
 
 COMPARATIVE STATEMENT, &c.— continued 
 
 DESCRIPTION. 
 
 IN 100 PARTS OF PURE ASHES. 
 
 Flaxseed (grain) max 
 
 med . 5 
 
 Winter Wheat (straw). 
 
 .max. 
 med. 
 min . 
 
 Summer Wheat (straw). . max . 
 
 ■Winter Rye (straw) max. 
 
 med, 
 
 min . 
 
 I 
 
 Barley (straw) max. I 
 
 med. 21 
 min. 
 
 Oats (straw) . 
 
 Peas (straw) . 
 
 Horse Beans (straw) . . . 
 Rapeseed (straw) 
 
 .max. 
 med. 
 min . 
 
 .max. 
 med. 
 min . 
 
 .max. 
 med. 
 
 .mas, 
 med, 
 min , 
 
 Flaxseed (s*;rav/) 
 
 Potato (tuber) 
 
 Beets (for cattlo) 
 
 med 
 miu , 
 
 ,max 
 med 
 
 med, 
 min . 
 
 c/: I ►- 
 
 4.19 85.97, 3.24: 9 45 18 OT; 2.08 -14. T3' 8.15i 2.48i 44 
 3.(59 30.631 2.07| 8.10 14.29 1.12 41.50' 2.34 1 241 16 
 3.05^:7.14 1.27j 6.60(10.041 0.38 35.99 0.24 0.40 o'06 
 
 7.00;27 38 
 5.87;i3.6o 
 4.461 9.47 
 
 6.09 43.40| 
 4. 45128. 91 1 
 2.99110.051 
 
 7. 23' 
 1.38| 
 0.00 
 
 5.76| 
 2.65! 
 
 5.86 
 4.79 
 3.15 
 
 6.80 
 
 5.20 
 4.70 
 
 5.13 
 
 26. 4S! 
 19.241 
 9.83| 
 
 44.46! 
 22.85 
 1©.76 
 
 31.40 
 22.12 
 13.82 
 
 35.85 
 22.90 
 9.34 
 
 6.8714 61 
 2.69 6.89 
 34| 2.89 
 
 6.2710,11 
 2 15i 8.58 
 0.30! 5.45 
 
 5.18! 
 
 2.48! 
 
 1.25 
 
 4.04! 
 2.45 
 1.591 
 
 3.4l! 
 2.72: 
 2 Oil 
 
 1.22! 
 0.61| 
 0.06, 
 
 1.95 
 0.72 
 0.17 
 
 2.50 
 1.04 
 0.16 
 
 8.90 
 4.81 
 2.21 
 
 6.40 
 5.15 
 
 7.94 47 21 
 5.35 42 16 
 3.65J87.22 
 
 6.63 88.76 
 4.92 27.28 
 3.511 9 83 
 
 I ! 4.44!45.95 29.65 28.09 
 116 3.5331.06 8 14:22.23 
 i i 2.06; 9.70 0.00 14 90 
 
 8.45113.10 
 4.13 7.77 
 1.13 5.34i l,64l 0.00 
 
 4.66 
 
 2.89 
 0.83 
 
 5.701 
 2.60! 
 
 1.98 
 0.( 
 
 15.23! 7.03! 2.70 
 86 4.04| 1.45 
 4.89 2.331 0.40 
 
 13.57 43.90 13.89! 4.56 
 4. 7I36.82 8.04| 1.72 
 0.00117.30 3.29 0.00 
 
 8.61129.59 
 2.45122.40 
 1.7510.03 
 
 25.85 38.47 
 9.34 28.37 
 0.00 19.06 
 
 i !5, 
 i58 3, 
 I i 2, 
 
 I !. 
 
 15 6, 
 
 1 i 4, 
 
 8 17S.eiil6, 
 77 60.371 2, 
 
 20^43.95; 0, 
 
 27 69.40 89, 
 44 54.0:il5, 
 41:25.571 5, 
 
 93 6.23 
 
 62: 2.57 
 001 0.51 
 
 20i 8.78 
 9- 4.19 
 30 2.17 
 
 Sugar Beet 
 
 Turnips (root) . 
 
 11.71 
 7.58 
 6.66 
 
 15.40 
 6.01 
 
 2.78 
 
 11.74 
 6.58 
 3.50 
 
 13.58 
 4.69 
 1.321 
 
 7.9o! 
 4.5i! 
 2.11 
 
 2.67 
 1.26 
 31 
 
 5.52 
 1.84 
 0.00 
 
 5.59 72.46! 7.43 
 2.45i67.50! 1.68 
 0.74j49.58i 0.00 
 
 8.95'60.62i 6.13 
 3. 1347. 60' 2.19 
 3.401 1.46 89.02; 1.10 
 
 7 78| 5.7965.17! 
 
 5.14 2 71 56 SBl 
 
 3.21 0.83'46.52 
 
 7.20 8.01 '68. 50 
 
 4.48! 3 71'52.02i 
 
 2-20 0.80:82 111 
 
 7 54 
 4.69 
 1.94 
 
 2.51 
 0.47 
 
 9.05 
 2.26 
 0.00 
 
 4 36 r.5. 41 11.99 
 8m 9 48.571 6 81 
 2.15 33.03 1.50 
 
 18.1516 02:21. 35 16.16 
 8.05 6.26! 6.83! 5.64 
 3.84 0.61J 0.56! 0.00 
 
 8.80 8.37i3.98:i4.9T 
 7.89 8.55 7.37 5.84 
 5.03 0.00 2.39, 0.00 
 
 11.S2 13.00 17. 12'24.40 
 5.96 7.591 6.34 8.37 
 1.23 1.43i 0.00, 0.00 
 
 6.62 29 60 18.4214.22' 8.59 
 2.4018.591 6.54: 5.51 4.09 
 1.02! 8.03 3. S3 1.47 0.63 
 
 I i I i 
 
 7.18:27.1414.89 
 1.1817. 331 6.40 
 0.041 8.39 O.U 
 
 Carrots (root) 
 
 S 
 
 med. 
 min . 
 
 .max. 
 med. 
 min . 
 
 .max. 
 med. 
 min , 
 
 6.56 78.11 24.0412.20 11.02 
 
 98 3.86 55.1110.00 5.3!;] 7 53 
 
 j 2.45 89.7s 0.97, 1.59 2.34 
 
 97 62.68 20, 
 01 45.40! 9 
 89 26.55! 0, 
 
 7115.901 
 
 8i lO.GOj 
 00 5.47 
 
 8.04 53.36 34.75 16.52 7, 
 5.58 35.21 22,0711.42 4 
 4.34 17.03 10.92 O.SS' 1, 
 
 6.41 
 8.69 
 1.61 
 
 8.1110.75 
 2.13 3.11 
 0.00 0.85 
 
 3.1113.02! 6.0410.02 85.45 
 
 82' 8.45| 3.17 2.3S 8.40 
 0.39, 1.951 2.01 0.00 1.86 
 
 I I ' 
 
 3.1718 45 8 89 9.0016.95 
 
 0.93 IO.99I 3.81 1 80 5.1s 
 
 0.20^ 6 31| 1.27 0.77 0.53 
 
 2.8518,9418.07 7.9613.85 
 0.8112.71111.19 1.87 6.07 
 0.19_ 5.48j 2.62, 0.00 1.85 
 
 28i 2.02 15.02 11.73 5.7210.49 
 73i 1 08 12.46; 6.72 2.47 5 19 
 34 0.00 9,55! 3.49 0.90 O.OS 
 
50 
 
 THE NEW FARMER'S GUIDE. 
 
 COMPARATIVE STATEMENT, &c.— continued. 
 
 DESCRlPnON. 
 
 Sea-kale (root) max . 
 
 med. 
 min . 
 
 Potato (straw) max . 
 
 med. 
 min . 
 
 Beet (for cattle — leaves) . max . 
 med. 
 min . 
 
 Sugar Beet (leaves) max. 
 
 med. 
 min . 
 
 Turnips (leaves) max . 
 
 med. 
 min . 
 
 Carrots (leaves) max. 
 
 med. 
 min . 
 
 Sea-kale (leaves) max , 
 
 med. 
 min . 
 
 Hops max. 
 
 med. 
 min . 
 
 Hops (leaves) max. 
 
 med. 
 min . 
 
 Hops (bine) max. 
 
 med. 
 min 
 
 Tobacco (leaves) max . 
 
 med. 
 min , 
 
 Wine (must) max, 
 
 med, 
 min , 
 
 Grapevine max 
 
 med 
 min 
 
 Mulberry (leaves) max 
 
 med 
 min 
 
 Sugar Beets (pressed). . .max 
 med 
 min 
 
 IN 100 PARTS OF PUKE ASHES, 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 4 
 
 •1 
 
 § 
 
 cu 
 
 -5.25;54 9124 7410.781 S.ll! 
 
 15 3.35|38.3015 
 
 7.02 
 27.9+1 2.75 4.41 
 
 4.69! 
 
 i.3o; 
 
 7.19 16.33 15.1317.2110. 
 2.51 12.49' 7.93! 4.93 6. 
 76; 8.68 5.13 1.07| 1 80 
 
 12.89i42.78' 7.44 46.70 28.471 
 
 6, 8.58 
 I 5.16 
 
 20.95 
 
 21.78! 2.31 32.65 16. 51i 
 6.38| 0.0016.12! 6.98J 
 
 45.89 34.5613.92 14.52 
 
 4.32:12.14; 7.93 
 2.86i 7.89! 6.32 
 1.82 2.60 4.90 
 
 13 15.18 30.75 20.29 11.10 9.51 
 
 ill. 10 
 
 129.23 
 10 17.58 
 8.30 
 
 15. 
 
 S. 96 10.44 7.82] 6.68 
 
 39.9619.40 19.66 20.46 
 28.4814.65 14.6514.98 
 12.62, 6.79 5.73 6.84 
 
 68 20.26 40. ^S 
 1011.64:23 43 9.45 32.92 
 
 I 7.81 12.32i 3.96:25.56 
 
 I17.83I22.26 28.70 41.79 
 713.53111.2619.83:32.75 
 8.42 7.65 8.81i21.29 
 
 12.46 59 95'28.0826 13 
 10.98:26.1817.63 19.67 
 
 8 88 11.46 
 
 15.27'51.61 
 7.59 34.45 
 5.31 16.31 
 
 4.0613.53 
 
 8.7824.58 
 2.19116.65 
 O.OOj 9.77 
 
 9.25 
 3.96 
 1.00 
 
 6.70 
 8.46 
 1.16 
 
 6 47 
 2.42 
 1.12 
 
 5.47 
 1.49 
 
 28.85;16.58! 6.13'49.68 11.61 
 ,18.0412.43' 3.8042.55! 6.46 
 13.08 5.71J 1. 57.34. 98| 2.38 
 
 6.4131.1510.17 38.73 16.61 
 4.85:28.03 4.04:30 88: 6.68 
 8.74117.111 1.5822.94; 4.12 
 
 22.93 30.98] 7.88!52.03 15.73 
 18.41:20.07! 8.39 41.59 11.72 
 
 17. 16111.43 
 
 0.41071.85 
 0.277:63 67 
 0.162 51.97 
 
 1 37 
 
 8.66 
 1.04 
 0.00 
 
 3.69 44.15 28.61 
 2.89 30.53 11.10 
 2.11J17.381 0.29 
 
 13.43'31.27 2.76 
 10.89:23.87 1.36 
 7.48,16.371 0.00 
 
 5.05!53.80,18.46 
 3.70i34.53 7 
 2.78 20.84! 2.45 
 
 2.67 
 1.45 
 0.51 
 
 7.27 
 5.46 
 
 2.08 
 
 10.20 
 5.97 
 3.08 
 
 2.33 15.49 11.09 
 0.98: 6.90I 5.19 
 0.171 2.77 1.89 
 
 9.4010.45 
 4.32 5.78 
 1.93 2.79 
 
 I 
 8.27 26.70 
 8.60 14.86 
 1.15i 1.40 
 
 5 58 26.78 
 3.2111.47 
 1.49 3.66 
 
 8.29:i4.28ll5.27 8.5716.30 
 1.58 7.30 9.40, 3.83 10.13 
 0.71 2.43 4.97 0.00 2 45 
 
 4 85 
 2.51 
 0.59 
 
 8.81 
 
 1 87 
 0.80 
 
 8.09 9.90:24.5814.36 
 4.42 7.4911.26 8.93 
 1.44 4.28 2.40 2.72 
 
 8.9910.69 
 6.30, 8 61 
 4.68i 5 41 
 
 6.17 22.90 
 3.4616.19 
 1.02: 2.00 
 
 3.18 22.61 12.23 26.061 6.95 
 1.45:16.73 3.58 16.60! 8.28 
 O.SSj 9.20, 00 10.48j 2.12 
 
 2.4111.62! 9 13 29.13 5.76 
 
 89, 6 08! 4 12 21.56 2.78 
 
 0.12j 3 52i 1.77 
 
 2.5l!l3.7o! 4.14 
 
 0.88:10. 78; 3.26 
 0.21 6.92' 2.64 
 
 27.10[ 7.22 
 
 7.4610.6? 
 5 05 5.47 
 3.87[ 3.27 
 
 46.86! 9 16 
 34.68! 5.19 
 25.58: 0.19 
 
 40 59 12.48 
 32.781 6.34 
 27.67, 3.04 
 
 I 
 80.72 22.27 
 22.351 6.52 
 11 59! 0.00 
 
 4.55 
 3.07 
 0.57 
 
 0.73 
 0.37 
 0.00 
 
 12.14 0.00 
 
 i 
 
 11 .84 10.22 
 
 8.46 9.07 
 
 6.07' 8.62 
 
 4.77! 5.94 18.89 11.14 
 3.16! 8 86 8 92 5.22 
 1.97 2.781 4.51 0.55 
 
 25.43 
 17.23 
 14.07 
 
 5.50 20.81 
 1.31112.64 
 0.16 5.25 
 
 1.94 
 1.18 
 0.74 
 
 12.65 
 7 84 
 3.51 
 
 5.93 2.18 5.82 
 3.56: 1.62 1.42 
 0.00 0.87: 0.00 
 
 8.64 
 2.13 
 0.81 
 
 8.18 8.66 
 1.66 0.89 
 0.00 0.09 
 
 4.64 37.71, 8.15 
 1 84 26.71 1.28 
 0.12, 1.46, 0.00 
 
 6.76 19.13, 6.48 25.23 21.40 
 8.051 9.84| S.33; 7.72! 8.60 
 0.961 4.16' 1.45 O.OOi 0.35 
 
THE NEW FAEMER'S GQIDE. 
 
