Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1852-05-05
AGRICULT IT L. r A L.
REPORT OF THE STATE AGRICULTURAL
CHEMIST, OF MARYLAND.-ExTRA
MAN URES.
DIAGN ESIA.

|, is the oxide or rust Of a metal called
magnesium, and its necessity TO fertile soil:
is supported by facts as well established d
evidence as conclusive, and testimony as
convincing, as those which show The use o
lime, potash, or any other constituent.
Like lime, il loses its carbonic acid when
exposed to high degree Of heat, and be-
comes caustic or caicined msgnesia. II re-
mains in this condition much longer than
| lime, as it imbibes carbonic acid with much
more difficulty from the atmosphere. II
also unltes TO water, but with much less in
lensi,y than lime, producing but very
slight degree of heat. whilst the union is
being accomplished. Msgnesia, for sgricul-
lural purposes, is obtained from a rock cal
led dolomite, aud is found associated with
lime, boh existing in the state Of cal rbonale.
The proportion Of lime and magnesia in
this rock varies in the different localities,
and even in different paris Of The same rock; :;
and the ratio of their ingredients is variable,
"since its omorphous substances crystalline
together in all proportions" We can only
estimate the quantity of each, and The par
licular adaptation Of limestone TO the soil
by quan,tarive chemical analysis.
The belief Is very generally diffused that
magnesla, instead of being a necessary con-
stIuent Of fertile soil. and an essential part
Of the composition of plants, Injuries the
quality Of the one, and proves detrimental
to the growth Of The other.
To correct this erroneous impression as
far as csn, and show how far it is useful
and when it may be injurious, when il
should be applied, and when withheld from
soil, will briefly review the arguments a.
gsinst its use, and .e, the facts hich shall
offer, urge lis application.
Sprengle says that SOILS containing much
Of The caIb' pa,e Of magnesa are said TO be
highly sbsorben, Of moisture. and to this
cause is sscribed The coldness Of such soils
This absorbent property Of magnesis, so fsr
from being an objection to, is sometimes
recommendation for It's use, as we find many
soils deficient in Ibis -planerrv, being light.
--.L,------.~,-.rnc1tT.~
absorberS of food from the atmosphere, rlav
and the peroxide of iron, and having a suI-
ticlencv Of fine sand ln effect the vlcarlons
action Of these substances. Here then, tor
i mechanical agency alone, magnesIa is IN
dcaled, and if ii had no other use, should
be applied.
Chap,sL Gays that "magnesian soils are by
no means ieriile," end that whenever lime.
containing msgnesia, is used for agricullu-
raj purposes, il no longer produces the same
effect"
Against this sweeping declaration Of the
poverty Of magnetism soils, no better argu-
rnenl can be used rhnn that of showing The
composition Of some fertile soils.
Johnson. J. F. w, Lectures on the Ap-
plca,ion of Chemistry aud Geology TO Ag-
siculure, p. 2S4, "gives soil which bad
been cropped for 100 years successfully,
wi,hou, manure or naked falIow." contain
ing 1.l6 per cent. Of msgnesia, equal +" about
$50 bushels Of magnesia 10 The acre, TO The
depth Of welve inches; another containing
8 - per cent. of magnesia, equal TO about
$40 bushels, "a virgin soil celebrated for lt-
fertility" another containing Of carbonate
of magnesia, 1896 per cent, equal to abou,
3, 100 bushels of carbonate of magnesla,
" hlch had been suumanured for Twelve
wears, and during :he las, nine, had been
|cropped with beans, barley, potatoes, winter
barley and red ciover-cl"ver,w winter barley,
heat. oats, naked laIlov."
Anal yses of Spreng!e, TOO, show very fer
ille soils containing
.06 of per cent. Of carbonate magnesia.
L.