Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1844-02-16
DANA'S PRIZE ESSAY ON MANURES
SECTION FOURTH.

Of the Action of Mould in Cattle Dung
Here, then, we have cattle dung with its
several ingredients spread out before US.
We have now to study its action. We
need here consider only the salts and
mould. The water is only water, and has
no other action than water. The mould in
cludes the hay, for that has, by chewing, and
the action of the beasts stomach, lost so
much character, that, mingled with the slime
and bile, Sc, it more rapidly decays than
fresh hay would, placed similar circumstan-
ces. During this act Of decay, as you have
already learned, the, volatile parts Of the
mould are given off in part. These escape
as in burning wood, as water or stream, car
bonic acid, and ammonia. In consequence
of this slow Wondering fire or decay, the
manure heats. Here, then, we have three
very decided and important actions, produce
ed by the vegetable part, OF mould of cattle
dung. FIRST caid is given off; second, amo-
MA is forn,cd; third, heat is produced. Let
US now consider each of these, and their eff
fects.
First, the great action of the carl onic acid
is upon the soil, its earthly parts. 1t has the
same action on these, that air, ram, frost
have; il divides and reduces them. Ii not
only reduces them TO powder. but it extracts
from the earth potash and the alkalies.
This is very important act, and shows why
ii is necessary that decay or fermentation
should take place IN and under the soil
among sproulng seeds and growing roots, in
order that they may ablain from the sail, the
the salts they want
If well rooted manure contains abundance
of these salts, ready formed in its mould then
there will be less necessity of this action Of
carbonic acid. But here again it must be
remembered, that this abundance Of salts,
ready formed in mould, can be produced on
ly al the expense of great loss by fermentation
Of real valuable parts. For,
Secondly, the next great action Of the
mould Of cattle dung is, to produce or form
ammonia. This plays threelold part /; its
first action is, to render the mould more SOL
uble; this action it possesses in common with
the fixed alkalies, potash and soda. All the
alkalies Put large, but underlined portion Of
mould, into state fit to become food for
plants. The second action of ammonia is
this, II haslens decay. 1t is the bellows, we
may say, kInding the slow Wondering fire.
The third action Of ammonia is, 10 combine
with any free acids, such as vinegar, or even
an acid formed Of mould itself, but especially
with aquaforlis, or nitric acid, which is al.
ways produced where animal or vegetable
matters decay. This is highly important
fact. The result of this action, the produce
ton of ammonia and aquaforis during the
formation of mould, is, that a kind OF satpe.
tire is thereby produced. That is, the am.
monia and aquafor,is unite, and form salt,
with properties similar to saltpe,re. But
We want the first and second action of ammo
MIA TO occur, before the third takes place
Consider now, reader, whether more beau
tltul and eilectua way can be devised TO has
ten decay, and render mould more fit for
nourlshlng plants, than this which nature has
provided. The ammonia is volatile. 1t re-
mains, not like potash and soda, where il is
put, incapable Of moving unless dissolved BY
water; but ammonia, like steam, pervades
every part. 1t is as expansive as steam.
Heated up by the slow Wondering fire of
decay, ii penetrates the whole mass Of mould.
1t does its work there. But, If it finds no
acid to combine WITH it then unites with the
mould itself. 1t is absorbed by it. The
mould holds it last; 1t stores 1t up against
the time when growing plants may need it.
Now it is only where line abundance of am
monia produced satisfies these actions of has
lening decay, making mould soluble, and fill
ing It's pores without combining with it, that
: the formation Of salpetre takes place. So
where animal matters, which ate the great
source OF ammonia, decay, there We may ex-
pect all these actions TO occur.
How important, then, is that action OF
Wondering which produces ammonia. IT,
reader, you will reflect upon the consequen.
ces Of this action, you will at once see, tina,
/. 1t the mould is in too small quantity to re.
: tain the ammonia, it may escape. lfby a
wasy exposure, you allow your mould to dis
: slpate itself in air, as il certainly will, you
h not only incur the loss of that part of the
mould, but you diminish at the same time
: the chance Of keeping the ammonia which
has been formed. No doubt all cattle dung
y exposed to air, forms more ammonia than i
S can retain. Hence the necessity and the
: reason Of forming composls with this sub
stance. Keep what you have got, and ca,cl
G what you cam must never be lost sight of il
: manure.
u The third action of moul is, thed produc
d ton of heat. Little need be said upon tins
II That slight degree of heat hastens thu
IT sprouliug of seeds, You well know. Tina
e different degrees of heat; that some are hot
IT some cold, you well know, and adapt you
e seed and manure to each other. The drgre,
: Of heat depends upon the rapidity with whicI
decay occurs. And this is affected BY til,
rs quantity of ammonia which each manure Cat
# afford. The great point to which your At
o tenlon should be directed, whcn conSderin,
a the power of Wondering TO produce heat is
lie that it shall not 90 so far as 10 burn up you
r. manure, JuS as hay will heat and take fire
'e Gro be 'con,Inued)
: RAISING PoTAToEs FROM SErp-Our cor
respondent, J. NJ. Harlan, Esq, gives the follow
ing directions for raising potatoes from the see
j. or ball. "1hc pulp OF the balls should
ID squeezed out AS much as possible. They shoul
til then be dried aud laid by ill the followln
m spring, The ground should be partially spade