 61 
 
 COMPARATIVE STATEMENT, &c.— continued. 
 
 DESCRIPTION. 
 
 Sugar Beets (molasses), .max 
 med 
 min 
 
 Beech (leaves) max 
 
 med 
 min 
 
 Moss max 
 
 med 
 min 
 
 Ferns (brake) max . 
 
 med 
 min 
 
 Heath max 
 
 med 
 
 IN 100 PARTS OF PUKE ASHES. 
 
 Seaweed 
 
 .max. 
 med. 
 
 8.64' 
 6.88; 
 
 5.54 
 
 3. 71 
 2.56 
 1.30. 
 
 72.74 
 69.85 
 66.15 
 
 7.17i 
 3.93; 
 
 1.33 
 
 23.58 
 13.50 
 3.78 
 
 15.86 
 
 12.17 
 9.42 
 
 1.50 
 0.63 
 0.00 
 
 12.40 
 8 88 
 
 7.09 0.78; 0.45 0.80 2.56 1.45 
 5.70 CSlj 0.2s 0.60 2.04 0.41 
 4.37 0.00 0.08 0.23 1.59, 0.00 
 
 I I i 
 
 61.05 9.55 1.5S 74! 7 00 48.12 
 
 45.18 5.931 1.04 4.14! 3.64 83.69 
 25.20 2.14' 0.00, I.I81 1.45 26.70 
 
 I i I 
 
 26.26 10.69 19.28 11.83' 6.56 61.76 
 11.55 5.88 11 83 4.54! 5.03 28.77 
 1.14 0-00 3.49; 1.06! 2.83 10.90 
 
 7.94 48.30 8.70 21.40 
 6.76 35.57. 4.0412.28 
 5.1319.35 0.00 4 09 
 
 I I ! 
 
 3.32 34.0411.93 33 48 
 11 2.0812.89 6.59 21.49 
 0.84| 2.71! 0.86 12.02 
 
 I I ! 
 
 18.64 23.35 34 
 1714.91 12.98 22 
 
 11.19, 0.00, 9 
 
 12 25, 
 9513 
 
 63 7, 
 
 28 3. 
 .94 1. 
 .46 0. 
 
 1 
 .5412 
 .35 4. 
 .94 1. 
 
 .19! 4, 
 .15! 
 .43 
 
 94 20 
 64; 8 
 33' 1 
 
 77 21 
 08 6 
 54 
 
 42, 7 
 77 3 
 00 1 
 
 .00! 6. 
 18^ 3. 
 
 .76 0. 
 
 .4411. 
 
 .74! 4. 
 .60 1. 
 
 .1730, 
 .1421 
 .36 12 
 
 55 53 
 48 20 
 54 2 
 
 11.32 
 10.26 
 8.5^ 
 
 1.15 
 0.39 
 0.00 
 
 12.09 
 5.05 
 0.00 
 
 14.72 
 7.89 
 1.83 
 
 10 48 
 09 29 
 03 6 
 
 2.41 
 0.00 
 
 37.24 
 17.92 
 0.53 
 
52 
 
 THE NEW FARMER'S GUIDE. 
 
 COMPARATIVE STATEMENT 
 
 SHOWING THE INFLUENCE UPON THE ASHES OP PLANTS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 -A.IjK-A.LI S-A.LTS, I»OT-A.SII J^ISTID SOD-A., 
 
 WHEN PKESENT IN EITHER A MAXIMTTM, MEDIUM, OE MIHIMTM QUANTITY. 
 
 DESCRIPTION. 
 
 Meadow Hay... 
 
 .maxiinum. 
 medium. . . 
 minimum . 
 
 Red Clover in Flower., . .max . 
 med. 
 mm . 
 
 Lucerne max. 
 
 ined. 
 min. 
 
 "Winter Wheat (grain) . . .max. 
 med. 
 min . 
 
 Summer Wheat (grain).. max. 
 med. 
 min . 
 
 Winter Rye (grain) max 
 
 med. 
 min 
 
 Barley (grain) max . 
 
 med. 
 min . 
 
 Oats (grain) max . 
 
 med. 
 min . 
 
 Indian Corn (grain) max . 
 
 med 
 min . 
 
 Peas (grain) max. 
 
 med. 
 min . 
 
 Horse Beans (grain) max . 
 
 med. 
 min . 
 
 Beand (grain) max . 
 
 med. 
 min . 
 
 Rapeseed (grain) max . 
 
 med. 
 min . 
 
 6.97 
 C.02 
 4 
 
 7.07 
 6.83 
 6.64 
 
 7.00 
 T.46 
 
 8.48 
 
 1.97 
 1.97 
 1.96 
 
 2.07 
 2.14 
 2.16 
 
 2.05 
 2.09 
 2.11 
 
 2.62 
 2.60 
 2.57 
 
 3.19 
 3.14 
 
 1.45 
 1.51 
 1.56 
 
 IN 100 PARTS OF PURE ASHES. 
 
 31.30 
 25.54 
 18.58 
 
 40.26 
 32.15 
 23 90 
 
 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 s 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 a 
 
 
 1 
 
 ^ 
 t 
 
 t 
 
 5.8213 
 4.43|16 
 2.65,21, 
 
 1.9831, 
 2.03:85 
 2.07i39, 
 
 24.58! 2.05,42 
 13.09' 3.6449 
 
 .27 8. 
 
 .09 7. 
 .2210. 
 .1614. 
 
 I 
 ,47- 6. 
 .17 5. 
 ,54 3. 
 
 98! 0, 
 
 92; T.41: 
 251 8.01. 
 
 ,67 9.51 
 
 85'l0.08 
 .06| 9 87i 
 .371 9.68{ 
 
 .2510.991 
 .88^ B.80: 
 .65: 5.77! 
 
 38! 23. 77 
 56127.01 
 50 31.21 
 
 2.71 
 3.01 
 3.25 
 
 6.44 
 
 1.91 
 2.37 
 2.50 
 
 2.77 
 
 5.93 .6.07 
 4.9912.69 
 
 83.23 3.38 
 31.16! 2.25 
 29.25, 1.21 
 
 33.09 
 29.99! 
 
 1.19 
 1.93 
 
 27.92 2.48 
 
 84.23j 
 
 31.471 
 29.65 
 i 
 23.58 
 20.15 
 16.50 
 
 18.48 
 16.38 
 15.09 
 
 28.87 
 
 27.93 
 
 .37 
 
 2.7911.88: 1.39 45.08 0.17 
 
 .3411.971 
 3.6712.19: 
 
 4. 22*12. 89; 
 2.93 12.091 
 2.4611.61 
 
 .31 46.981 37 
 ,21|48.94: 0.62 
 
 .47!46.78l 0.61 
 .5l!48.63 1.52 
 ,54 50.01 
 
 2.06 2.52 11.98! 1.7144 93 05 
 1 70! 2.6311.54 1.63 40 93 1.10 
 
 1.47 2.7111.27 
 
 I 
 
 2.99 2.43! 7.84 
 
 2.53 2.60 8.6i 
 
 2.02' 2.79 9.41 
 
 3.81 
 2.24 
 
 1.27 
 
 1.83 
 0.50 
 
 3.88 
 3.73 
 3.54 
 
 2.14 
 2.28 
 2.6T 
 
 44.81 0.90 4.60 
 4.99 
 5.51 
 
 4.27 
 4.73 
 5.20 
 
 7.11 
 6.38 
 5.54 
 
 13.62 
 14.18 
 14.63 
 
 2.73 
 2.64 
 
 41.79 
 38.76 
 
 0.96 
 1.12 
 
 3.61 
 3.57 
 3.54 
 
 45.55 
 42.49 
 39.43 
 
 1.12 
 1.34 
 1.55 
 
 8.11 
 3.22 
 3.83 
 
 46.44 
 44.01 
 40.98 
 
 1.62 
 1.49 
 1.40 
 
 4.49 
 4.44 
 4.40 
 
 25.96 
 24.50 
 %3.59 
 
 8.87 
 1.68 
 0.24 
 
 1.57;48 26 1.80 
 
 0.88 32. 6s! 1.64 
 0.97 34.68 1.69 
 1.0636.65 1.74 
 
 6.85 0.5021.58 
 7.06! 67:23. 
 7.22i 0.80,24.05 
 
 14.69' 0.7845. 
 14.98; 1.26 45.00 
 15.571 1.70 44.03 
 
 7.84: 0.8034 
 7.96: 0.8636.43 
 8.10| 0. 88:37. 8i 
 
 7.25' 0.4237.95 
 7.08; 0;57 38.74 
 6.86! 0.9039.76 
 
 7.85! 0.24 31.95 
 7.62: 0.32 35.52 
 7 441 40.39.68 
 
 10.521 1.34 39.73 
 11.80! 1.56 42.83 
 12.601 1.7043.96 
 
 1.66 
 1.36 
 1.14 
 
 1.81 
 1.30 
 0.50 
 
 3.50 
 8.49 
 8.48 
 
 1.87 
 2.53 
 8.14 
 
 4.04 
 4.05 
 4.08 
 
 8.63 
 2.39 
 1.62 
 
 l.( 
 
 0.71 
 1.64 
 1.97 
 
 1.58 
 
 1 
 
 2.09 
 
 26.47 
 27.54 
 28.57 
 
 41.79 
 44.33 
 46.26 
 
 1.78 
 1.88 
 2.99 
 
 0.58 
 O.SG 
 1.15 
 
 47 
 0.78 
 1.02 
 
 0.54 
 0.57 
 0.61 
 
 1.04 
 1.42 
 1.66 
 
THE N^EW FARMER'S GUIDE. 
 
 53 
 
 COMPARATIVE STATEMENT, &c.— continued. 
 
 DESCRIPTIOX. 
 
 Flaxseed (grain) . . . 
 
 IN 100 PARTS OF PURE ASHES. 
 
 .max. 'iJi 8.36 84.26 
 med. 5| 3.69;30.63 
 min.l 31 8.91128.21 
 
 1.S9 8.42 13 14 0.50 38.63 1.57 1.46 0.i2 
 2.07 8.10 14.2;) 11241.50 2 84 124 0.17 
 2.19: 7 89 15.e.6 1.5443.41; 2.83 1.10 0.15 
 
 Winter "Wheat (straw)... max. I 8 5.1718 36 3.08 5.42 2.08 0.53' 8.76 2.25 64.73 2.85 
 
 med. rS; 5.37:13.65; 1.38 5.76 2.43 0.6l! 4.81 2.45 67.50! 1.68 
 
 min.lO 5.56 11.321 0.52, 5.83^ 2.82' O.GSj 5.67 2.61 69.69J 1.26 
 
 Summer "WTieat (straw).. max. I 4; 4.40 36.07! 1 10' 3.14' 1.94 0.55 5.25 3.60 4^.40! 1 81 
 
 med. 7 4.45l28.9l| 2.69 6.S9 2.45, 0.72 5.15 3.18 47.60: 2.19 
 
 4.54;19.38 4 4711.91, 3.12, 1.34, 5.01 2.5149.18, 3.17 
 
 Winter Rye (straw) max. 
 
 med. 
 
 Barley (straw) 
 
 Oats (straw) 
 
 Peas (straw) 
 
 Horse Beans- (straw) . . • 
 
 Rapeseed (straw) 
 
 Flaxseed (straw) 
 
 Potato (tuber) 
 
 Beets (for cattle) 
 
 5 4.41 22.70 
 10 4.7919.24 
 5 5.26,15.79 
 
 1»99 9.88' 2.67' 0.88 5 23 
 2 15! 8.5S' 2.72 1 041 5.14 
 2.30: 7.78, 2.77| 1.20! 5.05 
 
 max. 12! 4.76'29 51 4.23 7.42' 2.46 0.14 4.14 
 med. 21 1 4.80122.85 4.13 7.771 2.60| 0.691 4.48 
 min. 9i 4.94 13.891 3.98 8.26 2.78 1.26! 4.94 
 
 2.96 51.60 2.95 
 2,7156 38 2.51 
 2.45 60.98 2.0T 
 
 .max, 
 med. 
 
 .max. 
 med. 
 min . 
 
 .max. 
 med. 
 min , 
 
 .max, 
 med , 
 min , 
 
 .max 
 med 
 
 5.11:25.14 4.17' 7.82 4.15 
 4.70-22.121 2. 89' 8. 86! 4.04 
 4.30,19.08 1.6110.16 3.89 
 
 4. 60! 
 
