Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1853-02-25

land, Dy Dr jackson, gave the 1olloWlng results
Water, from 10 10 25 percent
Ashes when burned, 2407
Vegetable matter, 1888
Silica, 43I g
Iron and Alumina, 1.34
Lime, l32
Magnesia 32
The average of 10 analyses of Massachusetts peat
agreeably to Dana, follows:
Soluble Geine 2941
Insoluble Geine, SIS 03
Salts and Silicates, Is 35"
sThis average comprises various kinds of peat.
the kind usually used as fuel turf and sramp-
muck that it takes within it's range the ordinary
kinds of substances available to farmers, in diff r
ent situations and therefore, presents fairer view
of the real value of such substances than it would
be- had the anal yses been confined to fuel peat pro-
per, the two latter bodies more frequently to
be met with in most localities than the former''
GA more recent analyses made Of Peat found on
the estate of the Hon. james A Hamilton, of Nevis.
near Dobbs Ferry, in your State, gave the following
results.
100 parts of the dried muck contained as follows:
Soluble and insoluble Geine. 8l.O3 parts
Silica, 1916
Alumina, 4.S0
Oxide of iron, Ill
Lime and Magnesia, 60
10000
"The average of the preceding 81 analyses, give
us above 70 per cent of vegetable matters in vari-
Gus stages of oxidation, the greatest part of which
is In an lnsOluble condition.
Mr. Hamilton, in speaking of the analyses of his ]
peat expresses dissatisfaction thinks it to have
been negligently" made, alleging that the solu-
BILE and insolube geine' ought to have been ascer-
tanned agree with the view he has taken and
would go little farther. The analyst should have
carried his tests so far, to have determined with
certainty the absence presence in the substance
operated upon, of all the constituent elements which
! are known to have been comprised in the hung
bodies in their normal state. In several of the Eu
ropean analy which have come under nv notice
traces of nitrogenous compounds and phosphofic
acid. as we'll very notable percentages of Sui.
phuric acid, have been detected and can perceive
no sufficient reason why similar substances should
not be found In the peat of onr country.
GAS the communication Of Mr. Hamton which .
have just read in SINNERS January number Of
1" The Plough the Loom, and the Anvil" has sng-
gested the propriety of this essay shall quote such
parts of ii may be necessary to illustrate the OBJ
jects have in view that is to enable Mr.. HamI- B
ton and all others, owning estates with peat depos-
tied on them, to convert them into manure He
says:
Il have made experiments and am continuing to a
do so on very large scale, at the same time am
very much at loss to what is the best and least
expensive compound NV farm of three -
hundred acres, is situated the east bank of the
Hudson, now about twenty-five miles from New
York. 1t is light sandy soil Of which Dana says 4
- none is preferable to be cultivated or restored
Having as part of the Manor of Philiipsburg been
Subjected for many years the exhausiiBg process
OF tenant cultivation, by which every thing was
taken from the ground. and nothing returned 10 It.
the land, particularly that on the river was when
purchased completely worn out, so much So as
that on some Of the fields on my lawn, clover would
not grow
iTo BE CONCLUDED NEXT WEEK.