Des Arc weekly citizen., 1867-04-06
Agricultural.


 ACTION OF LIME ON SoIL.--Thc dis tinguished chemist Boussingault has just read before the French Academy of Sciences paper on the employment of lime in agriculture, as follows: "Lime introduced in an arabic soil very quickly sets at liberty certain quantity of azote in the state of ammo nia; the azote clements were before united in insolublc combinations, not assimilable to plants--the action of the lime sets them free, and permits a part of the capital buried ill the soil to be utilized for the next crop" If this was the whole effect of lime, of which the experiments of Boussingault afford- cd evidence, small doses of it at once ought to be connseled, because the quantity of ammonia produced does not increase in proportion to the quan- tity of lime used. But as heavy lim- ings produce incontestible effects ill certain cases, it must consequently be admitted that lime excrts an action of seme other kind upon the elements of the mold. Boussingault thinks that certain mineral matters, such as potash and silicia, may be liberated i'll the soil by lime; that other substances injuri- ous to plants arc destroyed or modified by the same agent, and that to these effects is added, moreover, physical action, changing the constitution of the land. The action of lime is thus excess sively complex, and it's good effects can only be explained by studying at tentirely the special circumstances un- der which they arc produced. The grand fact proven by the present re- searches of this agricultural sayan is that there exists in mold, as well in the form of organic matters, host of substances completely inert for vegeta- ton, until the moment when some proper agent renders them assimiiable by plants. The continuance of experi- ments upon the method devised by Boussingault can alone clear up these excessively complex facts, and point out to our agriculturalists the most eff fective process. The discovery Of of methods which conduct to truth is often the greatest service that can be rendered to science and art.
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 PROFIT IN BEE KEEpING.-As proof that bookkeeping, as a business, pays as well as or better than any branch of horticulture, I would state that I am now offered for my bees, S1,500 cash. It is not yet six years since paid $20 for the four stands with which I com menced the business. l have never bought hive since. So this is the in crease of my capital in five seasons, saying nothing of the bees, honey and wax sold ill the meantime, sor the pleasure derived from the business. Now that have so many hives, find the profit increasing every year, with out requiring more time and labor than bestowed on few. So far from there being any danger of over-stock- ing, find that my bees have done bet ter the two past poor seasons than many have done where there were but a few hives kept in one place, and am convinced that where they are man. aged rightly, hundreds of colonies will do well where one will To accom- plish this, however, it is indispensable to have them strong and vigorous in spring, that they may take advantage of the whole honey harvest.-[Ellen s. Tupper in Iowa Agricultural Report.
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 FooD FOR CHICKENs.-After crumbs of bread and egg, feed oat-meal or barley meal, slightly moistened with new milk or water, and curd chopped small, for some days. The very small tailings of wheat are the best food for them afterwards, until they are old enough to swallow and digest larger corn. When the whole brood are matched, the usual method is to place them with their mother for some days under coop in a retired place, and with food and water outside the bars, so that tho chicks may run in and out at pleasure. If the hen were free too soon, she would take the chicks pre- maturely into places unfit for them, and half blind them with the dust she would raise when rolling in it, and scratching away violently, according to the habits of fowls. After a week or so she may, however, be allowed to walk about with her brood under pre- cautions.
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 LICE ON CArTIE.-A correspondent of tho New England Farmer finds that mixture of lard and kerosene oil--a little more lard than oil--well mixed l and thoroughly rubbed into the hair of lousy cattle once or twice, to be q dead l shot; not q lousc will escape.