Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1840-11-27
From the Mark Lane Express.
PRACTICAL IMPROVEMENTS IN
AGRICULTURE

SrR,-Onc of the most important subjects
for the attention of the practical agricuturist
is the nature of manurCs, the manner IN
which they act, and the best mode OF their
application. 1t has long been known that
certain substances blended with the soil have
the effect of accclcrating the growth of vcgc-
tables and increasing the crop but tic man
ncr of bringing them into action, and of
adapting them to the nature of the soil to be
improved, has long been "A subject of discus-
sion. Chemistry, and more particularly that
branch of it which shows the nature and COM
position of soils, will assist in this research,
nasmuch as it should be the study Of the
farmer to correct the defects and supply the
DEFICIENCIES Of the land on which his efforts
are applied.
Plants, not possessing the powers of loco
notion, can only thrive in those spots contain
ing the juices necessary for their support and
as the organs through which they derive what
may he called their food are extremely small,
it follows that every matter to be introduced
into them must be in state of solution. Fer
mcntation is not necessary to prepare the
food Of plants, although solutions intended
to nourisIi them must not be too concentra-
ted, or the vegetable organs will become
cloggcd, and the Transportation by the leaves
prevented, The great object in the appi-
cation of manure should therefore be to afford
as much soluble matter as possible to the
roots ofthc plant so gradually as to ensure
its being taken up and consumed in forming
its sap and solid parts All vegetable ma
nurcs contain large quantity of GbrouS and
insoublc matter, which must undergo certain
chemical changes before they can be made
thus available. Animal matters dccom-
pose more readily, and are sooner pre-
pared for use. The principal substances,
either constituting the bodies of animals, or
found in their blood or cxcremcn,s, are &C.
latino, iibrinc, mucus, fatty or oily matter,
albumcn, urea, uric acid, saline, and earth
~ matters. All these substances may be
f used for manure, and require more or less
soluble in water; those that are easily disol-
we'd should not be exposed to fermentation or
putrctactlon, ana those processes are only
useful when the manure consist principally OF
animal or vegetable fibre. Grlatine, when
combined with water, becomes Jelly, and i,
| easily soluble. Fibrine is not soluble in wa
ter, but by the action of acids it become.
analogous to gelatinc putrelaCtion with heat
and exposure to the air, Will reduce it from
"A solid to a liquid, and a considerable guam
ti,y of ammoniaaud carbonic acid is formed
Mucus is easily soluble in water. ANNA
! fat and oils and albumcn are also soluble
, Urea is very much so, and readily under.
goes putrctaction. Uric acid consists of car.
- bon, hydrogen, oxygen, and ahoti and j.
! least liable TO undergo the process of fermen
= taton. according to the different proper
tons of these principles in animal substances
the changes they undergo arc dillercnt-th'
I progress of their decomposition is less rapic
! when mixed with saline or earthly matter THAI
= when they are principally composed of fl
brine, albumcn, gclatine, or urea. Ammo
MIA, is given off by animal compounds lurn'
their putrclacton, and is formed by hydro
d gen and azol; the other products are simi!a
to those afforded by the fermentation OF We
i gctahe substances, and the soluble substan
ccs formed abound in carbon, hydrogen, anc
> oxygen, which may be called tie constituent
> parts of vegetables.
! The ferlilizing power ofal these substan
, ccs, when properly applied isyery great, bu
/ it often happens that they are wasted by bcin.
+ allowcdto remain exposed to the air, till they
= are either dcstroye ed by birds of prey or de
omposed.-Thcir use, indeed is not com
, mon except IN certain cases, which shall
: afterwards point out,
l am, sir, yours very ohedientlv,
\NE0N OF KENT