 4.95 28 
 5.13 22 
 5.1917 
 
 5.02 44 
 5.35:42 
 5.53|40 
 
 5.56 83 
 
 4.92:27 
 4.28 21 
 
 3.43 35 
 3.1^31 
 3.65 26 
 
 1.32 
 1.45 4.69 
 1.62; 4.81 
 
 3.48 34.55- 
 4.07 36.82 
 4.52 40.43 
 
 i I 
 
 2.7718.461 
 2.45 22.401 
 
 41 
 
 2.21 25.55 
 
 I 
 6.01 26.10 
 .281 9.84 28.87 
 .15:12.67 30.02 
 
 .01! 7.92 21 84 
 .061 8. 14 22.23 
 .42 8.42 22.73 
 
 .max. 27 3.90|64.98| 2.89! 2.24 
 med.;53 3.7760.371 2.62 2.57 
 mm.:26 3.40 55.62 2.50! 2.91 
 
 max.! 9 6.41 59.5715.10 
 med. 15 6.44 54.02:15.90 
 min.; 6, 6.46 45.71 17.43 
 
 Sufrar Leet 
 
 3.74 
 4.19. 
 4.69 
 
 Turnips (root) 
 
 Carrots (root) 
 
 .max. 42 3.69'63.30 9.50 4. 
 med. 98 3.86 55.1110.00 5. 
 min . 56 3.92 48.32 10.53 6.29 
 
 .max.liel 8 02'48. 93 10.75' 9.16 
 med. 32 8.01 45.40 9.8410 
 min. 16 8.00 41.56: 8.93 12.58 
 
 .max, 
 med, 
 min , 
 
 ' 6 5.49 42.19 20.87 9.53 
 11 5.5S 85.21 22 0711.42 
 5 5.69 26.83 23.50 13. P8 
 
 7.28 
 8.04 
 8.42 
 I 
 7 53' 
 7.53 
 7.62 
 
 5.77: 
 "6.01 
 
 6.20 
 
 6.93' 
 
 6.58' 
 7.04 
 
 4.01 
 4 69 
 5.38! 
 
 ! 
 
 4.41 
 4.54 
 4.81 
 
 5.35' 
 7.53: 
 9.14 
 
 1.72 7.06 
 1.72! 8.05 
 1.711 8.68 
 
 0.93 
 1.26 
 1 52 
 
 8.28 
 7.39 
 6.68 
 
 4.52 46.48 
 8 71 52.02! 
 2.68 59 84; 
 
 I 
 3 03 46.27! 
 3.29 48.57 
 3.67 48.95, 
 
 6.85 4 54 
 6.26; 6.83 
 6.19 8.27 
 
 1.97 5.40 
 1.84 5.96 
 1.70! 6.53 
 
 2.19 12.73 
 2.40 13.59 
 2.6714.70 
 
 4.64' 7.88' 
 
 3.55: 7.371 
 
 2.67| 6.57, 
 
 8.32' 6.27 
 
 7.59| 6.34 
 
 6.86 6.41 
 
 .21 4.82 8.18 
 .54' 5.51 4.09 
 .98; 6.31 5.24 
 
 1.97 
 2.26 
 2.61 
 
 4.63 
 6 31 
 7.91 
 
 6 83 
 5.64 
 5.10 
 
 4.23 
 5 84 
 7.09 
 
 6.90 
 8.37 
 9.85 
 
 1.1716.09 5.18' 0.79' 3.5G 
 1.1817.33 6.49 2.13 3.11 
 1.19 18.70 8.OO1 8.111 8.00 
 
 0.51 8.56 2.95 
 82 8.451 3.17; 
 1.06 8.32 
 
 7fi: 7.85 
 0.93 10.99 
 
 .81 
 
 1.34 5.24 
 2.33 8.40 
 3.9313.14 
 
 I 
 O.8O' 5.54 
 1.80 5 18 
 
 1.06 12 SO'; 4.58! 2.58 4.75 
 
 8.45 0.6511.2810.46 1.03 5 89 
 
 3.69 0.8112.7111.19; 1.87 5.07 
 
 8.90 1.01 14.0511.791 2.65 4.62 
 
 4.33 1.0211.73] 6.11' 1.38 8.55 
 
 4 73 1 03 12.46] 6.72i 2.47 5 I9 
 
 6.21 1.03 13.361 7.45i 3.77 t.lg 
 
54: 
 
 THE NEW FARMER'S GUIDE. 
 
 COMPARATIVE STATEMENT, &c.— continued. 
 
 DESCRIPTION. 
 
 Sea-kale (root) max . 
 
 med. 
 min . 
 
 Potato (straw) max . 
 
 med. 
 min . 
 
 Beet (for cattle — leaves) .max . 
 med. 
 min . 
 
 Sugar Beet (leaves) max. 
 
 med. 
 min . 
 
 Turnips (leaves) max . 
 
 med. 
 min . 
 
 Carrots (leaves) max. 
 
 med. 
 min . 
 
 Sea-kale (leaves) max . 
 
 med. 
 min . 
 
 Hops max. 
 
 med. 
 min . 
 
 Hops (leaves). max . 
 
 med. 
 min . 
 
 Hops (bine) max. 
 
 med. 
 min . 
 
 Tob acco (leaves) max. 
 
 med. 
 min . 
 
 Wine (must) max. 
 
 med. 
 min . 
 
 Grapevine max. 
 
 med. 
 min . 
 
 Mulberry (leaves) max . 
 
 med. 
 min . 
 
 Sugar Beets (pressed). . .max . 
 med. 
 mjn . 
 
 1 
 
 a 
 
 < 
 
 1 
 
 
 IN 100 PARTS OF PURE A 
 
 SHES 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 in 
 
 i 
 
 2 
 
 »< 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 3 
 % 
 
 i 
 
 'uj 
 
 .1 
 
 1 
 
 9, 8.88 39 94 19 06 6.00 
 
 151 3.35 38.80 15.68 7.02 
 
 6j 3.18 35.1610.61 8.54 
 
 3.90 
 4.69 
 5.89 
 
 1.67 12.46 6.53 
 2.5112.49 7.93 
 3.7S 12.53 10.03 
 
 8.10 
 4.98 
 7. 69 
 
 8.01 
 6.95 
 5. 83 
 
 s! 9.1483.671 1 69 21.9512.70 
 
 6i 8.58 21.78' 2.31 32.65 1(5.51 
 3i 8.02 9.56; 2.94 43.85 20.32 
 
 III 
 
 2.40 
 
 2.8*; 
 
 3 32 
 
 10.90 7.21 
 7.89 6.32 
 
 4.95 5.44 
 
 1 
 
 2.32 
 4.32 
 5.96 
 
 6.82 
 5.78 
 4.75 
 
 715.26 36.9517.56 11.18 8.07 
 13 15.18 30.75 20.29 11.10 9.51 
 6 15.10 24 99 24.12 10. 9i 11.20 
 
 1.81 
 1.45 
 1.04 
 
 5.93 6.85 
 5.46 5.97 
 4.1)0 5.14 
 
 4.51 
 3 CO 
 2.47 
 
 9.51 
 
 14.86 
 17.92 
 
 518.80 36.5614.8211.1111.16 
 10 17.58 2o 4^14.6514.6514.98 
 516.79 20.00 14.47 17.80,18.41- 
 
 0.67 
 0.98 
 1.32 
 
 4.63 3 71 
 6.9.1 5 19 
 9.16, 6.66 
 
 2 1815.56 
 8 2111.47 
 4.24j 7.38 
 
 510.90 29 14' 6.96'32 51 
 
 10 11.64 23 43 9.45 32 92 
 
 512.37 17.73 11.95 33.34 
 
 4.50 
 3.96 
 3.62 
 
 0.96 
 1.58 
 2.20 
 
 5.-2 
 7 80 
 
 8.87 
 
 9.07 
 9.40 
 9.74 
 
 3 2510. 15 
 8.8510.13 
 4.41 ilO 11 
 
 4 12 57 13.58 21.84 83.50 
 7 13.53 11.26 19.83 32.75 
 3 14.83, 8.17 17.16 31.08 
 
 8. 89 
 3.46 
 2.90 
 
 2 54 
 2.51 
 2.46 
 
 4.37 
 4.42 
 4.48 
 
 7.57 6.28 
 7.4911.26 
 7.39 17.56 
 
 7.44 
 8.93 
 10.91 
 
 3 12 24 47 Oil! 6.7815 00 
 10 10 98 26.1817.63 19.67 
 710 73 17.25 22.27^1.67 
 
 2 85 
 2.42 
 2.37 
 
 1.90 
 
 1.87 
 1.86 
 
 6.95 
 6.30 
 
 6.02 
 
 8.88 
 8 61 
 8 50 
 
 2.47 
 3.46 
 3.89 
 
 10.20 
 16.19 
 
 18.76 
 
 15 7.29 40.51 2.40 15.31 
 25 7.5934.45' 2 19 16.65 
 10 8.01 25.16' 1. 88 18.66 
 
 4 98 
 5.47 
 6.22 
 
 1.20 
 1.45 
 1.81 
 
 16.19 
 16.73 
 17.54 
 
 1.63 14.79 
 8.5816.6i> 
 6.52 19.47 
 
 3. 73 
 
 3.28 
 2.60 
 
 515.4615.05 4.14'41.98 
 818.04 12.43, 8.80 42.55 
 8 21.81 8. 04; 3.23 43.83 
 
 5.07 
 6.45 
 
 8.1(4 
 
 1.10 
 
 89 
 0.54 
 
 7.16 
 
 6.08 
 4 26 
 
 4.7018.13 
 4 12 21.56 
 3.15 27.29 
 
 8.66 
 2.73 
 1.18 
 
 4' 5.10 80.76' 2.5182.87 
 5 4.85 28.03. 4.04 30 88 
 1 3.87.17.1110.17 22.94 
 
 4.20 
 6.68 
 16.61 
 
 0.47 
 0.88 
 2.51 
 
 10.22 
 
 10. 7S 
 12.98 
 
 3.04 
 3.26 
 4.14 
 
 8.7' 
 8.46 
 7.46 
 
 8.59 
 9.0T 
 7.99 
 
 518.7127.67' 4.95 32.56 
 1218.4120.07; 8.39 41.59 
 718.19,13.73 2 09 48.03 
 
 ' 9.69 
 11.72 
 13.19 
 
 3.40 
 8.07 
 2.83 
 
 3.05 
 3.16 
 
 3.24 
 
 8.9110.62 
 8 86 8.92 
 4.22 7.71 
 
 5.82 
 5.22 
 5.14 
 
 6'o.03o'65.62 1.21 4.77 
 7 0.277 63 67, 1.04 5.05 
 10.162 51.971 — 5.68 
 
 4.61 
 5.47 
 10.62 
 
 , 0.48 
 0.37 
 
 15.86 
 17.23 
 25.43 
 
 3.16 
 3.56 
 5.93 
 
 1.84 
 1.62 
 0.37 
 
 1.66 
 1.42 
 
 8 2.97 34.52 16.5130.76 
 19 2.89 30.53 11.10 34.68 
 11: 2.72 27.62j 7.17 37.54 
 
 8 19 
 5.19 
 6.65 
 
 '1.17 
 : 1.81 
 
 ,1.41 
 
 9.55 
 12.64 
 14.70 
 
 2.13 
 2.47 
 
 2.00 0.68 
 1.66 0.89 
 1.89 1.05 
 
 510.43'27.16! 2.15 34 98 
 1510.89 23.87 1.86 32.78 
 1011.12 21.53 0.8531.79 
 
 7.40 
 6.34 
 5.81 
 
 1.02 
 1.13 
 1.19 
 
 7.67 
 7.84 
 7.93 
 
 2.4818.98' 1 64 
 1.84 26.711 1.23 
 1.52 31.58! 1.05 
 
 4 
 
 8.68'44.53 6.4013.49 
 8.70 84.53 7.98 22. 3S 
 3.72,28.81 8.88 25 98 
 
 5.10 
 6.52 
 7.75 
 
 '2.77 
 3.05 
 8.21 
 
 11.97 
 9.84 
 8.62 
 
 3.27 
 3.33 
 8.37 
 
 6.90 
 
 7.72 
 8.18 
 
 1.86 
 8.60 
 4.75 
 
THE NEW FARMER'S GUIDE. 
 
 COMPARATIVE STATEMENT, &c.—conti7ined. 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 f 
 <! 
 
 3 
 6 
 3 
 
 •1 
 
 1 IN IOC PART.S OF PURE ASHE>. 
 
 DESCRIPTION. 
 
 1 j i 
 
 1 1 1 4 i 
 
 9.98 71.69 11.44 5.35 
 9.97 69.85 12. IT 5.70 
 9.96 68,63 12.00 6.05 
 
 7.68 G.13 1.09 4G. 36 
 
 •a 
 
 1 
 
 a. 31 
 
 0.31 
 0.31 
 
 5.22 
 
 1 
 
 0.42 
 0.60 
 0.7-7 
 
 4 77 
 
 3 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 o 
 
 Sugar Beets (molasses) 
 Peach (leaves) 
 
 max. 
 med. 
 min . 
 
 .max. 
 
 0.29 
 0.28 
 0.26 
 
 2.10' 0.15 
 2.04 0.41 
 1.95 0.67 
 
 2.82 81.56 
 
 9. 53 
 IU.26 
 10.94 
 
 0.28 
 
 med.i 6 6.83 3.9.^. 0.(58 ^5.18; 5.93 1.04 4.14 3.6433.69; 0.89 
 m;n 31 6.31 1.73 0.18 43.99: 6.30 1.01 3.51, 4.46 35.82 0.49 
 
 Moss max. 
 
 med. 
 min . 
 
