Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, W.T. [i.e. Wis.]) 1843-1844, 1843-05-13
a0rtculturdl.
CROPS WITHOUT MANURE.

ChOGO WllftOUl MAN u IL II.
As the season for planting aud digging ia
now approaching, L. g. as the regular Time fol
such things is now at hand, though We DOM
see any likelihood of practical operations com.
nencing very speedily, il may not be amiss TO
such ofour readers as cultivate ten feet square
and upwards, to inform them that a German. a
Mr. Bickes, has discovered process by which
no raises the very finest crops on poor, shelly
soils. The mode OF operation is a profound
secret, but the truth of the fact is very strong.
ly attesied. The argument of tho most scien.
tfc Of modern writers upon the subject is, that
tho great stimulant OF the growth Of plants is
ammonia.
Mr.. Blcke's method is TO prepare the seed
The secret consists in the mode of so doing.
IL was suggested at recent agricultural meet
ing IN Boston, that II was probably prepared
by being coated with gua1o, which from the
astonishing results attending IT'S application,
has recently excited so much attention. This
was advanced by DR.. Jackson, who at a sub
sequent meeting produced some seeds thus
coated in proof OF the praclicablity Of the plan,
The expense of preparing them was however,
very great Another gentleman asserted that
,oa spoon full of Guano applied to a newly
struck rose-cut,ing had produced the follw-
ing spring a bush six fee, high. We copy
from The Boston Transcript to which we are
indebted for the above facts, the following
statement
Aiihsiiurg uber die Ecfndung den Boden ohne
Dunger Gnsubauen. Communication on
the Art of Cultivaling the Ground without
Nlanure.) by +. III. Blckes, Frankfor!-on-
the Maine, iS42. PIP. 81.
WONDERS WILL NEVER CEASE! While our
sgricultuis,s are eagerly discussing the com.
aIv Of aoil
studying the theory Of manures as propounded
by Sprongie and Liebg, a coun,ryman OF these
distinguished professors comes forward TO pro-
claim that their labors are vain; for, II we are
TO believe him, he has discovered the art of
growing luxurent crops on the poorest land,
and without any manure whatsoever; and the
cost Of the process is so tritling, that for the
acre of Wheat or Maize. IL does not exceed
five pence sterling; and for Rape, Cabbage,
&c, amounts 10 only about half that sum. Al
first we were disposed TO consider sub extra
ordinary preientions as an eliusion OF quacke-
ry, and entitled TO lille or no credit; but our
increduli,y has been somewhat shaken by the
numerous attestatons which the author has
nppennedsd TO his pamphlet, and which tended
10 prove that his method has been practced
with success, during the last twelve years
in various parts Of Germany and Holland
Thus the certificates from Vienna, dated Ia
1899 and 1880, declared that Mr.. Blckes' pro
cess, which would seem 20 consist In some
preparation of the seed, "renders all dunging
unnecessary, is APPLICABLE to the poorest soils
and TO all sorts OF plants, and imparts TO them
wonderful degree OF vegeaalion and full
ness" and they gave the results Of the expert
mons in the Imperial Garden OF the Chateau
from which il appears that Wheat raised from
h,, n kaA
more grains than that produced from the un
prepared seed: that the Barley showed ears
with four rows. aud larger number of grains
while that from unprepared seed had only tive
rows and smaller proportion of grains on
each stock, and the Indian Corn exhibited
larger number Of much stronger and thicker
heads.
At Budingen, again, some plants Of the
Sunaower, treated according TO Mr.. BIS. NE
ihod, grew to the height Of ten TO eleven feet
with woody stems of eight and halfto nine
inches in circumference. Ten or twelve Pc.
taioe plants, Of large yellow sort, called Mar
burger. yielded each, on the average, thirty
good sized tubers, with stem and branches
seven fee! long; and Maize. which grew partly
singly and partly in rows, had from two 10 Ave,
and in some instances, as many as eight aud
nine heads. The crops were Obtained 10 The
garden of Coun, lsenburg; and I'VE are further
assured By the certificate, TO which are attach.
ed the signatures Of two burgomasters, the
Cour, gardener. grand ducal councillors and
other OFFICIAL fersonages thai they were raised
IN ground bat partially dressed. and in the
midst Of tall weeds! The trial OF this method
~ Holland, made in the summer Of 1884, were
attended with results no. less astonishing pre-
pared Wheat and Rye, though sowU thick,
gave from SOTO 60. and even so stalks from
one grain; and a plant OF Barley bore large
ears. sBuek-Whei, rose to 81 aud 5 feet;
Flax had and stems from one seed, and
Indian Com grew from to lo'fee, in height.
with or stems, and TO 5 heads from
si0gls coin. Tho green crops were equally
lgrurent