The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1857-10-31
AgrtrulturdI.

VALUE OF FALLEN LElyES-NO manure is
so we'll worth the saving in October and
November as the falling leaves of the season
According to Payen. they contain nearly three
times as much nitrogen as ordinary barn
ward manure; and every farmer who has
strewn and covered them in his trenches late
in the fall or in December. must have noticed
the next season how black and moist the soil
is that adheres to the thrifty Young beets he
pulls. No vegetable substance yields its
woody fibre and becomes soluble quicker than
leaves, and from this very cause they are soon
dried up, scattered to the winds and wasted
if not gathered and trcnchod in Or composted
before the advent Of severe winter.
AS leaves arc poor in carbon, and rich in
alkaline salts, as we'll as nitrogen, they are
especially valuable in compost with mcnhadcn
fish manure and dead animals, poor i'll potash
but Astounding i'll carbon and lime phosphatcs.
But the great value of leaves is in the extra
nitrogen they contain. Prof. Jackson truly
says that the compounds of nitrogen not only
decompose readily themselves, but they also
inducc the elements Of other organic matter
with which they are in contact, to assume
new forms, or to enter into new chemical
combinations and according to the long
continued and varied Rothhamstcd expert
ments Of tic interchangeable Lawcs and DIR.
Gilbert, nitrogen, in It's compound form
(ammonia)also excrts the same potent infu-
cnce on the inorganic or mineral elements Of
the soil, rendering even sand into the soluble
food of plants. Yet every farmer or garden
err ought also to know that his own mechani
cal aid in trcnching or ploughing in order to
keep hi. soil permeable and absorptive, Is in
dispensiblc to aid nature in developing he,
chemical process-RmM New Yorker.
MANUFACTURE OF SUGAR FROM TIE SORGHO.
In answer to an inquiry i'll your paper of the
Sd, az to the way to make sugar from the
Sorgho or cane, should say that pair Of
tinsmith's rollers would answer for a small
quantity, or any other contrivaacc that would
squeeze out the juice. \ clean copper pan
to boil it with. 1t will require a small
quality of lime water to kill the acid-if toe
much, it would prevent crystalizing. The
quantity can only be known to one un
accustomed to boiling, by litmus paper
Whites Of eggs to raise the scum. Boil as
quick as possible.
When the JUICE becomes thick and clammy
between the fingers, about half water and
sugar, strain through thick flannel cloth, and
ifpossihlc filter through coarse bone black
keeping the black covered as long as the
syrup lasts. or letting it out at the bottom
no faster than pnt cn top. Then boil until
string can be obtained between the thumb
and finger, so strong that it breaks and turns
up like a corkscrew. y very little beyond
this, and it viii be about four-fifths sugar
and one water. 1t will then require box
or other vessel to grain or sugar it in Stil
it well with fiat stick, the sides into the
middle, &c. A conicai box to drain away
the molasses; and if white sugar is required
q strong white syrup is to he poured On the
top, to wash away the molasses
This is as near direction as can give b,
writing. have some growing 1t is now
about ten feet high, and just showing it,
seed, but | am afraid that have it too thick
to rpen. WI. WArERsoS Crosse Isle
aIich.-Co""t'y Ge"'"m"u.