 Ferns (brake) max . 
 
 med. 
 min , 
 
 Heath max. 
 
 med. Ill 2.0812.89 0.59 21.49 
 min. 6| 2.42| 7. 89 6. 84 16.88 
 
 max.! 9 15.70 17. 52 24 32 10.65 
 
 med. 17 14.9112.98 22.9513.62 
 
 4 2.3419.85 7 9413 20 8.0012.94 6.93 6.14 13.76 5 00 
 7 2.56 13.50 8 38 11.551 5.8811 S3 4.54 5.03 28. 77 5.05 
 8i 2.86 5.69 8.96 9.35 2-7210.36! l.Oll 3.52 48.79i 5.11 
 
 5! 6.76 43.13 4.24 14.07 
 
 8' 6.76 35.57 4.04 12.28 
 
 3j 6.76 22.94 3.71 9.30 
 
 5: 1.9120.50 6.22 
 
 t 76 0.84 9.69 4.85 6.0610.01 
 
 6.94 1.G4 8 18! 3.48 20 32 7.89 
 
 5.58 2.98 5.68J 1.20 44.10| 8.95 
 
 11.10 3.14 10.00| 3.93 13.221 2.GT 
 
 ' 9.35 4.08 6.741 4.09 29.6fi 2.41 
 
 7.90 4.86! 4.03 4.22 39.99 2.23 
 
 Seaweed. 
 
 e.75 
 
 8.15 
 
 0.29 
 
 0.77 
 
 3.21J20.85 0.8(5 17.67 
 3.14 21 54 2.0717.92 
 
 min.! 813.91 7.88 21.26 15.84 9.71: 1.32 3.0422 31 8.44 18.19 
 
56 
 
 THE NEW FARMER'S GUIDE. 
 
 STATEMEI^T ILLUSTRATING BY ANALYSIS 
 
 PREDOMINANCE OF POTASH, LIME AND PHOSPHORUS 
 
 IN THE GREAT MAJORITY OF 
 
 VErjKTABLES, FRUITS AND OTHER SUBSTANCES. 
 
 DESCRIPTION. 
 
 Sugar-cane 
 
 Sanfoin, Clover 
 
 Cotton Seed 
 
 " Straw 
 
 •• Fibre 
 
 " Oil-cake, decoriated 
 
 Flaxseed Oil-cake 
 
 Tea Leaves 
 
 Coffee Bean 
 
 Apples, fresh fruit . . . 
 Pears, ' " "... 
 Cherries, " " .. . 
 Plums, " "... 
 Gooseberries, " "... 
 Strawberries, " "... 
 Meat, Beef 
 
 " Veal 
 
 " Pork 
 
 Milk, Woman's 
 
 " Cow's 
 
 " Goat's 
 
 Blood, Human . . 
 
 Hen's Egg, the Albumen . . 
 
 " " Yolk 
 
 Cabbage, white 
 
 Onions 
 
 Asparagus 
 
 Red Clover Roots 
 
 Orange Fruit 
 
 Rhubarb Leaves 
 
 I\ 100 PARTS OF PUhE A!-HE3. 
 
 7.70 39 
 5 50 28, 
 4.00 36 
 8.0121) 
 1.03 41 
 6.60 47 
 5.84 24 
 5 48 24 
 ^19 62 
 1.44 35 
 1.97^1 
 2.20 51 
 1.82 59 
 
 3.39 38 
 
 8.40 21 
 7 60 48 
 5.20 34 
 4.06 37 
 2.00 38 
 1.75 29 
 
 — Ill 
 4.36 81 
 
 s 
 
 40 8.24 2 
 
 47 8.2S3G. 
 
 00 1.10| 6. 
 
 06 — 142. 
 
 08 6.01 
 00, — 
 33' 1.46 
 6719.42 
 47 1.64 
 68 26.09 4 
 C9 8.53 7 
 85 2 191 7 
 21| 0.5410 
 6o' 9.92 12 
 07:28.48 14 
 Olj ~ 
 40' 7.26 1 
 53 4.54,7 
 08: 5.6918 
 ,77 8.6017 
 ,62 9.14 4 
 ,35 36.10 1 
 41 26.72 3 
 
 26 3.80 
 61 6 49 
 02 14 02 
 01 8,01 
 0311.02 
 5815.26. 
 4015.831 
 
 3.08i 8.93 
 13.92 39.55 
 00 
 71 
 42 
 72 
 
 — i3 
 5.30 51 
 8.41 10 
 8.40 38 
 8.72 14.47 81.77 
 
 5.1212. 
 5:4119. 
 1.79 23. 
 — 21. 
 7.1717. 
 7.64 22. 
 
 .87 
 
 6.18 
 
 29 
 
 9.69 
 
 08 
 
 8.751 
 
 .98 
 
 5.22 
 
 .47 
 
 5.46' 
 
 .04 
 
 5.46' 
 
 20 
 
 5.85 
 
 .21 
 
 1 
 
 .91 
 
 2.80; 
 
 99 
 
 1.45 
 
 .58 
 
 4.83 
 
 .78 
 
 0.87| 
 
 .31 
 
 1.90, 
 
 5tt 
 
 2.42' 
 
 87 
 
 1.27 
 
 15 
 
 8 56 
 
 ,21 
 
 2.07' 
 
 .58 
 
 3.81 
 
 .77 
 
 4.01 
 
 .88 
 
 
 .45 
 
 5.71 
 
 .99 
 
 6.55 
 
 .95 
 
 5.59 
 
 — I 7.12] 
 1.15 9. 94 
 06 3.72| 
 O.CiP 18.06! 
 2.04 6.04 
 1.87 48.00; 
 2.6131.62 
 2.29 13.281 
 0.65 13.29; 
 1.4013.59; 
 1.0415.20 
 1.9815.97; 
 3.20 15.10 
 4.5619.68 
 5.89 18.82 
 0.82 36.08 
 0.27.48.18 
 0.85 44.41 
 0.1119.10 
 0.38 29.18 
 
 — 14.17 
 8.76 11.20 
 0.62 4.27 
 1.45 69 53 
 1.00 16 73 
 
 — 19.67 
 0.3112.36 
 4.2310.92 
 0.92 14.99 
 1.28 31.14 
 
 7.70 17 
 
 8.40 
 
 4.01 
 
 8.05 
 
 4 02 
 
 1.13 
 
 8.95 
 
 7.00 
 
 3.80 
 
 6.09 
 
 5.69 
 
 5.09 
 
 6,89 
 8.15 
 
 3.84 
 
 2 
 1.18 
 2.05 
 1 
 
 1.50 
 
 14.81 
 5.90 
 4.49 
 6.85 
 2.25 
 9.52 
 
 0414.33 
 28 3.83 
 - 05 
 0.07 
 7.08 
 97: — 
 50 0.71 
 82 1.79 
 54 0.91 
 32 — 
 49 — 
 04 1.85 
 
 8.02 
 
 0.03 
 
 12. 
 
 58 0.T5 
 05 1.69 
 47! 6.04 
 81| 6.43 
 
 — 0.62 
 
 — 119.00 
 1.0914.37 
 
 — 81.05 
 
 — 84.09 
 1.3182.82 
 1.551 — 
 
 .32, 7.46 
 1.28' 2.(^5 
 !.74i 7 84 
 5.25' 1.3G 
 ).24! — 
 
ANALYSIS 
 
 COMPARATIVE QUANTITIES OF POTASH, LIME, PHOS- 
 PHORIC ACID, AND NITROGEN 
 
 In an Average Crop of the Principal Agricultural Productions 
 of Germany. 
 
 The subjoizied analysis was prepared by Count Yon 
 Lippe-Weihenfeld, and shows the main ingredients of 
 which average crops of the leading agricultural products 
 in Germany are composed. 
 
 When it is desired to double or treble the crops, it is, 
 therefore, only needful to add, in a proportionate degree, to 
 these four articles, as it is shown they are the dominat- 
 ing ingredients in the composition of the various crops 
 mentioned. 
 
 ANALYSIS. 
 
 Average Crop per Acre. Potash. 
 
 Bushels. Pounds, 
 
 Rapeseed . . 26 41 
 
 Wheat 82 31 
 
 Potatoes.... 110 82 
 
 Oats 54 Z1 
 
 Vetches . . , 24,800 U. S. lbs. 158 
 
 Rye 32 43 
 
 Su^r Beets 40,000, '' 206 
 
 Barley 38 24 
 
 il^ed Clover. 42,000 ** 146 
 
 Lime. 
 
 Phos. Acid. 
 
 Nitrogen. 
 
 Pounds. 
 
 Pounds, 
 
 Pounds. 
 
 55 
 
 33 
 
 58 
 
 11 
 
 26 
 
 55 
 
 12 
 
 21 
 
 53 
 
 14 
 
 17 
 
 58 
 
 18 
 
 48 
 
 115 
 
 13 
 
 25 
 
 45 
 
 40 
 
 39 
 
 105 
 
 9 
 
 17 
 
 38 
 
 151 
 
 41 
 
 168 
 
58 THE NEW FARMER'S GUIDE. 
 
 The foregoing table i& calculated for the surface of a U. 
 S. acre, from good average crops, as generally produced in 
 Germany, for the express purpose of showing the amount 
 of the four most important ingredients contained in good 
 average crops — viz., potash, lime, phosphorous, and nitro- 
 gen. Their dominating power over the second group of 
 inorganic matters and gases, predisposes them for the as- 
 similation of the plants, and therefore, in well-prepared 
 soils, we may be nearly certain that, in doubling or trebling 
 these four ingredients, the crops will be doubled or trebled. 
 This has been proved by_a number of trials which have 
 taken place. 
 
WHY AMERICAN AGRICULTURISTS OBJECT 
 TO CIIExlICAL FERTILIZERS. 
 
 It must be admitted that very many intelligent farmers 
 have great objections to the use of chemical fertilizers, on 
 the ground that they are not found beneficial to the extent 
 that might be ej^pected ; and in many cases they have had 
 very good reasons for the opinions they have formed. The 
 explanation, however, is that the proper standard of quality 
 has not been maintained by American manufacturers, and 
 hence the failure of the manures to produce the desired re- 
 sults. I have no hesitation in stating this to be the case, 
 not only as the result of my own experience, but on the au- 
 thority of two eminent gentlemen, well known amongst 
 agriculturists — Mr. James Bennett Chynoweth and Dr. 
 William H. Bruckner — in whose " Farmers' and Planters' 
 Guide," published in IS'Tl, a series of analyses are given 
 (which have never been disproved), showing that the fer- 
 tilizers of American manufacture are not of the quality nec- 
 essary to produce satisfactory results. This will probably 
 continue to be the case until a law is passed fixing a stand- 
 ard of quality, which all manufacturers shall be required 
 strictly to observe. In Europe such a law was also found 
 necessary, and is now carried out under a system of govern- 
 mental inspection. By this means the quality can be kept 
 up, and tlie manures will be found fully satisfactory in 
 America, as they have been proved to be in England, 
 France and German v. 
 
 (.59) 
 
60 THE NEW FARMER'S GUIDE. 
 
 The manufacture of these fertilizers is every day becom- 
 ing of greater importance. In consideration of our ex- 
 haustive system of cultivation, more especially in the South- 
 ern States, and that farm-yard manure is not produced in 
 the same abimdance as in European countries, an adequate 
 supply of chemical fertilizers of the best quality becomes 
 absolutely necessary. It will not be advisable to depend 
 for this supply upon importation solely, as already the for- 
 eign producers find great demand for these manures in their 
 own immediate surroundings ; so that I think it will be 
 readily seen as most desirable and beneficial to have the 
 manufacture of chemical fertilizers carried on here under 
 such regulations and supervision, as I have hinted at. It 
 will also be most advantageous to make the raw materials 
 necessary for the manufacture of fertilizers ffee of import 
 duty, so that there may be every opportunity for home pro- 
 ducers to compete with importers as to price and quality. 
 
 If such legislation as I have suggested cannot be readily 
 obtained, the next best plan would be for G-ranges and 
 farmers' societies to buy up the materials wholesale, and 
 mix for themselves as the manures were needed ; by this 
 means a better quality of manure would be obtainable. 
 
APPROXIMATE EXHAUSTIVE TIME TABLE 
 
 Of different hinds of Manures and Fertilizers^ showing 
 their state of Exhaustion^ or Assimilation^ in one^ two 
 or three years'^ time^ as proved hy a numher of Experi- 
 ments made for the purpose of investigating the subject. 
 
 BY COUNT VON LIPPE-WEIHENFELD. 
 
 Per Centage. 
 
 Time of 
 Exhaustion. 
 
 Rotten Manure 20 centals. 
 
 Partially Rotten Manure .20 " 
 
 Liquid Manure 15 " 
 
 Nightsoil 15 " 
 
 Peruvian Guano 1 cental . 
 
 Bone' Meal 
 
 Superphosphate 
 
 Fish Guano 
 
 Ammoniated Potash 
 Superphosphate .... 
 Sulphate of Ammonia . 
 Stassfurt Concentrated ) Per cent, of 
 
 Potash \ Piire Potash. 
 
 Potash, 3 times concen- )^ ^ 
 
 trated ) 
 
 Potash, 5 times concen- ) u 
 
 trated ) 
 
 17.23 
 
 11.49 
 
 9.94 
 
 6.63 
 
 3.31 
 
 6.63 
 
 27 to 28 
 84 " 37 
 
 52 
 
 26.52 
 
 12.37 
 0.66 
 3.31 
 
 33.15 
 26.52 
 
 14.80 
 
 4.42 
 
 0.15 
 
 9.04 
 
 11.05 
 
 26.52 
 
 19.89 
 
 13.26 
 
 9.94 
 
 13.26 
 
 13.26 
 
 8.84 
 
 6.63 
 
 11.49 
 
 13.70 
 
 3.31 
 
 11.05 
 3.31 
 
 8.84 
 
 (61) 
 
STASSFURT POTASH SALTS 
 
 CONSIST OF 
 
 Muriate of Potash ^ 80 per cent. 
 
