Des Arc weekly citizen., 1867-05-25
Agricultural.

Stili nearer home than II tllnk-
 ss "A ----<--4> ~ups- -------7---~- Prom tho Rural Gentleman. s4
 Agricultural.
 w soRGANIc MAKuREs. a.se s
 Tho following conclusions may be re- garded as scientifically sustained, as well as confirmed, by practical cxperi-
 l. That fresh human ulinc yields nj trogen in greater abundance to vegeta- ton than any other material of easy acquisition and that the urine of ani- mals is valuable for the same purpose, but not equally so.
 ?. That tliemixed cxcrcmcntso of man and animals yieldd fcarcfUlly preserved from further decomposition,) not only nitrogen, but other invaluable saline and earthly matters that have been all ready extracted in food from the soil.
 8. That animal substances which, like urine, flesh, and blood, decompose rapidly, are fitted to operate IMMEDI- ATELY and powerfully on vegetation.
 i. That DRY animal, substances, as horn, hair, or wooicn rags, decompose slowly, and (weight for weight con- tain greater quantity oforganized as well as unorganized materials, mani- festing their influence it may be for several seasons. Ss
 5. That bones, acting like horn, in so far as their animal matter is concTned, and like it for number of seasons more or less, according as they have been more or less finely crushed, may ameli- orate the soil by their earthly matter for a long peSspd, (even if the jelly they contain have becn injnriously removed by the size maker). permanently im- proving the condition and adding 10 the natural capabilities of the land.
 USES OF GuANo. s
 This manure is powerful stimulant to vegetable development generally; it is especially available in raising wheat, corn, potatoes, garden vegetables and tobacco. If the land needs it, if may be put on as often as crop is to be raised i; though not, it is said, as top dressing. For wheat, 159to 200 lbs. of guano may be used to the acre; for Indian corn, 300 to 400 lbs, unless it is put directly in the hills, when 100 lbs. per acre will do.a For potatoes, 300 to 400 lbs, in a drill, with bone dust. The addition of the latter makes the good effects of the guano more durable.
 MINERAL FERTILIZERS.
 Simple lime, although an important constituent of plants, is rarely suitable as an application to them in it's pure state. Carbonate of lime Represented by chalk, etc.,o is natural ingredient in very many soils. The sulphate of lime (gypsun, plaster of Paris, } is often used for fertiIizing purposes. Itis less easily decomposed than the carbonate. The precise conditions which made it most advantageous, are not positively determined yet. Phosphate of lime is very important constituent of plants 1; and, as it exists also in the bones of animals, double relation follows: :: namely, that it should be abundant in soil on which plants are raised for food of men and animals; and, on the other hand, that animal bones contributeit it to thessoil when they decay uponit.
 Wood ashes contain a large amount of carbonate of potassa, with, also the sulphate and silicitatc of that alkali. Peat ashes vary in different regions, but always are found useful as manure. Kelp, or the ashes of sea weeds, are often employed in the same way; they contain soda in considerable amount. Nitrite of potassa (nitre or saltpetre) is said to quicken vegetable action when added to the soil, and to give the leaves deeper green. A hundred pounds to the acre of grass or young corn, have been reported to produce q beneficial effect. In localities far in- land, common salt. chloride of sodium, is indispensable to the soil, although a small amount of it will suffice. Ani- mal manures contain it. An excess of salt will render land barren as was ..ll IA 4 !.