Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1853-11-24
The use of Peat and Clay in Ag-
riculture.

BY @. T.. wARiNo JR.
While the Agricultural Press is engaged
in the discussion of subjects of minor i'm
portance TO the practical farmer, they SHOULD
not forget those subjects which from ,heil
selEevldent nature are admitted by all, anC
the use Of which is undoubtedly Of the frs
importance in the cultivation of land A
mong these subjects there is none more
worthy Of careful consideration than thai
now before u.s.
The chief value Of Peat and Clay as ap.
plica,:ons to the soil, depends not on then
similarity Of constitution with the plant
but on their power 10 absorb ieriIlsinl
gases, retaining them against the solvent in
fluence of water, aud yielding them to the
necessities of growth. Peat thorough,
turned to carbon, charcoal, and clay do not
in any appreciable degree, enter into the
constitution of plants, but remain as per-
manent absorbents in the soil, always act
ing as forwarding agents from the atmos-
phere TO the plant.
Over nlne-ienths of the dry weight of
nearly all cultivated vegetables is derived
from water and from gases always present
in the atmosphere. OF these gases the
principal one which plants must receive
through their roots is ammonia This is
the source from which they obtain their
nitrogen. 1t is well known 10 all in the
fumes OF har,shorn-which is merely water
saturated with ammona-the same odor
must have been noticed in stables aud in
other places where animal matters are I'M
dergoing decomposition. 1t is naturally
vapor in its pure state, or combined with the
carbonic acid of the atmosphere, (makiug
carbonate Of ammonia,) aud consequently
passes into the atmosphere Immediately on
its formation IN exposed localities. From
the immense amount of animal putrefaction
continually going on il must be evident that
the atmosphere is imbued with it, aud that
al ammonia formed mnst pass away into the
air, unless prevented by some means which
shall hold il fast.
To do this is the chief office of charcoal
in all lis forms, (peats, mould, &c, and Of
clay. which from their great powers of alb
sorpiion will hold on tolan immense amount,
and prevent its loss, or rather to prevent It's
distribution, for when going into the atmos-
phere i, is still ready TO be returned to the
soil by rains, and that field which contains
the best supply Of absorbent materials will
derive the greatest benefit from the ammo.
MIA, which, from the improper management
of maBures, has been thrown away by then
owners.
The sources Of ammonia in the almos
phere are not confined TO exposed manure
heaps, but there is going on in all parts q
the world, on land and on the water, sucl
al amount Of animal decomposition tina
ammonia is furnished in immense quantitie
to the air, whence il is always absorbed b
the water passing through it as clouds, rain:
&C., and by them eventually returned I
the earth. lfthese waters fall on lands III
containing absorbent ingredients they carr
the ammonia back TO The atmosphere O
their evaporation. Absorbent materials
such as peat and clay--ihe forms most
valuable TO the former--have the power
robbing this gas from the water and retain
ing II during evaporation, yielding 1t onl
to the growing plant
The presence Of ammonia in rain wat,
accounts for the reviving effects of a shoy
er always shown on plants. No such eiie
could DE obtained from watering with sprlu
water, unless previously mixed with son
form of ammonia, in which case the san
result would be the same as that from III
rain.
Probably the best way TO test the absor
ent power Of peat aud clay is by The expeI
ment described by Prof Mapes, which is
take three barrels of pure sand, and lhroug
one OF these mix a few handluls of charcoa
through another little clay, leaving III
third pure Pour the brown liquor Of III
barn yard on the third barrel, and il wi
pass through unaliered. Pour IL on eiihe
OF the others, and pure water will be III
result Of the filtration. The ierlilislng gas,
and coloring matters, in short, all impur
ties will be retained by the absorbenis, whic
If applied to the soil will be found TO pose.
all oil the manurial virtues of the brow
liquor. If we wish To be more accurate an
prove that these substances do actually oI
tain ammonia from the atmosphere throup
means Of rains, we have only to place
small quantity of each under gutter spol
during shower. After drying il we ca
preceye no change from its former cond
ton, but analysis will show it to contain az
monia, and its application to the soil vi
show that lis manurll power is increase
i, is owing to this property OF the clay
carbon tina, soil has the power Of abs,ra
ting the odor from tainted meat aud simi
impure articles Of food, when buried in /
IL is on account of the same property that
good florist will not use new flower pot
Fresh burned clay absorbs immense amour
of ammonia, and would rob the ferlilisiu
gases from the soil within the pot, presel
ting lis use by plants, as their roots cann
enter the spaces between the particles
clay where the ammonia is stored. Pc
are left exposed to rain and other atmospher
influences until saturated with gases, whe
they mag be used wi,hou. injury to Il
growth Of the plants. II The pot gets broke
i is pounded finely aud put in the boito
Of another one, where II absorbs nmmon