Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1846-03-05
SOAKING SEEDS IN AMMONIA.

TO The Editor of The Maine Farmer
Dr. HOLMES I'll have long been looking tori the
reports of our experimental farmers oil Name, on
the result of the application OF ammonia 10 tnolr
secd-wheat the last season. But nave looked IN
vain. 1t seems to me that SUBJECT OF mat impor-
lance. coming as it did from so high authority,
through the medium of the accomplished CONAN,
could not fail to so enlist the curiosity OF the TAR
mers of this State where the wheat crop has OF
late been so uncertain, as to induce hundreds to
give the thing trial
Experiments in doctoring seed have for several
years been,conducted in Germany by the most acute
| practical chemists with, in many instances, won
der!ul results But the subject in the most tangl-
Bile shape in which 1t has been presented to Us,
comes from Mr. Campbell, Of Scotland. Ills eX-
perments with ammonia on wheat, oats, barley,
&c, were attended with results so astonishing as
to induce him to state with the greatest confidence,
that one h. of ammonia to a bushel OF wheat on
poor ground, would cause as great yield as any
quantity of the best manure. The thing looked SO
"cule" on paper, so simple in its nature and so ca
sy TO be tested, that determined, last spring. to
! give it a trial in small way. procured two
| pounds Of carbonate of ammonia and prepared u
according TO Mr. Campbclis directions as given III
VOL IL, No. al, of the Maine Farmer failed II
one important point in my experiment. judged
the quantity of water directed to be used in dllu-
! ting the ammonia, would be sufficient to soak the
| wheat from dry state. | so applied 1t; but TIC
water was all absorbed in five hours | let the
wheat stand "a hours without adding more water
and then sowed. Five pecks Of the wheat was
sown to finish field Of several ucres of moist
rough land that had been long in pasture, and was
! planted to potatoes the year before. The remain
ing three pecks of prepared seed was carried to a
field that sowing TO peas and oats 1t was a
piece Of land too far from the barn to be easily
manfred, and had been moved till last year, lSll,
when 1t not worth the moving, and in Sept
we plowed it, and in the spring completed the cult
ure with the harrow and roller; no manure. IT
was piece of ground on which could not have
sowed wheat having reasonable measure OF jdW
in reapng in autumn. Aud now for the result
The liece first sowcd proved TO be full oil inst
les, which grew so stout that we cut tue most OF
1he piece while in green state, for iodder bu'
the contrast through the season, between the whed
prepared with ammonia aud the other, which was
washed in brine, and then | 4 ID. of nltre TO the
Dushel, was so great that every plant could be Sc
lected by the most careless observer. Inns wheat
was about foot taller than the other, and whef
the rest Of the field killed by rust so as to run
the crop, this continued TO grow and fill. The 9th
er piece, OF the three pecks' sowing, was tall good
looking wheat--the leaves broad, of dark green
through the season-the heads long and fine, and
but for the weevi, | should have had a fine yield
AS it was, estimated the return from the two lbs
of ammonia, equal to ten bushels of wheat. III
tend this year to give the thing fair trial. and hope
others will do so. G.. &.
EoCcrOH, FEB. 9, 1916