The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1867-02-20
AGRICULTURAL.
Chemistry on the Farm.

ford, OF this State, whowas travel
ling in Europe, and making inves-
tigationsin agricultural chemistry,
wrote a series of very interesting
letters on the subject, to the jour
mails at home devoted to the farm
and the garden. We have had
the pleasure Of scanning one
two of the Professor'sletters, sent
from Germany, which were replete
with valuable information upon
the subject named, and desire to
present, for the benefit Of our ag-
riculturists some Of the facts con-
tanned therein. A letter. sent from
Giessen, to the Albany CuItjuator,
was particularly interesting, The
subject Of ammonia in the soils
which had arrested the attention
of Liebig, was specially treated
upon, and the results of the eX-
perimeuts of DR.. KnQcker brought
forward, to confirm the views Of
the great chemist. The writer
stated that an experiment showed
that if aqua ammonia be poured
upon a funnel filed with fine clay,
the filtrate is simple water; prov
ing the affinity that ammonia has
for the allumina every particle
of it remained in the clay. Here
is a comprehensive explanation
of one Of the known advantages Of
an alluminous soil. Another was
brought.to light, showing the val
ne Of clay for the growth of grains;
It is the presence of phosphate Of
allumina in vastly greater profu
sion than was formerly supposed,
. or revealed by analysis. Soluble
silica, which gives to the straw it's
strength, more or less in quantity,
is also a characteristic of this soil.
The clays owe their origin to
the decomposition Of the fields
Pathie rocks. How this decompo-
sition Is effected has been, until
within a short time, altogether un-
known, Light has been shed upon
the matter, by the labors of anal
ysis, in porcelain manufactures;
and, ere long, no doubt, light will
rest upon the whole natural pro
cess.
The feldspars are silicate Of alu-
nina and alkalies. A certain per
centage of the siicate. Of potash,
or soda, is first dissolved in water,
or carbonated water, and flows
out, leaving behind a mineral rich
er, in alumina and also>in silica, i'll
proportion to the potash, than be-
fore. Mere carbonated water re
moves more potash and silica,
leaving purer alumina behind.
This is the clay. The degree of
purity, and it's quality for pottery,
depend upon. the meteorological
character of its.situation.
We are still at the commence
ment Of the solution of great
many questions deeply interesting
to the farmer our supplies Of pot
ash, by-and-by, are to come from
where 2?-and of soluble silica from
where 2-and the phosphate from
where ? These questions, chem
istry, with the aid of an intelligent
and generous agricultural people,
will answer in time. ~~-...- ..
Since Professor Horsford wrote,
great changes have taken place in
the agricultural sections of this
country in fact, in all sections,
embracing, we should say, those
devoted to agriculture. :. These
changes have resulted il so raising
the value of labor, that there was
never SO great need Of a short, and
economical road to agricultural re-:
suits !.
Weeannot afford, to day, to farm
it blindly, as our fathers did, twep-
I've years ago. Manure is as dear
as {. gold mind, and full as valua-
BE. Chemistry must tell us how
TO use manure with economy and
to do this. we must know what
the soil needs, in order to get good
crops from it, and what it does
not need, that we may waste no
fertilizer. FarTaers must study
agriculture as science, from now
on. -.--...-..,