Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-07-31
CHARCOAL-IT ITS PROPERTIES AND
USES

This substance has excited great attention of
late, in some portions Of the country, although no
accurate experiments have yet been made to test
its value as a manure. In theory it is certain that
it possesses properties which calculated to rem
der il n very valuable substance in agriculture. -
And this arises from a power not peculiar to char
coal. All porous bodies have the property of alb
sorbng the different gases in greater or less guam
titles Charcoal, after it has been heated to redness
and cooled withort being exposed to the air will
absorb ninety times its own volume OF ammoniaca
gas, and considerable quantities of others If heat
ed and cooled under water, and then placed in a
confined portion of atmospheric air it will absorb
all the oxygen anileaye pure nitrogen. Now up.
on this property Of absorbing gases depends its use
az manure In tselG il has no valuable proper
ties. 1t is one Of the most indcstrurtbe of sub
stances Exposed to heat of the greatest intens-
ty If air is excluded, IL suffers no change. Mois
ture has no effect upon it. 1t has been said by
some writer that, after being in the ground for Sow
erai years. 1t becomes converted into u sort Of coay
earth. But, on the other hand it is well known
fact that fence posts often charred at the bottom
in order TO preserve them from rottng, and it
ceeds for great number of years In this case,
no such change can have taken place. 1t is, at a.
ny rate very doubtful if it is ever converted into
earth or of itself, furnishes any food for plants.
But it does absorb gases and by the powerful con-
denslng force which all porous bodies possess, they
are made solid in the pores of charcoal. Ono GU
bic inch Of charcoal will condense ninety cubic
inches of ammonia, or thrty-fve of carbona acid.
And holding it with all this force, how are they to
give it off to plants? One class of theorists will
say that the vital power OF the plant can separate
/ it. But is locked up lin the pores of the charcoal
where not even the most minute fibre OF the roots
can penetrate. Others say, it is by the power Of
fixing gases that it does good, but they do not ac
count for the giving them ont. What then is it !?
Let MS look u moment at another fact.
Water absurbs, at the common temperature and
pressure, from seven hundred 10 eight hundred
times IT'S volume of ammonlacnl gas and when
boiled will not part with the whole of it. Now
notice the difference: charcoal absorbs ninety and
water eight hundred times their volume. The SUI
peuor force of the water is seen at glance. And
what must be the result? Why, simply this: If
charcoal is put upon land as manure, however
much gas ii may have in its pores, the first shower
of rain will separate it and carry it with it into the
earth, ready for the use of the plants In the mean
time, the water takes the place of the gas in the
pores. AS soon as they become dry, and perhaps
before the process of absorption commences again,
and again it is washed out.
This view of the case would indicate the use of
charcoal as a top dressing to crops And this
we believe to be the correct plan. Buried in the
SOIL Its adds to liz looseness, but is not exposed to
alternate dry and wet as when on or near the sur
face