 Sulphate of Potash 90 per cent. 
 
 Thej are used as special manures in connection with 
 stable manure, and are rarely applied in larger quantities 
 than about 200 lbs. of the higher grades, 300 to 400 lbs. of 
 the lower grades per acre. In case thej have to be applied 
 as top-dressing, for instance, upon meadows, etc., they liave 
 to be mixed with at least three to four times their volume 
 of soil, compost, etc. They are usually applied together 
 with guano, superphosphate of Ikne, ground bone, etc., (^r 
 are incorporated w^ith barn-yard manure. The best results 
 regarding the same crops have been noticed upon a loamy 
 soil, less favorable upon a stiff, wet, clayey, or marshy soil, 
 or upon sandy soil without retentive subsoil. When the 
 Stassfurt potash salts were first introduced, their true value 
 was greatly underestimated on account of the potash being 
 in its rough state, and mixed wdth other foreign article-^, 
 such as magnesia and common salt. The proportions of 
 ingredients given above are recommended as best suited for 
 agricultural purposes. I do not recommend the description 
 known as kinate, as that has not generally given satisfaction. 
 
 (62) 
 
ARTIFICIAL PLASTER, OR SULPHATE OF 
 
 LIME. 
 
 Fine pulverized Sulphur ^ 10 pounds. 
 
 Fine pulverized fresh-burned Lime (not slacked) . . 100 pounds. 
 
 These to be mixed together as carefully as possible. In 
 a few days the pale yellow color of the mixture will change 
 to white, and then through the action of the oxygen is 
 formed sulphate of lime. The quantities stated above pro- 
 duce 133 pounds of plaster, in a mixture of 180 pounds total 
 weight. Plaster is exceedingly useful, not only for the soil, 
 but in fermenting the manure, and sprinkling freely in 
 stables, its action being to fix the ammonia. As ammonia 
 is very volatile, it is fixed efi'ectually by the appiication of 
 plaster. Probably this was the object of Mr. Yille in using 
 such a large quantity of plaster in his artificial manures. 
 
 (63) 
 
FERMENTATION OF MANURES AND NITRI- 
 FICATION OF THE SOIL. 
 
 What is the most advantageous mode of fermenting 
 manure ? and when are the best times for the application ? 
 
 These are questions continually asked in the agricultural 
 papers. Messrs. Deherain and Thenard give the best an- 
 swer in their trials with nitrated glucose, which holds about 
 the same ingredients as a well rotten manure. If a rich 
 moist manure-heap is kept in a medium state of tempera- 
 ture, not only no ammonia is lost, but 15 to 21 per cent, of 
 the atmospheric nitrogen is absorbed by the manure. If 
 alkalies, phosphates, carbonate and sulphate of lime are 
 added, tli# greater will be the efficacy of the absorbing 
 power of the manure ; but in all cases where a quick return 
 is not wanted, the sooner the fresh manure can be mixed 
 with the soil, the more nitrates will be formed, and the 
 action of the fermenting power of the manure on the insol- 
 uble inorganic matters in the soil will be the more effective. 
 It is proved to-day that nitrogen and the inorganic ingre- 
 dients are the predominating elements in vegetable life ; and 
 it is not less clearly proved, that though we can produce 
 very large crops with artificially-rendered soluble nitrogen- 
 ized mineral matters, the most fertile cultivated soils, which 
 produce large crops without manure, are eminently rich in 
 both organic and inorganic matters in a soluble state. This 
 
 confirms the impressions formed from soil analyses, where 
 
 (64) 
 
THE NEW FARMER'S GUIDE. 65 
 
 it was found in two soils equally rich in mineral matters, 
 that the one contained a good deal of humus or organic 
 matter, and was very fertile, while the second, which was 
 devoid of organic matter, produced a good crop only when 
 heavily manured, the reason being that through the action 
 of the humus, the first soil held soluble inorganic matter, 
 while in the latter it was insoluble. 
 
 The best time and mode for manuring is in summer, 
 on a plowed soil — the manure well mixed with the suifkce, 
 because it is proved that the best conditions for the process 
 of nitrification are a warm temperature with a moist soil, 
 and a mellow fermenting surface. These are just the con- 
 ditions in the tropical countries (where the moisture is sup- 
 plied by heavy night dews), under which all the commercial 
 nitrates are produced ; in these countries the nitrification of 
 the soil goes on the whole year — never ceasing ; whereas, in 
 the temperate countries, there is little or no nitrification in 
 the winter — it ceases altogether for a longer or shorter time. 
 Thus science explains the well-proved practical fact (which 
 has long been extensively known and appreciated on the 
 continent of Europe), that manure should be mixed in sum- 
 mer with a well-plowed soil, stirring it several times, by 
 this nieans producing a double action — the nitrifying action 
 of the atmospheric nitrogen combining with the decomposi- 
 tion of the carbonaceous matter of the manure. This action 
 and reaction has a dissolving efiect on the insoluble matters 
 in the soil, and helps to render them soluble ; the greater 
 the amount of the soluble nitrifiable inineral salts present, 
 and the higher the temperature of the summer, the greater 
 will be the richness of the nitrates produced by the soil. 
 These are facts which cannot be too often repeated to 
 farmers. 
 
 6* 
 
DEEP AND SHALLOW PLOWING, 
 
 Deep plowing 1*3 always a great benefit in rich alluvial 
 soils, where the subsoil is permeable and of an even quality 
 with the surface soil, and also in nearly all the soils which 
 contSn a great quantity of organic and inorganic matter. In 
 such soils deep plowing and a continual stirring is sufiicient 
 to keep them fertile for a long time ; because, through the 
 decomposing action of the air on the organic matters, nitri- 
 fication takes place, and at the same time dissolves the in- 
 organic matters, and renders them capable of being assimi- 
 lated by the plant ; but in all other cases, with thin surface 
 soils and defective, poor or impervious subsoils, it would be 
 poor economy to mix the surface soil with a part of the 
 subsoil (except gradually), because, without a continual 
 manuring, the damaging effect would be felt for a long time. 
 Such improvements are of little value, except where the 
 subsoil holds some organic or inorganic matters ; but in ex- 
 ceptional cases, as in turfy soils, where the surface soil con- 
 sists of too much organic matter, the subsoil must be brought 
 up, no matter what kind of soil ; but the burning of such a 
 soil, as is generally done in Europe, would convert it when 
 drained into a permanent fertile soil forever. We there- 
 fore draw the folio win 2^ 
 
 Conclusions : 
 
 (1.) That all naturally rich soils, holding in a soluble 
 state and in great quantities the inorganic matter needed 
 as plant-food, should always be deeply cultivated. 
 
 (2.) That all good deep soils, to which some of the prin- 
 
 (66) 
 
THE NEW FARMER'S GUIDE. QT 
 
 cipal inorganic matters have to be added to produce heavy- 
 crops, should also be deeply cultivated. 
 
 (3.) In all soils of medium quality, where the subsoil is 
 poorer in inofganic matters and in an insoluble state, as is 
 generally the case, deep plowing would not be proiitabie, 
 except where continual manuring could take place, which 
 v/ould^ferment the soil, and render the inorganic matters 
 soluble. 
 
 (•1.) It is now proved that a great deal of heavy clay 
 soil, very rich in inorganic matters, but without organic 
 matters, is nearly unproductive, unless heavily manured, so 
 as to render the inorganic matters soluble, because the or- 
 ganic matters act as a dissolvent and nitrifier ; and, there- 
 fore, in the artificial nitre beds in hot climates, lime and 
 organic matters are mixed with clay soil for the production 
 of nitrates of potash. 
 
 (5.) In a greater part of the prairie soils of the West, 
 there is too much organic matter in proportion to the inor- 
 ganic ; and application should be made of lime and alkalies 
 for the burning and decomposition of the organic matters, 
 as thereby the nitrogen of the air enters into combination 
 with the carbonaceous alkaline ingredients to form nitrates. 
 
 In addition, I would say that the most approved princi- 
 ple in cultivation is to keep all the manuring matters, or- 
 ganic or inorganic, mixed with the surface soil, as it is 
 a settled fact that decomposing organic matter in the 
 presence of inorganic matter, and in contact with the air, 
 leads to the formation of the greater amount of nitrates, 
 particularly in the summer season. "When mineral salts 
 capable of nitrification are present, the higher the tempera- 
 ture, the greater will be the richness of the nitrates pro- 
 duced by the soil. 
 
 These are well established facts, whicli cannot be too 
 often repeated and kept under the notice of the farmer. 
 
WHY WET LANDS SHOULD BE PLOWED IN 
 
 BEDS. • 
 
 Yery frequently farmers with large tracts of low-lying 
 flat lands suffer greatly from the effects of heavy rains and 
 the melting of snow ; and many persons argue that the only 
 remedy in their case is the carrying out of a perfect system 
 of drainage. 
 
 To drain land in the manner advocated would, in many 
 instances — more especially in tlie Western States — be a very 
 expensive, if not impracticable, process. 1 would advise in 
 all impermeable subsoils that the land should be plowed in 
 beds, of from four to six yards wide; and this plan, which 
 has long been in operation in various parts of the continent 
 of Europe, would be found to answer very much the same 
 purpose as the more expensive drainage system. 
 
 Plowing in beds will, to almost the same extent as drain- 
 age, render highly productive land that would otherwise be 
 unproiitable. One of the first necessities in the cultivation 
 of land is to get it well drained, as wet subsoils will never 
 nitrify to the extent necessary for rendering them produc- 
 tive, and hence the killing of winter wheats, of which 
 Western farmers so often complain. But draining in many 
 cases presents such insm'mountable difficulties, that farmers 
 will not attempt it, unless it can be done by some such 
 simple and cheap, process as that I have suggested. 
 
 (68) 
 
SYNOPSIS OF 
 
 AGRICULTURAL TRIALS MADE AT PROSKAU, GERJVUI^Y. 
 
 A series of agricultural trials were made in 1869, by the 
 professors of the Trial School at Proskau, Germany. The 
 following were among the results arrived at as to the bene- 
 Hcial effects upon the ground of the growth of certain crops : 
 
 
 'stubble AST) ROOTS AFTER 
 
 HARVEST 
 
 10 INCHES DEEP. 
 
 
 Totel Dry 
 
 Substances 
 
 per English 
 
 Acre. 
 
 No. of lbs. 
 
 Organic 
 Mdtter. 
 
 No. of lbs. 
 
 Ashes. 
 No. of lbs. 
 
 Nitrogen. 
 No, of lbs. 
 
 Potash. 
 
 Phosphoric 
 Acid. 
 
 
 No. of lbs. 
 
 No. of lbs. 
 
 Lucerne 
 
 Red Clover 
 
 Sanfoin 
 
 9,702 
 8,953 
 5,952 
 
 8,498 
 7,026 
 4,925 
 
 1,204 
 1,927 
 1,027 
 
 137 
 193 
 124 
 
 37 
 
 82 
 48 
 
 40 
 75 
 30 
 
 In connection witli these trials it is proper to draw at- 
 tention to the disadvantages of climate for the growth of 
 many plants, from which the American farmer suffers more, 
 in comparison, than European agriculturists. The latter 
 also, in addition to their extensive cultivation of clovers, 
 roots and tubers, vetches and forage plants, possess the 
 great benefits arising from the natural and artificially irri- 
 gated meadows, which produce large crops without manure 
 and with very little labor. In the mountainous parts of 
 Europe agriculture could hardly exist without these mead- 
 ows, so important is their influence in increasing the pro- 
 
 [uctiveness of the land. 
 
 (69) 
 
TO THE NEW FARMER'S GUIDE. 
 
 There is an erroneous idea that irrigation has only a 
 moistening and dissolving effect — instead of this being the 
 case, all the water derived from cultivated soils liolds in a 
 soluble state all the ingredients necessary for vegetation, 
 and hence the productiveness of this meadow land, to which 
 I have referred, without the application of manure. 
 
 It will be observed that, in the above analysis, red clover 
 occupies the medium place in the beneficial influence which 
 its cultivation produces upon the soil. It is the only one 
 of the three that has at present been at all extensively cul- 
 tivated in America. Red clover cannot be too largely cul- 
 tivated by the American farmer, and it will always be found 
 of very great service in preparing the soil for other crops. 
 
 Lucerne is considered the best j^ant for soiling in Eu- 
 rope, and I recommend it as the best for introduction here. 
 It has not at present received any extensive notice ; but 
 there is no reason why it should not be used to a large ex- 
 tent. It needs a dry, rich land, as the quicker its growth 
 the better is its quality. 
 
 Sanfoin is the best feed for cows, improving the quality 
 and increasing the quantity of milk more than anything 
 else. It requires a dry soil, either drained, plowed in beds, 
 or a naturally dry land. Sanfoin does not require quite 
 such rich land as lucerne. 
 
 The cultivation of each of these should receive the care- 
 ful attention of all farmers' clubs, and it would be most 
 desirable that prizes should be offered for competition, so 
 that the best conditions for their growth might be definitely 
 ascertained, and their advantages become better known. 
 
 In consideration of the importance of irrigation, I would 
 also recommend that prizes should be offered, for general 
 competition, with a view of obtaining the best and cheapest 
 plans by which American farmers can be enabled to have 
 all the information on that subject at their disposal. 
 
GRASSES 
 
 I recommend for cultivation the quick-growing natural 
 grasses: (1) wild rice {siza?iia aqzmtica) ; (2) orchard-grass 
 {dactylis glomerata\ already grown extensively in the 
 Southern States with great success ; (3) tall oat-grass {ar- 
 rhenatherum avenaceum). Each of these are excellent hay 
 and pasture grasses, and even for green manuring. Their 
 yield is nearly double that of timothy and red-top grasses ; 
 and they are very early and late growing grasses. 
 
