Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1845-09-25
We extract from the excellent Address Sf DIR
LEE, the following interesting remarks on ths
VALUE OF AMMONIA TO PLANTS.

LEE, the following interesting remarks on tue
VALUE OF AMMONIA TO PLANTS.
81 have stated to you that most plants
require, 10 addition to water and carbon,
a portion Of nitrogen. This also comes
from gaseous substance in the atmos.
phere. Although nitrogen forms the lar.
gest element ir the air, (79 per cent. yet
it has been pretty well settled that plants
do not obtain their nitrogen by decompos.
ing common air, but derive It from am.
mona, which is furnished TO the atmos-
phere 10 great abundance by world OF
decomposing vegetable and animals. -
1t is the Ammonia that escapes from pu-
trilying substances that causes their otien-
sive smell. Now, again comes up the
practical question: How are we to collect
this~highly volatile gas, and transform 1t
at the cheapest rate, INTO wheat, beans,
cheese and wool, OF which il is an impor.
tant element Rain water has strong
affinity for ammonia which is com.
pound OF Ia parts Of nitrogen and 3 o.
hydrogen. Water al 80 deg. will absorb
$50 times lis bulk Of this vegetable food.
Every rain then, brings considerable quan.
titles of it to tae ground. Its the am
monia 10 rain water that imparts 10 it its
peculiar softness in washing the hands OF
clothes. Ii is the ammonia in snow that
makes it valuable as manure; and II IS
the ammonia in rain water that causes II
to purify in some degree, like an animal
substance, when water is permitted TO
stand in warm weather in a close vessel
above ground. The fitst fall of rain af-
ter long drought, is much The richest IN
this gas. Being extremely volatile, 1t
escapes into the air again after a warm
shower, much quicker than water evap-
crates. What then will aid the cultiva-
tor of plants. and seize this volatile am
mona, as lime does carbonic acid, and
hold it permanently about their roofs, in
such a shape that il will feed them all they
need, and 10 more? For an excess Of
this stimulating alkali, like an excess Of
salt IN our faod, wii destroy life instead OF
supporting it.
Common charcoal is the cheapest, and
therefore the best material TO apply to cul-
tivated fields for his purpose. 1t will alb
sorb 90 times it's bulk of ammonia, and will
give il out slowly TO tho vital attraction OF
the roots of plants. Most of you know that
charcoal will correct The taInt IN meat
will purify rain water in suitable cistern,
so as to render it the puresi water for cult
nary purposes. Such charcoal should be
often renewed in filtering cisterns, and
when saturated with ammonia, is an ex-
tremely valuable manure. The liberal
application OF this well known substance
to the wheat fields in France, has manly,
10 connection with the use OF lime. added
within the last ten years, 100000 900
bushels to the annual crop of wheat grown
IN that kingdom. The charcoal should
be sown in May, at the rate OF 10 bushels
per acre, we'll pulverised. This subject
is one OF vast practical importance. BY
studying the science Of agriculture, you
may grow fifty bushels OF good wheat on
any acre of your laad, have good rea-
son 10 believe, every year, batting Of course
extreme casualties.
"You all know that single kernel oil
wheat, will sometimes, when its fecundiiy
is highly stimulated, send up 90 stalks, snd
that each stalk will bear head containing
100 kernels. Here is yield OF 1000 fold.
Nature ,ken has rendered it practicable
TO harvest 1000 bushels Of good wheat
from on bushel Of seed. The most skep p.
tical among YOU will not deny that 2 900
kernels hovs been produced from one
kernel, and that the same natural causes
that produce such result 10 one instance,
will ever operate, at all times, under like
in the same manner
Hence it is but reasonable to say that ma
lure is quite as willing to produce so bush
els OF good wheat on an acre Of ground
every year, mark me, If her lars be obey
ed, as she is TO grow fifty bushels ofweeds
every year on the same ground"
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