Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1859-02-10
no. A.
agrlrMltural.
ABSORBENT POWER OF SOILS.

| absorption, defined by Webster as 1.-THE
act or process of imbibing by substances
which drink in and retain liquids" is a
quality possessed by all soils in greater or
less degree And Of this difference in ca
pacity, especially as regards absorbing and
retaining manures, something has long been
known, and has given rise to the application,
of the terms hungry and quick to
loose and gravelly soils, because they donot
long show the effect, and speedily manifest
the action of manures, while clays were said
to hold" the fertilizing matters applied.
The Investigations of chemistry show that
beside what would naturally result from the
different mechanical action-the compact
ness or porosity Of the soil-there are differ
ences in their chemical afinities for acids,
alkalies and gases, which vary their power
of absorbing and retaining the elements Of
fertility derived from manures. i4s.i3
| zgLoamy and aluminous soils were found by
Prof. Way to possess the power, when used
as leach or filter, of retaining the ammo
MIA, phosphoric acid, potash, etc., contained
in the drainage of a London sewer-the very
elements most valuable for manure-and to
have the wonderful property, not only to
select, but to retain these elements against
every power naturally brought to bear upon
them, save the growth of plants themselves.
"A power" he remarks, ''is here found to
reside in soils, by virtue Of which not only
is rain unable to wash out of them those So
luble ingredients forming unnecessary eondi,
ton of vegetation, but even these compounds
when introduced artifcially by manures, are
laid hold Of any loss, either. by rain OF eva
poration." 5'i'@ qua 4s@3 '5i" 9 -
These conclusions seem to show that on
most soils Gone class Of experiments was.
made with light loam manure may be apr,
piled at any time in the season with equal
good results=-that there is. no odangerIofloss
when actually mixed with the soil, eitherby
filtration or eva poration Further exper;9
ments are needed to prove the absolute cor
rectness Of these conclusions to the general
mind, but there are those who believe they
may act upon them with safety. If estab-
lished, much labor may be saved in the ap-,
plication of manures. They may be drawn
in the fall and iplowed under, or left spread
upon the surface, or may be distributed in
winter instead Of Immediately before plant
ing and sowing which is ever the most hur-
rying season of the year. For ourself, on
clays or heavy lands, we would not hesitate
to act upon these uggestions.5 .5sif3aa =, zaai
Some experiments tried in England sew,
eral years sinceby Mr.. Thompson. to asccr-o
tain the power Of the soil to retain uninlg
paired in value, manure applied during win,
ter, and also its power to hold in suspension.
the fixed ammonia Of barnyard tanks and
manure heaps, resulted in the following de-
duction 81. That clay soilsmight be man-I
ured considerable time before sowing with
out loss. 2. That light, shallow soils should
not be .manured heavily at one time; and the
manure should be kept as near the surface
as possible without leaving it uncovered. g.
That it is desirable to deepen the cultivated,
soil on all Light land, as it thus gives it ..
greater power of retaining manure!L
That all soils possess considerable power
Of absorbing and retaining manure, is well
known; but the great question Of the most
economical application Of different fertilizers
is, and will long remain an open one, and,
one upon which every farmer can do more
or less to satisfy himself by practical expert
ment. Let those who can, throw light upon
the subject, for it is one of large Importance
in agriculture.-C Country Gentleman.
WATER PRooF CLOTHING FOR NEGROES.
We give from the Scientific american tho
following method of rendering negro cloth
ing proof against dews and showers; t..
Il '.Take one pound of wheat bran and one
ounce of glue, and boil them in three gall
Ions of water in tin vessel for half an hour.
Nou, lift Tho x7acco1 frnp, tho f3rosa IA c<A1
aside for ten minutes; during this period
the bran viii fall to the bottom, leaving a
clear liquid above, which is to be poured OFF,,
and the bran thrown away one pound Of
bar soap cut to small prices is to be dissolv-.
ed in it. The liquor may be put on the fire.
in theetin pan, and stirred until all the soap
| is dissolved. In another vessel one pound
Of alum is dissolved in half gallon Of wa
ter; this is added to the soap-bran LIQUID
while it is boiling, and all well stirred; this
forms the water -proofng liquid It is used
while cool. The textile fabric to be render
ed water proof is immersed in it, and press
ed between the hands until it is perfectly
saturated: It is now wrung, to squeeze out
as much of the free liquor as possible; then
shaken or stretched, and hung up to dry in
a warm room, or in a dry atmosphere out
doors. When dry, the fabric or cloth, so
treated, will repel rain and moisture, but al
low the air or perspiration to pass through it,
''The alum, gluten. gelatine and soap
unite together, and form an insoluble COM
pound, which coats every fibre of the textile
fabric, and when dry, repels water like the
natural oil in the feathers of duck. There