 I would particularly recommend the sowing of other 
 large-leafed and deep-rooted grasses, for the special purpose 
 of green manuring, as these can be raised on wet and poor 
 land, where clover would not succeed. This was the plan 
 advocated by Charles L. Flint, the well-known Secretary of 
 the Massachusetts State Board of Agriculture, in his work 
 on " Grasses and Forage Plants," published in 1859, and if 
 his advice had been more generally followed, beneficial re- 
 sults would have been seen therefrom. 
 
 On this point, as well as the cultivation of clovers and 
 irrigation, I would again suggest that prizes should be 
 offered by all farmers' clubs, so as to promote trials by- 
 farmers, and thus bring about a more general appreciation 
 of the importance of selecting the right kinds of grasses. 
 
 (71) 
 
POTATO TRIALS Y/ITH TURF AND INOR- 
 GANIC MATTER. ■ 
 
 Made hy Ph. Zoeller and Beichenbac\ and piMished in Henneberg^s 
 ^'Journal of Agriculture^^ for 1866. 
 
 These trials were made in wooden boxes, each one filled 
 with T20 litres of turf, equal to 760 quarts; and the turf 
 contained 5 in each box, 25 kilogrammes (equal tg 55 quarts) 
 of ashes. In 100 parts of dry turf there were contained : 
 
 BOX Nq. 1.— turf, with ASHES. 
 Potash. Soda. Lime. Magnesia. Phosph. Sulph, Chlorine. Silica. Nitrog. Amm. 
 0,110 0,023 1,108 0,095 0,220 0,121 0,039 2,245 2,460 0,183 
 
 BOX No. 2, IN ADDITION TO ABOVE: 
 
 BOX No. 3, IN ADDITION TO ABOVE; 
 0,110 0,044 0,068 0,093 0,098 
 
 At the end of September the tops began to dry ; the 
 crop was gathered the 3d of October, and the crop in each 
 box was as follows • 
 
 AIR-DRIED CROP. 
 
 No. 1. No. 2. No. 8. 
 
 Grammes. Grammes. Grammes. 
 
 Potatoes 2,520 3,062 '7,201 
 
 Tops 1,837 3,535 2,870 
 
 These crops, calculated on the surface of one quarter of 
 a hectare, equal to five-eighths of an acre, are as follows : 
 
 No. 1. No. 2. No. 3. 
 
 Pounds. Pounds. Pounds. 
 
 Potatoes 7,000 8,506 20,003 
 
 Tops 5,013 9,320 7,972 
 
THE NEW FARMER'S GUIDE. 73 
 
 These potatoes were all sound at the digging, but six 
 weeks after Nos. 1 and 2 began to rot, while ISTo. 3 remained 
 sound until spring time. 
 
 These experiments confirmed the belief which has been 
 advanced, that potash and the mineral salts not only pro- 
 duce a healthy crop, but by judicious application are capa- 
 ble of doubling or even trebling the crop, as Ko. 3 gave 530 
 bushels to the acre. 
 
 Potato Trials. 
 
 By T. H, Anderson^ published in the " JouiTud of the Highland Society^'' 
 
 in 1863. 
 
 Two kinds of potatoes — Dalmahoy and Regent — were 
 raised on a rich and heavy clay soil, and the conditions 
 under which the eight distinct trials were made were as 
 follows : 
 
 (a.) Dalmahoy: Trial No. 1 , without mauure ; No. 3, superphosphate of 
 lime, 5 cwt., and guano, 3 cwt. ; No. 5, farm-yard manure, 25 tons; No. 7, 
 farm yard manure, 35 tons. 
 
 (6.) Regents; Trial No. 2, without manure; No. 4, superphosphate of 
 lime, 5 cwt., and guano, 3 cwt.; No. 6, farm-yard manure, 25 tons; No. 8, 
 farm-yard manure, 35 tons. 
 
 At the gathering of the crops, October 21st, the average 
 weight of a single plant, in grains, was as follows : 
 
 DESCRIPTION OF POTATO. • 
 
 (a.) Dalmahoy. (&.) Regent. 
 
 13 5 7 2468 
 
 Grains. Grains. Grains. Grains. Grains. Grains. Grains. Grains, 
 
 Sound Potatoes. . 6,683 12,383 12,200 10,550 6,014 8,133 8,014 7,616 
 
 Sickly " .. 3,133 2,900 5,016 6,416 2,700 7,916 4,433 3,941 
 
 Tops .. 1,816 1,640 1,750 1,566 1,683 1,688 1,383 1,658 
 
 The i-esult of these experiments confirms the general 
 belief that no healthy crops of i)otatoes can be raised in 
 heavy, rich soils, no matter what manure may be applied 
 to the soil. 
 
TRIALS OB SUGAR-BEETS WITH TURF AND 
 FERTILIZERS. 
 
 Made dy Ph. Zoeller, and published in Henn^erg^s " Journal of Agri- 
 culture^' for 1866. 
 
 These trials were made. in wooden boxes, and powdered 
 turf was used as soil. The air-dried turf contained 20.83 
 per cent, of water, 7.60 of ashes, and 3.11 of nitrogen. 
 The ashes contained, in 100 parts: 
 
 Iron & Carb. 
 
 Potash. Soda. Lime. Magne. Phosph. Sulph. Chlor. Alumin. Silicon. Acid. Sand, &c. 
 0,924.1,928 31,470 2,660 0,960 0,058 0,000 13,250 7,910 0,000 38,242 
 
 There were six trial-boxes, and each box held 600 litres 
 of turf, equal to 632 quarts. 
 
 1^0. 1 contained only turf. 
 
 No. 2. The same turf, with 4,389 grammes of potash, 
 366 grammes of ammonia, and 246 grammes of phosphoric 
 acid. 
 
 ISTo. 3. The same turf, with 366 grammes of ammonia, 
 246 grammes of phosphoric acid. 
 
 No. 4. The same turf, with 366 grammes ammonia, 246 
 grammes of phosphoric acid, 438 grammes of potash, and 
 250 grammes of common salt. 
 
 No. 5. The same turf, with 438 grammes of potash and 
 phosphoric acid. 
 
 No. 6. The same turf, with 438 grammes of potash, 250 
 grammes of common salt, and 246 grammes of phosphoric 
 acid. 
 
 (74) 
 
THE NEW FARMER'S GUIDE. 
 
 Besides, there was added to each box (I^o. 1 excepted), 
 100 grammes of magnesia. As the ISTo. 2 was shaded by a 
 tree, it cannot well be compared with the others. In each 
 box there were nine beets grown, which gave, on the -ith 
 of l^ovember, the following results : 
 
 Air-dried Roots . . 
 " Leaves . 
 
 No. 1. 
 Gram. 
 1.552 
 2,717 
 
 No. 2.- 
 
 , Gram. 
 
 3,935 
 
 6,625 
 
 No. 3. 
 Gram. 
 3,322 
 7,583 
 
 No. 4. 
 Gram. 
 8,518 
 7,901 
 
 No. 5. 
 Gram. 
 7,691 
 5,706 
 
 No. 6. 
 Gram. 
 7,723 
 8,697 
 
 Percent, of Sugar 
 in the Roots. . 
 
 . 7.46 
 
 5.86 
 
 8.34 
 
 6.50 
 
 » 7.32 
 
 4.42 
 
 The results of the six boxes are calculated on the sur- 
 face of one quarter of a hectare to f of an acre : 
 
 No. 1. No. 2. No. 3. No 4 No. 5. No. 6. 
 
 Pounds. Pounds. Pounds. Pounds. Pounds. Pounds. 
 
 Roots 7,964 20,192 17,047 43,695 39,466 39,610 
 
 Leaves 13,942 33,996 38,912 40,544 29,280 44,629 
 
 The general conclusion to be drawn from these trials is, 
 that ammonia and chlorine develop the blade more than 
 the roots. 
 
 Potash is needed for tlie production of nearly every crop, 
 but particularly for potatoes and sugar-beets. In the case 
 of potatoes, it develops the starch, and improves both quan- 
 tity and quality; while, in sugar-beets, it increases the per- 
 centage of saccharine matter. Farm-yard manure is dam- 
 aging for both of these ; it will injure the taste of potatoes 
 and produce rot, and if used with sngar-beets, the quality 
 will deteriorate, in consequence of foreign matters destruc- 
 tive of the saccharine qualities being thereby introduced. 
 
 Large potatoes should always be selected for the pur- 
 poses of seed ; cut the tops (not too thin) between the fail 
 and spring, and keep dry until planting time. 
 
 It is proved that nearly all seeds are the best and 
 soundest when they contain the largest quantity of inor- 
 ganic matters. 
 
METHOD FOR DETERimiKG THE QUANTITY 
 OF STARCH IN POTATOES, 
 
 As practiced by the Starch Manufacturers in Germany. . 
 
 The process is as follows : . 
 
 Take seven large glasses, and put in each one half a 
 pound of water, then add to the first glass 480 grains of 
 well-roasted common salt ; to- second glass, 540 grains ; to 
 third, 600 grains ; to fourth, 660 grains ; to fifth, 720 grains ; 
 to sixth, 780 grains ; and to seventh, 840 grains. If the 
 salt is all dissolved, then put the potato that is to be tried 
 in No. 7 ; if it swims, put it into No. 6, and so on, until the 
 glass is found where it sinks, and the water is, therefore, 
 lighter than the potato. Note the. number, and then con- 
 tinue trying six to eight of the same kind of potatoes, mark- 
 ing the number of each yjotato, and the glass in which it 
 sinks. Then add all these numbers together, and the aver- 
 age, or mean, will indicate the approximate Quantity of 
 starch contained in any khid of potato tried, as is shown by 
 the annexed table : 
 
 Salt Solutions. 
 No. 1. 
 " 2. 
 " 3. 
 " 4. 
 " 5. 
 
 Quantity of Salt 
 
 Approximate 
 
 in half pound of AVater. 
 
 per cent, of Starch, 
 
 480 grains. 
 
 15 
 
 540 
 
 17 
 
 600 
 
 19 
 
 660 " - 
 
 21 
 
 720 
 
 22i 
 
 780 " 
 
 24 
 
 840 
 
 26 
 
 C^e) 
 
THE NEW FARMER'S GUIDK 77 
 
 If the potato swims in No. 1, then it has less than 15 
 per cent, of starch ; and if it sinks in 'No. T, then it has 
 more than 26 per cent. Though these trials give onlj ap- 
 proximate results, it is proved that different sorts of pota- 
 toes may vary between 14 and 27 per cent, in starch. The 
 fact that any body can at any time make these experiments, 
 is of the greatest importance for farmers, starch manufac- 
 turers and dealers to know, as the percentage of starch in a 
 potato determines its quality. 
 
ADDRESS 
 
 or 
 
 BARON JUSTUS VON LIEBIG 
 
 TO THK 
 
 ACADEilT OP SCIENCES AT MUNICH. 
 
 During last year, experiments relative to the establish- 
 ment of laws on the nutrition of plants have been pursued 
 by the Institute of Physiology of Plants, under direction of 
 Professor Nsegali and Dr. Zoeller. Their experiments were 
 made upon the potato, as the plant most important for food 
 after the cereals (corn). Three fields were prepared for ex- 
 perimenting on ; the first composed of mold (pulverized 
 peat) from the turf-beds of Kolb ; the second, of the same 
 soil, mixed with ammoniacal salts, as the principal agent in 
 animal manure; and the third, of the same mold, to which 
 was added the fixed elements constituting the ashes of the 
 potato. An equal number of tubers of the same kind were 
 planted in each field. 
 
 Without detailing the various stages of development, I 
 will confine myself to calling attention to the diiferences 
 between the crops. That from the land manured with the 
 ammoniacal salts was 20 per cent, larger than that of the 
 field 'No. 1, which had received no addition ; but that of the 
 third field (which had the manure of phosphate of lime and 
 of potash) was nearly triple. The proportion of the three 
 crops ran thus: 100, 120 and 285. The quantity of pota- 
 toes gathered on field Ko. 3, to which had been furnished 
 
 (IS) 
 
THE NEW FARMER'S GUIDE, 79 
 
 the elements composing the ashes of the plant, was 282 
 hundred-weight to each workman — nearly double -the crop 
 given by the best arable land. 
 
 The results, so very different, of the three experiments 
 can only be attributed to the different composition of the 
 land of the three fields, all other conditions being identically 
 alike. In tlie two first, a number of circumstances were to 
 produce in the subterranean organs as many organic sub- 
 stances (or tubercles) as in the third ; or rather, which is the 
 same, to take from the air a sum equal to their constituent 
 elements. 
 
 These indications, although important enough in them- 
 selves, are, nevertheless, not the most remarkable results of 
 the experiments ; for here is the precious information they 
 give us: All the potatoes gathered from the two fields 
 which, by the composition of their soil, presented the ele- 
 ments necessary for the development of the plants only in 
 insufficient quantity, or in false proportions, were the prey 
 of disease. From the straws, which became black, decom- 
 position spread, and at the end of a few weeks had thor- 
 oughly gone through the interior. In opposition, the pota- 
 toes in the third field, manured with the fixed elements of 
 the plants, are now (Dec. 1st, 1865) perfectly sound : in 
 not one is seen traces of the ravages commonly attributed 
 to the oidium. Hence, from these observations, we see that, 
 undoubtedly, the conditions favorable to the normal devel- 
 opment of plants are those which prevent disease, and that, 
 in consequence, the first cause of the disastrous epidemic 
 should be sought in the land. If the land present in suffi- 
 cient quantity the elements indispensable to organic life, or 
 the growth of the plant, the latter receives the power of op- 
 posing resistance great enough to paralyze completely all 
 hurtful influences which can affect it from outside. 
 
