Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-07-09

phosphate of lime exists in the interior of
Spain; it is also said to have been found in
the State of New York, and New Jersy; and
as Pennsylvania is now moving onward in the
science of farming, the talents and energy of
her schools may, from the great variety of
limestone rock in our State, discover the nat
ural phosphate of lime, which would be of
great value. In Clearfeld county we have
kind of limestone which when burned and
Stacked, shows every shade of color, from
white to indigo blue and black. IL has been
moderately used on the land by few farmers,
and appears to add greatly to the fertility OF
the soil. Bone dust is another form by which
the farmer can add phosphorus to the soil.
We will now notice some organic elements
ofplants. OF all the organic elements ofplants
nitrogen is most important. 1t is found large
ly in gluten, that most nutritious part of wheat;
one part of nitrogen and three of hydrogen
form ammonia, the most desirable fertilizer.
While oxygen and hydrogen are taken into
the circulation, through the leaves, and car
bonic acid by the leaves and roots, nitrogen,
it is believed, is taken up by the roots only,
and not in the case GUS form, but when united
with hydrogen, or with oxygen (nitric acid or
aquafortis-1 atom of nitrogen and atoms
of oxygen) forming nitrates of potash, soda,
&c. As farmers now know the great impor-
tance and value of ammonia, they should also
know how to increase its amount on their
farms, and how to keep it there. 1t is very
volatile, and readily unites with carbonic and
other acids, and while united with the former,
it is still volatile, and passes away freely, as
the farmer may know by the smell in barn
yard manure. The farmer can keep it in his
manure heap by sprinkIing it from time to
time with oil of vitriol; or perhaps better
plan would be to scatter sulphate of lime (plas-
ter of Paris) occasionally. In both cases the
sulphuric acid unites with the ammonia and
as it is commonly termed 'sfixes it,'' i. e. de-
prives it OF its volatility.
Some farmers have made compostS i'll which
they have mixed fresh burnt lime with the
manure OF the stable, the lime having stron-
ger attraction for carbonic acid than ammo
MIA has, takes it from the ammonia, sets 1t free
and it passes off and is lost The effect would
be the same with guano. To increase the
quantity of ammonia, the farmer should econ
omise by saving all his farm yard manure,
and not let il lie all summer exposed to the
sun and rains. Green manurng, especially
with clover or field peas, is good plan for in
creasing the ammonia, for they take up very
considerable quantity of nitrogen. The ma
nure OF the common fowl is rich in ammonia,
and also in PHOSPHORUS. 1t is estimated that
-3 or hundred pounds of this manure is equal
in value, to 16 or 1S wagon loads of stable
manure. 1t will pay to build a house for fowls
and in this way their manure may be collec-
ted and saved this know from several years
experience.
Permit me further to engross your attention
on the subject of nitrogen. Every farmer
knows that each time he works his corn with
plow or cultivator, it grows more rapidly for
a week or more, though his ground be pretty
free from weeds. Why is it so In this work
he does not add manure to the field. The |
same am Informed has been noticed in grow
ing wheat by sowing it in alternate rows of 3
or feet in breadth, and using the cultivator
between them. Does not the crust on the
surface of the soil become mpervious to the
air and the breaking of it let in the atmos-
phcre, enabling the roots to take up more nj
trogen.
scientific gentleman in Englandj (Mr.
WiIkins,) by experiments, has in some degree
at least proven this principle. His method is
to make kind of a vat or tank, say feet
wide and 20 feet long. He makes bottom
or floor of clay, or other materials impervious
to water, about Is inches below the surface,
with sides of the same material or inches
high. In this bed or tray there are two drains
made on the bottom, with tile or stone, a lit
tie inclined, so as to let any water or other
fluid pass to the lower end, where there is
gate or plug to draw off all the fluid in the
tank when desired, and let the air pass freely
through the whole length of these drains, the
removed soil being replaced in the tank over
these drains. At the upper end of each drain
a tube extends from the bottom to the surface
and one also at the lower end of each drain,
by which he can know how high the soil is
saturated by the fluid in the tank
The seed is sown planted over these
drains. He then uses manures in liquid
form, and some times being offensive, by ap-
plying in this way are soon deoderized by the
soil and being applied to the roots of the
plants, and being divided into atoms, Is soon
taken up as proper food for growing vegeta-
bles. He found by experiments that the ad-
mission of air to the plant, to cause rapidity
of fgrowth at least two days in seven over com
ting air benefits mostly by the roots obtaining
nitrogen, for oxygen and hydrogen are taken
nto the plant through the leaves. By this
method he gained time, so as to raise two
rrons Il heunn or fay in Peas eiobf