The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1849-01-27
AGRICULTURAL MEETINGS.

made some experiments with manures, some OF
which he would relate: He did not wish to be
understood that he undervalued stable or barn
yard manures, but such as was purchased from
the stables OF the city, by the cord, when deprv-
ed of straw or decomposed, was in reality only
halt or three-fourth of accord. To OBTAIN a real
solid cord of manure, equal in quality, and at less
price, had with him been great desderatum,a land
he believed he had succeeded, by making COM
post OF meadow muck, crushed bones, and leach
ed ashes IN the following proportion:
One cord of meadow muck, having been exposed
10 the action Of air and frost at least year so
Twelve bushels leached ashes 100
Six bushes crushed bones LILO
Labor 80
Total cost per cord $50
The bones and ashes were mixed together while
the latter were in damp state, and when fer
mentation had taken place, these were incorpor-
ated with the meadow muck. In this condition
the mass should remain until heat is generated
again, when it will be fit for use.
He had found this compost equal TO any stable
manure Tor root crops, grass lands, gardening pur-
poses generally, and for fruit trees. For the last
two years, he had mixed his stable manure with
the compost, and also had added 10 it one eighth
part i'll bulk OF fine refuse charcoal from the de-
pos OF vendors. This does not much increase
the cost above named.
NuIs w Ilu6F repeated statement maze DIV LIE
big, that the volatile gas which arises from our
stables and manure heaps, and descends in the
rain and snow, and which we call ammonia, is
the great fertilizer of the earth. To secure this
subtitle element he had added charcoal to his
compost heaps, and, as he thought, with great adj
vantage.
We are told, SAID he, by Chemists, that it will
absorb 100 per cent. oil its bulk of ammonia but
its beneficial effects supposed to arise from its
nj tn
it up only as it is washed out by rams or as the
vital force OF the root searches for food
The effect OF this compost on trees is remarka-
Bile. In the spring OF l847 he planted square
| in the nursery (Which had been covered with
this composO with trees imported from England
The compost had been spread and ploughed in.
| The trees were from four to five feet in height
and although is not usual for imported trees to
make large growth the first year, thew acquired
/ branches OF three four feet in length When
4 planted the cost was but about forty cents
| row OF fifty trees without any selection, readily
commanded $l,25.
In June last, which is very late to set out trees
he prepared another square on rather poor land
and planted trees just received from England up
on It, The soil had been thrown up TO the frost
| the previous winter, and the compost here w as
applied IN the trenches. Here, said Mr. Wilder,
| exhibiting two sticks0 two shoots, which
nave grown from those trees since they were set
| out in June. The shoots measure tour feet in
length, and the wood is hard and we'll ripened
| 1t is stated that on old beds in New York, where
charcoal had been burned ten years before, the
corn aud wheat to this day are uniformly better
than on the adjoining lands, being more vigorous
of darker green color, and producing larger
crops.
/ Mr. Wilder mentioned several other instances
showing the beneficial effects arising from the
use OF fine charcoal upon grass land, and also in
the growth and product OF wheat He also re-
lated an instan,e where it had been successfully
used in neutralizing and destroying otfensi,
odors arising from different kinds Of manures
/ Mr. Teschemacher observed that the vast and
| almost inexhaustbe subject of manures had al
ways divided itself in his mind int three great
considerations LIST, on the nature of the crops to
be raised; I'd, OIL the nature OF the soil from which
| these crops were to be obtained; Sd, and the
most important, on the nature aud application OF
| the manure itself Ii clover was wanted. large
quantity OF lime was requisite ii tobacco, potash
or SODA. In England, after many years. cultiva-
ton OF wheat, all the barn yard manure that could
| be heaped on the ground would not raise any
! more until bone dust added, and with this
| many acres hitherto considered barren had given
| excellent crops The size and quality OF turnins
| has been found to be much benefited by the use
| OF the soluble phosphate of lime One question
| then IS, what does the crop we require abstract
AlotAi eho ooh uuIiHS AtS CROWN ana maturity
This question is answered by the various analyses
OF the crops which are now found in eyerv apri.
cultural treatise. But another and much more
important question arises. II is this: What
part oil the ingredients of those crops puts most
bone and muscle in the animals which feed on
them; and can we by particular manures in
crease in these crops the quantity Of these ingre
dients The first part OF this question has been
answered by Iiebg's last treatise. We knew
before Liebig was bern, that the bones of animals
were chiefly formed 0. phosphate Of lime. but we
did not know that the phosphatcs of other alkales
formed considerable part of the muscle: this
ne has satisfactorily proved In the lime districts
in Switzerland, the cattle are much larger than
III those where lime is scarce in the soil-and the
great test OF the quality of crop is by It's nutri-
cous action on the animal, more than bv ITO an.
Pearance or even weight. Now it is evident that
by Offering as food these crops manure ahun.
dainty supplied with these ingredients combined
with others ensuring luxuriant growth. we ena.
pie them to obtain maximum thereof. MrT,s
own experience showed in the same WEIGHT If
grain difference Of 80 per cent, in these ngre.
dients,dependent on the difference of the man,,re
Hence the consideration In the nature Of ~
crops is of much interest.
On the nature of the soil All soils are rom.
posed chiefly OF sand, (silica,) CLAW. laIuminaA