WHEAT TRIALS 
 
 By Messrs. Lawes and Gilbert, in England, between the 
 years 1845 and 1854, showing the Average Crop per 
 acre from Unmanured Land, with the use of Am- 
 monia Salts alone^ and of Mineral Manure combined 
 with Ammonia Salts. These trials were continued for 
 twenty consecutive years 071 the same field, the results 
 being always about the sar)ie. 
 
 AVERAGE CROP PER ACRE. 
 
 
 
 Use of Mineral Manure 
 
 lanured Land. 
 
 Use of Ammonia Salts alone. 
 
 with Ammonia Salts. 
 
 Pounds. 
 
 Pounds. 
 
 Pounds. 
 
 2,856 
 
 4,808 
 
 5,564 
 
EFFECT OF VARIOUS KINDS OF MANURE 
 ON OATS AND BARLEY. 
 
 Table showing the comparative quantity of starch and 
 albumen contained in 100 pounds of oats, barley and wheat 
 grown on the same kind of soil, but with different kinds of 
 manure — -an equal quantity of manure for each kind of 
 grain : 
 
 f 
 
 BARLEY. 
 
 OATS. 
 
 WHEAT. 
 
 DESCRIPTION OF 
 MANURE. 
 
 Percentage of 
 Starch. Albumen. 
 
 Percentage of 
 
 Percentage of 
 
 
 Starch. 
 
 Albumen. 
 
 Starch. 
 
 Albumen. 
 
 Blood 
 
 66^ 
 
 66 
 
 66i 
 
 66 
 
 69 
 
 69 
 
 69i 
 
 6i 
 61 
 H 
 
 H 
 
 3 
 3 
 
 60 
 
 60 
 
 61 
 
 61i 
 
 62 
 
 66^- 
 
 664^ 
 
 5 
 
 H 
 
 41 
 
 42 
 62 
 
 62 
 G6 
 
 54 
 
 Poudrette 
 
 
 Sheep Manure 
 
 Horse " 
 
 Cattle " 
 
 Green " 
 
 Without " 
 
 33 
 14 
 12 
 10 
 
 This table shows that very rich nitrogenized manures 
 have little beneficial influence on the grain of oats and 
 barley ; and therefore it was an error on the part of Mr. 
 Yille to recommend such a free application of nitrogen in 
 the cultivation of those crops. 
 
 (81) 
 
MISCELLANEOUS TOPICS. 
 
 Plow and Ca^rt-horses. 
 
 A question which must yet receive careful attention on 
 the part of American agriculturists is, as to the best method 
 of procuring and retaining a class of useful, solid plow and 
 cart-horses. The mere importation of a good race of horseP 
 is not sufficient, unless the type shall be kept pure. In 
 Europe the same difficulty has liad to be met ; and it has 
 been proved by the experience of the past that the charac- 
 ter of horses soon deteriorates if mixed with a breed of a 
 different class. What is greatly needed here is to obtain a 
 class of agricultural horses fitted to the country and to the 
 especial work for which they are intended, and then let the 
 race be kept pure and distinct, introducing, when necessary, 
 oriental horses for giving more vigor and improving the 
 type. I would advise, also, as likely to prove advantage- 
 ous, the production of a. class of larger mules. 
 
 LrvE-sTOCK, Feeding, Buttek and Cheese Factokies, &g. 
 
 My advice to Western farmers is, to keep an improved 
 class of live-stock, and to use all their corn for the purposes 
 of feeding, as this will, in the end, be found more profitable, 
 and a large quantity of manure will thus be produced. 
 
 Farmers should also combine for the purpose of estab- 
 lishing butter and cheese factories, slaughter and smoke- 
 
 (82) 
 
THE NEW FARMER'S GL'IDE. 83 
 
 houses ; if they do this, I believe they will have the advan- 
 tage over all the farmers of the world. 
 
 Canals foe Irrigation and Transportation. 
 
 In another part of this work, I have suggested a method 
 by which farmers who cannot afford the expense of carry- 
 ing out a system of drainage or irrigation, may promote 
 the fertility of their land by plowing in beds; yet I 
 cannot too strongly enforce the need for irrigation and that 
 the making of canals be more generally attended to. It is 
 only by these means that much of the land can be continued 
 fertile ; and the canals made for the purpose of irrigation 
 may afford the means of transportation, as well as refresh- 
 ing the land during the summer months. This is what 
 England is doing on a very extensive scale in her Indian 
 possessions ; and the same idea has commended itself to the 
 large bodies of practical agriculturists assembled in the 
 various Granges recently formed in this country, by whom 
 the question of transportation has been discussed with a 
 view to the discovery of the most practical method of sur- 
 mounting the difficulties in the way of successful farming 
 in the Western States. • 
 
 All Seeds fob Planting should be Imported Free of 
 
 Duty. 
 
 In Russia a special arrangement is made, under govern- 
 ment authority and superintendence, for the production of 
 flaxseed exclusively for seeding. It is grown under the most 
 favorable conditions possible, and is raised for the express 
 purpose of exportation. Before leaving the exporters' hands 
 it is packed and officially stamped. The quality is so re- 
 markably good that it produces double the crop of fibre and 
 
84 THE NEW FARMER'S GUIDE. 
 
 seed as compared with other kinds of seed, and at the same 
 time a crop of superior quality to any other. 
 
 The diflSculty in the way of this seed being used in 
 America is, that it is very high in price, by reason of the 
 amount of import duty which has to be paid. There ought 
 not to be any duty for the importation of seeds intended 
 solely for the purposes of planting ; but the actual fact is, 
 they have to pay higher duty than any other descriptions 
 of seed — ^just contrary to the practice in the leading Euro- 
 pean countries. 
 
CONCLUSION, 
 
 I would draw special attention to a few of the leading 
 points presented in the foregoing pages, mj desire being to 
 make the hints I have given as practical and useful as pos- 
 sible to American farmers. 
 
 Agreeing, in the main, with the lecture of Mr. Yille, I 
 cannot omit to mention that, in my view, some of the opin- 
 ions advanced by that gentleman are too extreme and 
 sweeping. 
 
 In contrasting the influence of farm-yard manure 
 with chemical fertilizers, for instance, his estimate of 
 the value of the former is not fair or just, as sufficient im- 
 portance is not attached to the four inorganic matters found 
 therein. 
 
 His statement that the worst soils possess secondary 
 minerals in abundance is wide of the truth, as that is 
 not the case ; and in one instance the experiments on whict^ 
 his argument is based are contradictory, it being proved in 
 one experiment that the plant did not die wlien there was 
 no phosphate, while in another place he affirms that it did. 
 
 Still, taken as a whole, the lecture is an im.portantaid to 
 the discussion of the question at issue, even though the 
 opinions advanced in favor of the excellences of artificial 
 manures are a little inclined to be extreme. 
 
 The first principle needed to be understood, in order to 
 successful farming, is as to the nature and qualities required 
 to make a soil productive ; and the analysis of three kinds 
 of land will throw light upon that point, showing, as it does, 
 that the presence of a great quantity of inorganic matters 
 
 8 (So) 
 
86 THE NEW FARMER'S GUIDE. 
 
 of every kind is absolutely necessary to render a soil thor^ 
 ouglily fertile and productive. 
 
 The theory of M. Deherain, as to absorption of atmos- 
 pheric nitrogen by vegetation, I hold to be correct. The 
 question as to the proportionate quantity of nitrogen drawn 
 by plants direct from the air had certainly never been set- 
 tled by the experiments of Boussingault, Laws and Gilbert, 
 or the writings of Jeaunel, Thenard, and others ; but M. 
 Deherain's experiment is very clear, and his theory may, 
 perhaps, be considered almost conclusive. 
 
 The investigations by Mr. Nicholls in East India, and 
 
 the experiments of M. Bartholomy, as to the passage of 
 
 gases through the vegetable colloidal membrane, are valu-. 
 
 able, as furnishing confirmatory evidence as to the correct- 
 
 • ness of M. Deherain's theories. 
 
 Among agriculturists there has always been a wide dif- 
 ference of opinion upon this important subject — the action 
 of the air in the nitrification of the soil ; and I have, there- 
 fore, thought it advisable to bring together in this work 
 the thoughts and arguments of several eminent men, with 
 a view of elucidating the whole question, and showing the 
 present position of the discussion as plainly and clearly as 
 possible. 
 
 The analytical tables of Dr. Emile Wolf are, probably, 
 the most complete and authentic of any analyses ever pub- 
 lished on the particular question to which they refer, 
 namely, the percentage of ashes found in the principal agri- 
 cultural crops, and the efiects produced by alkalies upon 
 the other inorganic matters ; the latter being given with a 
 view of proving that potash, lime, phosphorus and nitrogen 
 are the four dominating ingredients, upon whose presence 
 in the soil depends, in a great measure, the value of the 
 crops produced. 
 
THE NEW FARMER'S GUIDE. 8< 
 
 The analysis bj Count Yon Lippc-Weihenfeld, showing 
 tlie four dominating ingredients in an average crop of the 
 leadiug agricultural products of Germany, confirms the cor- 
 rectness of the calculations of Dr. Wolf, and also of the 
 opinions to which I have given prominence. 
 
 I wish to draw marked attention to the importance of 
 using a greater quantity of nitrates in farming operations 
 in this country. More lime and alkalies should be em- 
 ployed, as nitrifiers, in conjunction v^ith organic matters in 
 the shape of green manures ; in that way obtaining, to the 
 greatest extent possible, the beneficial efifects which follow 
 the natural nitrification of the soil in hot climates. To this 
 end, I have very earnestly recommended to farmers to adopt 
 the cultivation of lucerne, sanfoin and red clover, and also 
 the large-leafed, deep-rooted natural grasses. 
 
 In the latter part of this work I have given details of 
 various trials made by eminent agriculturists, for the double 
 purpose of disseminating valuable information on practical 
 questions interesting to all agriculturists, and also with a 
 view of inciting American farmers to make experiments of 
 a similar nature themselves. 
 
FRENCH KILOGRAMMES 
 
 REDUCED TO UNITED STATES POUNDS. 
 
 1 
 
 0, 8. P. 
 
 F. K. 
 
 V. s. p. 
 
 F. K. 
 
 c. s. p. 
 
 7. K. 
 
 u. s. r. 
 
 F. K. 
 
 U. 3. P. 
 
 2.21 
 
 20 
 
 44.20 
 
 300 
 
 663 
 
 3000 
 
 6630 
 
 80000 
 
 66300 
 
 2 i 4.42 
 
 30 
 
 66.30 
 
 400 
 
 884 
 
 4000 
 
 8840 
 
 40000 
 
 88400 
 
 S i 6.63 
 
 40 
 
 88.40 
 
 500 
 
 1105 
 
 5000 
 
 11050 
 
 50000 
 
 110500 
 
 4 
 
 8.84 
 
 60 
 
 110.50 
 
 600 
 
 1326 
 
 6000 
 
 13260 
 
 60000 
 
 132600 
 
 5 
 
 11.05 
 
 60 
 
 132.60 
 
 700 
 
 1547 
 
 7000 
 
 15470 
 
 70000 
 
 154700 
 
 6 
 
 13.26 
 
 70 
 
 154.70 
 
 800 
 
 1768 
 
 8000 
 
 176S0 
 
 80000 ■ 
 
 176800 
 
 V 
 
 15.47 
 
 80 
 
 176.80 
 
 900 
 
 1989 
 
 9000 
 
 19890 
 
 90000 
 
 198900 
 
 8 
 
 17.68 
 
 90 
 
 198.90 
 
 1000 
 
 2210 
 
 10000 
 
 22100 
 
 100000 
 
 221000 
 
 9 
 
 19.89 
 
 100 
 
 221.00 
 
 1100 
 
 2431 
 
 11000 
 
 24310 
 
 110000 
 
 243100 
 
 10 
 
 22.10 
 
 110 
 
 243.10 
 
 1200 
 
 2652 
 
 12000 
 
 26520 
 
 120000 
 
 265200 
 
 11 
 
 24.31 
 
 120 
 
 265 . 20 
 
 1300 
 
 2873 
 
 13000 
 
 28730 
 
 130000 
 
 287300 
 
 12 
 
 26.52 
 
 130 
 
 287.30 
 
 1400 
 
 3094 
 
 14000 
 
 30940 
 
 140000 
 
 309400 
 
 13 
 
 28.73 
 
 140 
 
 309.40 
 
 1500 
 
 3315 
 
 15000 
 
 33150 
 
 150000 
 
 3ol50() 
 
 14 
 
 30.94 
 
 150 
 
 331.50 
 
 1600 
 
 3536 
 
 16000 
 
 35360 
 
 160000 
 
 353600 
 
 15 
 
 33.15 
 
 160 
 
 353.60 
 
 1700 
 
 3757 
 
 17000 
 
 87570 
 
 170000 
 
 375700 
 
 16 
 
 85.36 
 
 170 
 
 375.70 
 
 1800 
 
 8978 
 
 18000 
 
 89780 
 
 180000 
 
 397800 
 
 17- 
 
 37.57 
 
 180 
 
 397.80 
 
 1900 
 
 4199 
 
 19000 
 
 41990 
 
 190000 
 
 419900 
 
 18 
 
 89.78 
 
 190 
 
 419.90 
 
 2000 
 
 4420 
 
 20000 
 
 44200 
 
 200000 
 
 442000 
 
 19 
 
 41.99 
 
 200 
 
 442.00 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 HECTARE, EQUAL TO 2>^ ACRES; HECTOLITRE, EQUAL TO 2 84-100 BUSHELS. 
 
