The Port Gibson herald, and correspondent. (Port Gibson, Claiborne Co., Miss.) 1848-18??, 1850-10-25
The Absorption Of Fertilizing Matter.

PtaSCs "hllO c. tAtN oPPeoA W " NtACAC [
they were before.
The Absorption of Fertilizing Matter.
The following article on the subject of
1.-The Capacity Of Soils for Absorbing Fer
tilizing Matter" we copy from late num-
Der of the American Agriculturist:
The property of earths for absorbing the
pungent gasses and offensive matter inI
| fntid water shows most conclusively their
capacity for absorbing and retaining the
ferlilizing ingredients mixed with them.
ANY thing which is undergoing decompo-
sition or giving off putrid odors is immedi-
ateIy rendered innoxious by placing thick
covering of earth over it. The stencil
from polecat, the smoke of birthstone or
a decaying carcass is Immediately absorbed
and rendered imperccptible when brought
into close contact with the earth. II is, in
feet, the grand deodorizer Of nature; and
in this capacity it is doubly beneficial to
the human race, and to the herds and
focks subsisting upon its surface; first, by
absorbing all these pestilential efluvia;
and, second, by turning them to the best
account in her laboratory. In consequence
of the addition of these she gives increas-
ed luxuriance to vegetation and fuller
development to the seeds and crops that
contribute to the supporter innumerable
races Of animated creation. BY the OF
these she is enabled to lend more unsul-
lied white to the lilly and to add deeper
blush to the rose; and from them, too, she
torres within the petals and calyx of every
flower the nectar that feeds the bee, the
humming-bird and countless throng be-
sides. When, therefore, Abraham said to
the sons Of Heth, 'sGive me a possession
of burying-place, that | may bury my
dead out of my sight," and, again, when
S the Israelites were required to carry a
a paddle when going without the camp, they
acted only in accordance with the very
d best practices of modern agriculture.
Is But the earths possess this property in
very different degrees. Silicious sand:
e and gravels have only the slightest holC
n upon foreign matter; while clays ant
y clayey loans seize upon them almost witt
the avidity of charcoal or animal black
L and retain them with still 6rmer holt
is when they have once entered into chem
ical union. If, however, alkaline sub
4 stances, as lime, magnesia, soda or ashes
re be added to the siliclous earths, or if the,
IS become enriched by the addition of vege
e. table manures, their absorbing capacity
Immediately and largely augmented. Thi
'y is one of those beneficial results alway
necessarily attached to good husbandry
is which is fully exemplifed in the vantag
* ground voluntarily conceded by his lor
rd in the gift of an additional pound to th
at thrifty servant whose "one pound hs
nd gained ten pounds" The soil that is
he the best condition as to fertility and TIL
ed is in the very best possible state also
nd draw in and retain the floating elements
IN fertility existing in the atmosphere.
OF To show some Of the striking effects
ow the properties in soils above alluded
we subioin some of the experiments al
ew remarks of Professor Way on this subje,
m. He passed through fltering jar, contai
at inc more than nine inches depth Of fl
he white sand, a quantity of cows urine
ley ken from tank in the country. The
md quid was so far altered by the fltrati
ing that the turbidity was removed, as it wol
be by filtration through paper, but the C
the or and disgusting smell remained in all
ma intensity. Sand, therefore, obviously y
and not the active ingredient in soils in resp
his to the power under discussion. The sa
rne, must be said of the different forms
site gravel, which were only coarse san
the The other great ingredient of soils '
lich CLAW, and to this Mr.. Way attributed
power in question. AS an experimt
comparative with the last, he would +
the same tank water through sand mi
fthe with one-fourth of weight in white c
.olcr in powder, aud they would observe the
suit was very striking. The liquid C
inps ing through was clear. and free from SIN
III Of indeed, it was hardly to be distinguis
sctlv by its external characteristics from ord
from ry water. There could be no doubt Il
their that the property of soils to removing
she'd orinr matter and organic matter yiel6
,oaL- smell from solution was due to the
end contained in them. Filtration was on
INNS method of exposing the clay, but it
,sure not necessary to the success OF the
4 bv cess. In proof of this, Mr.. Way sti
.ll;no up quantity of soil with putrid hu
urine, the smell Of which was entirely
straw stroyed by the admixture, and upon
rush subsistence OF the EARN tne iiquiu Was 4
ief, it clear and coiorless' i dpPealeu' y =
.osce- fore, that the clay Of the soils had
nistol property of separating certain animal
4 vegetable ingredients from solution,
= The was this property the only one exhib
Dpear Mr.. Way had found that the soils ha'
lust power Of stopping certain alkalies, al
eated MIA; potash, soda, magnesla, 60.
.olden quantity OF ammonia nlghiy Pungel
to be the smell was thrown upon 9 ilases q