Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1852-02-12
AGRICULTURAL.
Fr I'M the Southern Planter.
Of Gypsam ON VeEcta-
lion.
ny NJ. c. MEME.

ny NJ. {. MEME.
Ever since Franklin's great experiment,
gypsum, or sulphate Of lime, has general
y been considered as possessing much fer
iIIning power, and as being Of great i'm
pcrtanee in agriculture. Having paid
some attention to this substance, make
known my results, in the hope that they
may be found of value to the public.
/. filed two zinc boxes with pure sui
plate of lime obtained from the double de
composition ofsulphatc Of soda and chic
ride Of calcium; in one Of those boxes |
sowed some grass seeds, in tho other some
wheat. The two boxes were then placed
under grass shades, in order that all exter-
nal influence might be avoided: the seeds
were watered every olher day AT the
end Of few weeks plants had come up
green and healthy, as in common soil; but
as they developed, their fine appearance
diminished, and at the end ola fortnight
they looked dried and wahcrcd.
2. In boxes similar to the FIRST. ] placed
. mixture Of equal quantities Of pure sui.
plate Of lime, obtained as before, and clay,
end sowcd the same seedsas in the last cx-
pertinent; the plants came up but not near
1y 90 well as in an unartifcial soil, and
they did not riPen.
3. In boxes. and under circumstances
the same as before, sowed the same seeds
on dung covered over with layer Of sui.
plate OF lime three tenths Of an icnh deep.
Al the end Of fortnight the plants had
come up and grown wonderfully; they RI
pened weli ard were magnificent spcci-
mems.
These facts, though considerable prac-
teal importance, would not have shown in
what way sulphate oflime really acts. had
Il not been for the following accident:
happening to have glass Of muria,ic
acid in my hand one day, when looking at
box No. 8. accidentally split some oflhe
scid on ono the boxes, and TO my great
surprise the lime eifcrvesccd, aud on fur
Their examination | was satisfied that the
sulphate had ecome changed into earbo
nate of lime. conclude from this fac,
that the carbonate Of ammonia, given of
by the decomposition of the dung, being
volatilized by the heat Of the sun, came IN
contact with the sulphate Of lime. when
double decomposition ensucd. Forming
carbonate Of lime and sulpha,c of ammo
mia.
To ascertain how far this was true, !
got some zinc pots, with bottoms pierced
Ike SIEVE; in ,he pots placed some
dung, then some sulphate of lime, and
then ] sowed sooe grass seeds.
When the plants had appeared and be-
come tolerably developed, watcred them
sbundanlly for quarter of an hour. and
h-the liquid which flowed from the bottom
Of the pots found sulphate of ammonia,
whist on the surface ofthe pots there was
evidently carbonate Of lime. This con.
frmed the view had adopted,
then made other experiments, which
do not, however, bear upon the last men,
t0,ed facts. For example, | watered
grass seeds sown in manure, in pots with
pierced bottoms, with water containing
one ofthe following substances, viz: SUI
phuric acid. muriatic acid. nitric acid. ace
tit acid, sulphate Of iron. sulphatc of pot
ash. chloride ofmanganese, phosphate of
soda. sulphatc of magnesia, nitrate of soda.
With all these substances the grass grew
we'll. aud from the bottoms Of the pots |
obtained salts Of ammonia, which are NOT
volatile at the ordinary temperature. From
oil these facts think We may conclude
]. That gypsum has by itself no tcr,il-
hing power, and is -fone useless as ma.
nure.
2. That gypsum only is useful in agri
ture when mixed with substance con
taining ammonia I; in which case there is q
double decomposition, and The ammonia is
stored up Sor the use Of the plants.
3. Tha, Cor gypsum may be substituted
sny other salt which will fix ammonia. and
ses3er II not volatile at the ordinary tenn
evature.
Il s my intention next year to repeat
these experiments on a large scale. in orael
to ascertain their real practical value.
CoMPTEs RENDus.