M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1859-08-11
AGRICULTURAL.
UseO(ClnrcOaI.

In many parts of the country where
charcoal is or has been largely made
particularly in the vicinity ofiron tnr.
naces, the old braze ofcharcoal hearths
can be obtained in great quantities.
Near railroad depotS, where the con-
tents or the spark -catcherS are thrown
out at the end OF every trip, and at
distilleries, accompanied by rectifying
houses, where pulverized charcoal is
used in the rectitying Of whisky, large
quantities may be had at low COST
BY underlaying the bed in stables
with charcoal, the urine is readily alb.
sorbed and rendered inodorOus; the
excretory gases given of from the DO,
dies of animals are takon up, and the
atmosphere rendered sweet. Where
the ventilation is not perfect, the ami
NAL suffers severely from being sur
rounded by the exCretoTy gases given
off from the surface of bodies. Some
idea may Do had of the advantages to
be derived from the absorption of
these gases, from the fact that, if the
horse be enclosed in q silk bag, var
nished and tied around his neck, and
leaving his head free to breathe the
atmosphere, he will die in twenty-iour
hours, simply because the bag will
contain the gases given off from the
surface Of the body, keeping them in
contact with the animal, which should
be got rid Of as fast as liberated
All this will be absorbed by charcoal,
and in the cleansing Of the stable this
charcoal may pass to the compost heap,
where it will continue lis office Of ab.
sorbing ammonia, and even after it
reaches the field it is an ever attend
ant chemist, taking care Of all the re.
suits Of decay until growing plants use
them. Soils Of all kinds are imprOv-
ed by the presence Of charcoal, and as
itself is not absorbed by plants, it tog
ever remains to re-perlorm its office.
Clay soil are rendered more free
by its admiXture. 1t assists sandy
soils by retaining what would be lost
in the atmosphere by evaporation
without it, it psevcnts early freezing
Of soils, and its dark color assists in re.
ceiving heat from the suns rays; in.
deed the chief difference in texture be.
tween the old garden soil and that Of
the field, simply arises from the char
coal (carbor) and consequent upon the
decay Of vegetable matter in the old
garden soil. 1t is for this reason that
garden soils are so much darker col.
.ored than those of the field alongside,
and it is for this reason also, that
manures applied to soils Of dark color
are so much longer retained, and are
SO much more efficient than when ap.
piled to soils in which the carbon is
deficient. In mountainous districts it
is quite common to drive cattle to the
coallngs, as the old charcoal hearths
are called, for the earliest spring pas
ture; for around the edges Of the old
charcoal hearths the grass grows much
more luxnriant'y than elsewhere, and
Notwithstanding this hint the farmers
in such districts continue to neglect
carting the charcoal braze to their
farms. If charcoal braze be thrown
on top ola fuming dung heap, it will
a bsord all the gases arising from the
fermentation Of the mass, and retain
them until the roots Of the plants alb
stract them. Pig pens should never
be without charcoal dust where it can
be procured; in privies it deodorizes
the contents and thus forms Il valua.
bic poudrette. Tile Working Farm,
en-.