 (88) 
 
RECAPITULATION. 
 
 (1.) It is to-day an established fact that nitrogen, pot- 
 ash, phosphor, and lime, are the four principal ingredients in 
 vegetable life ; and farmers should therefore be induced, by 
 all possible means, to produce, naturally and artificially, 
 such articles themselves, so far as practicable. 
 
 (2.) That, in Europe, the limestone rubbish of old build- 
 ings was lixiviated for the nitrate of potash. 
 
 (3.) That clay, holding from two to four per cent, of 
 potash, was mixed with lime, animal and organic matters, 
 as an artificial nitre bed, for the lixiviation of nitrates of 
 potash. 
 
 (4.) That a well-mixed compost heap is but an artificial 
 nitre bed. 
 
 (5.) That Professor Grandeau, of ]N"ancy, France, proved 
 by dissolving, that soils rich in inorganic matters were not 
 productive, except by copious manuring ; but that other 
 soils not richer in inorganic matters, were productive with- 
 out manuring ; the real cause of this being proved to be that 
 tbe first mentioned soils holding no organic matter, their 
 inorganic matters were in a state of insolubility, whereas 
 the latter soil, holding a great quantity of organic matters, 
 their inorganic matters were more or less soluble. 
 
 (89) 
 
90 THE NEYf FARMER'S GUIDE. 
 
 (6.) That Boussingault proved that permanently wet 
 land cannot nitrify ; that dry air and a dry soil are very 
 slow in coming under nitrifying conditions ; but that the 
 best results of nitrification have been a moistening and 
 drying process of the soil, and that he used only lime, magne- 
 sia, and a little potash as a nitrifier in his nitrifying trials. 
 
 (7.) That Jeaunel proved that soils containing humus 
 and lime produce either nitric or nitrous acid, and that by 
 the moistening and drying of the soil the most nitrates are 
 formed. 
 
 (8.) That E. Nicholls, as an analytical chemist in East 
 India, shows how easily the nitrates are formed in the black, 
 humic soil of that hot country ; also how the different 
 kinds of acids act and react on each other as dissolvents ; 
 thereby Mr. Mcholls shows the absence of nitrates of soda 
 and potash, and that all nitrates at that place were deli- 
 quescent nitrates of lime and magnesia, and very easily- 
 lost by rain (see page 39). 
 
 (9.) That in the analysis of Sprengel and Mulder, is it 
 not clearly shown that the large amount of organic matter 
 and acid carbonic produced the great amount of soluble 
 inorcranic matter in the lower fertile soils ? 
 
 (10.) That on the mediocre quality of soil on the conti- 
 nent of Europe, where the three and four years' rotation 
 plan is yet in operation, the fallow land- is all plowed in 
 spring ; then the manure is spread broadcast over the soil, 
 then turned by the plow and the harrow during the summer ; 
 and so the farmers, witnessing the good effects of such a 
 process, without understanding the dissolving and nitrifying 
 chemical process of the soil. The proof that such soils have 
 not deteriorated is, that potatoes are always planted the 
 second year after the manuring, as a general rule ; and if the 
 
THE NEW FARMER'S GUIDE. 91 
 
 # 
 
 average crop of an acre is under SOObnsliels of good, sound 
 potatoes in a good soil, then that year is considered as a 
 bad potato season. 
 
 (11.) That, fifty or sixty years ago, on the continent of 
 Europe, the black hutnus-holding soils, with impervious 
 subsoils, were considered as of little value, as they pro- 
 duced only a bad crop of oats ; but after a perfect super- 
 ficial dra,inage, in plowing the laud in beds, vrith copious 
 application of lime and manure, they were made to pro- 
 duce the heaviest crops in such land. Therefore, the fact 
 that nearly all the plowed land of the continent of Europe 
 is superficially drained in beds, and also that only a small 
 percentage of subsoil drainage is yet executed, proves the 
 satisfactory effects of superficial drainage during centuries, 
 and the advocates of superficial drainage claim : 
 
 1st. That the work can be done by the farmer himself, 
 without any expense ; 
 
 2d. That it can be changed at any time ; 
 
 8d. That the beds shed the rain water on both sides, 
 without soaking the soil of the soluble matters, and 
 particularly in mellow soils ; 
 
 4th. That in all clay land, particularly if flat, the soils in 
 beds are less tenacious and lose less of soluble mat- 
 ters than flat plowed ; 
 
 5th. The great cost of a subsoil drainage, and the loss if 
 not well executed. 
 
 (12.) That J. Yille ignored purposely the fermenting and 
 the nitrifying quality of the stable manure in the soil, in 
 recommending the use of chemical fertilizers exclusively, 
 and the reduction and the fixation of the nitrogenized 
 matters in his mixtures of the chemical manures (by the 
 
92 THE NEW FARMER'S GUIDE. 
 
 action of the sulphuric acid in the plaster) was clone under 
 the pretence for the supposed greater solubility of the lime 
 in the plaster ; but the sulphate of lime or plaster is not so 
 valuable, on account of his 32 per cent, of lime, as for his 
 46 per cent, of sulphuric acid, as a fixing medium of nitro- 
 gen and ammonia, and it cannot be used too copiously by 
 farmers in manures and in the stable to prevent any loss of 
 ammonia. 
 
 (13.) That the richest natural and artificial nitre beds 
 are those holding the greatest amount of inorganic and 
 organic matters in a decomposed state ; but that subsoils, 
 rich in insoluble inorganic matters, were unproductive till 
 a copious broadcast of stable manuring had taken place ; 
 that in mixing clay, lime, organic or animal matters to- 
 gether, inorganic matters get soluble, and nitrates are 
 formed ; that in a compost lieap the same thing takes place, 
 and therefore, in a well-manured and cultivated soil, of 
 necessity the same takes place. 
 
 In consideration of all this, is it a wonder that such a 
 great quantity of American soil has been exhausted ? But 
 a partially plowed, overcropped, and never manured soil 
 may not, in my opinion, be exhausted, but is only starved 
 out of its soluble inorganic matters, for the want of a dis- 
 solving power being applied to it in time to prevent all 
 this. Money and time expended upon such soil would 
 have the effect of restoring it to its primitive fertility. 
 Therefore, I advise that you do not compost your manure 
 with soil, but compost all your plowed land with your 
 manure — with green manure, and with lime — to convert it 
 all into an '^artificial nitre bed," as Boussingault calls *it. 
 As the natural production of your stable manure will not 
 be sufficient, use fertilizers in the beginning, till you have 
 
THE NEW FARMER'S GUIDE. 93 
 
 doubled or trebled your crops, and you will thus show that 
 farming pays, because the cost of producing a minimum 
 crop is about the same as the cost of a maximum crop. 
 
 Many people speak of inorganic matter, or of the great 
 amount of nitrogen in the air, as if those ingredients could 
 be eaten by the plants with spoons. Carbonate of lime 
 and magnesia are not only valuable plant food, and, as de- 
 composers of organic, and inorganic matter ; but they are 
 as great nitrifiers as the alkalies, though their nitrates are of a 
 more deliquescent nature. Neither lime nor alkalies should, 
 however, be used in a caustic state to any manure or com- 
 position of manures where actual ammt)nia or nitrates are 
 present, because there would be loss of ammonia and nitro- 
 gen ; and as for lime in the soil requiring a great deal of 
 water and time for its dissolving action and reaction on the 
 soil, the fact is that lime should never be applied imme- 
 diately to plowed land, that has to be seeded immediately. 
 
 It is only by closely studying nature's laws that any one 
 can succeed in discovering their secrets. 
 
 After great consideration of the controversy as to the 
 proper estimated value of the different kinds of guano, as 
 shown by various analyses, my conclusion is that the Peru- 
 vian guano has proved always the best — it is the highest in 
 value, especially if it be obtained from the first hands. For 
 a reliable estimate of the value of Peruvian guano, the 
 reader is referred to the analytical table of Count Yon 
 Lippe-Wiehenfeld, given on page 61. 
 
. H. J. BAKER & BRO., 
 
 H.J. BAKEK, ) 215 Pearl St., NEW YOMK, 
 
 C. BAKER, Jr., V ^ 7 
 
 F. WILEi'. IMPORTERS AND DEALEUS IN 
 
 STRIOTX.Y FIRST Q,XJALirY 
 
 FERTILIZERS. 
 
 We Compound Special Fertilisers for Particular Grops^ 
 GEORGE B. FORRESTER, Manager of this Department. 
 
 ENGLISH SULPHATE OF ArvIMONIA, in casks. 
 
 SUPER-PHOSPHATE OF LIME, high grade, in barrels. 
 
 GERMAN POTASH SALTS, German test 35 per cent. Sulphate of 
 Potash, in bags. 
 
 40 per cent. ACTUAL POTASH, in casks or barrels. 
 
 MURIATE OF POTASH, or CHLORIDE OF POTASSIUM, in bags, 
 not below 80 per cent. 
 
 NITRATE OF POTASH, in barrels, either Crude or Refined. 
 
 STRICTLY PURE GROUND BONE, in barrels. (Purity guaranteed.) 
 
 SULPHATE OF SODA, ground, in barrels. 
 
 NITRATE OF SODA, in original bags, as imported. 
 
 AGRICULTURAL SALT. 
 
 SALT CAKE, in bulk. 
 
 NITRE CAKE, in bulk. 
 
 LAND PLASTER, in barrels. 
 
 SULPHATE OF MAGNESIA. 
 
 ORGANIC NITROGENOUS MATTER, 
 
 PERUVIAN GUANO purchased on commission. 
 
 POTATO FERTILISER, prepared expressly for the Potato Crop, 
 under the formula of Geo. B. Forrester. This article is put 
 up in barrels. 
 
 COTTON FERTILIZER, in barrels, under formula of Geo. B. For- 
 rester. 
 
 WINTER WHEAT FERTILIZER, in barrels, under formula of Geo. 
 B. Forrester. 
 
 Our SPECIAL FERTILIZERS for particular crops have given excel- 
 lent satisfaction. 
 
 We sell only prime goods. 
 
 H. J. BAKER & BRO., 2 I 5 Pearl St., NEW YORK. 
 
PURE BONE DUST, 
 
 FOR FERTILIZING. 
 For Sale by Peter Cooper's Glue Factory, 
 
 No. 17 BUI\LING SLIP, 
 New York City. 
 
 W. M. HABIRSHAW, F. C. S., 
 
 CHEMICAL ENGINEER 
 
 AND 
 
 ANALYTICAL CHEMIST, 
 
 J^o. 86 J\rEW STREET, 
 
 New York City. 
 
GENUINE 
 
 PEETJYIAI &UA10. 
 
 New York, SEPTjaMBER Ist, 1874. 
 
 I have the pleasure to inform the agricultural commuuity that the special 
 agency established for the sale of Genuine Peruvian Guano, in small or large 
 lots, at the same price at which it may be sold by Messrs. Hobsox, Hurtaix) 
 <fe Co., the sole agents of the Peruvian Government in this country, has met 
 with great success so far. 
 
 Verbal reports and numerous letters, received daily at this Agency, sub- 
 ject to the perusal of those interested, express entire satisfaction with the 
 Guano sold by me last spring. Farmers and country dealers are finding out 
 that the Guano imported now is as good as it was until adulterated by un- 
 scrupulous jobbers ia such a manner that many consumers were obliged to 
 abandon its use. As, however, the knowledge of this Agency has spread, 
 they are availing themselves of this opportunity to obtain again the genuine 
 article. 
 
 By instructions of the Peruvian Government, their Agents here have ad- 
 vanced the price of Guanape Guano from this date to sixty-two dollars and 
 fifty cents ($62 50), gold, per ton of 2240 lbs., gross, establishing at the same 
 time a new scale of discounts, the lowest being of 50c. on parcels from 50 to 
 100 tons, and the highest $4 00 on 500 tons and over. As usual, they will 
 not sell in lots of less than ten tons. 
 
 Under this new arrangement I am enabled to fill 
 orders for lots of Ten Tons and upwards, at less price 
 than the Agents of the Peruvian Government^ I will, 
 as heretofore, supply quantities under Ten Tons at the 
 same rate as cliarged by them. 
 
 Full particulars given in circular mailed free on application. 
 
 R. BALCAZAR, 
 
 p o. Box 129 No. 53 Beaver St-i New York. 
 
 REFERENCES BY PERMISSION 
 Messrs. Hobson, Hurtado & Co., Financial Agents of the Peruvian Govern- 
 ment, 52 Wall Street, New York. 
 MosKS Taylor, Pres. National City Bank, 52 Wall Street, New York. 
 J. C. Teact, Esq., Peruvian Consul, 264- Broadway, New York. ^ 
 
A BOOK OF INSTRUCTION FOR EVERY FARMER 
 AND HORTICULTURIST. 
 
 THE NEW FARMER'S GUIDE 
 
 SHOWIKG BV 
 
 EXPERIMENTS OF THE TRIAL FARMS IN EUROPE, 
 
 THAT -WITn A JUDICIOUS APPLICATION OF 
 
 CHEMICAL FERTILIZERS, 
 
 THE YIELD OF THE PRINCIPAL AGRICULTURAL CROPS MAY 
 BE DOUBLED OR TREBLED ; 
 
 ALSO GIVING 
 
 SIMPLE AND EASY METHODS 
 
 FOR THE 
 
 NITRIFICATION OF THE SOIL. 
 
 MATHIAS SCHROEDER . 
 
 NEW York: 
 
 BAKER <t GODWIN, PRINTERS, 
 No. 25 Pakk Row. 
 
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