St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1868-01-24
THE CALIFORNIAN
farm, Garden and 6itfhfn.
Written for she st. Johnsbury Caledonian
Nd3tiircs---T Their True and Com
yl0I.0tice TdfUe.


Gates. so readily decomposable, that as
much siicate Of potash becomes soluble
each wear, as is required by the leave.
and straw of crop of wheat, while in
other fields that amount is not separated
from the insoluble masses in the soil in
less than two, three or more years. The
tallOw field is that in which the soil, lcti
to the influence of the atmosphere, be-
comes enriched with these mineral con-
stituents. and the principal benefit deriv-
ed from mechanical working of the soil.
las well as by the use of quick-lime) is
the decomposition of the soil. BY ap-
pIicariJn of wood ashes we furnish sub
stance containing silicate of potash exact
y IN the same proportion rs in straw,
while their only other constituents are
salts of phosphoric acid The ashes OF
the beech are most highly valued, and it
is claimed that 100 lbs. of the ashes Of
beech contain as much phosphates as
400 lis. ci fresh human eXcrcment. and
according to DIR. Saussure, 100 parts of
;hc ashes OF the grain of wheat contain
y parts Of soluble, and I4.5 parts in
soluble phosphatcs-in all 1913 parts
Nov the ashes of wheat straw contain
ll.5 per cent. of the same salts, hence
with 100 lbs. ashes of the beech, we sup
ply phosplatcs sufficient to produce $500
lbs. OF straw tits ashes being calculated
at 49, or for $4,000 lbs. of corn. the
ashes OF which amont to l.3 per cent
Ashes represent the whole norrisll-
1nent which vegetables receive from the
soil, but have been poorly appreciated in
this section, considering their true value.
Ii we furnish the soil with ammonia and
the phosphatcs, Which are indispensable
to the ceralia, with the alkalies and al
kaIlne silcates, applying them simuita- |
neously and in proper PROPORTIONS, we
have all the conditions necessary 20 in |
sure an abundant harvest, As the atmos-
phere is AN incXhau>tible store of carbon
ic acid. Decaying organic matter in the
sill, plaster, or su!phulic aciI NAV iacil-
l'ate their development b. supplying the
roots with cIrbunic acid before there are
leaves 10 take it from the atmosphere,
bat il is not essential TO their growth.
Ia times past it has been our custom to
look TO tho solid and fluid excrcments Of
animals for our crop-giving powers, and
t,ev have been justly regarded as prin-
cipal means OF fertilization with every
well-to-lo farmer. 1t he could only yet ,
enough of 1t. he might do very we'll
But tie requirements CT agriculture can =
rarely he met by this alone, as their ,
great bulk consists of vegetable refuse of :
tritiing manurial value. One hundred
parts OF fresh cXcrement OF the COW con !
talns: water $50; carbon G.2: Oxv- :
gon IS: Ashes IL; Hydrogen 0.S:
Nitrogen 0.5.
Onc hundred parts fresh excrements of
the horse contains from 90 TO 75 per |
cent. ot water, and from % to 81 per
cont. Of solids. 1t results, then that with
from 900 TO 1000 lbs fresh horse dung,
We place on the land from 2OOO to 5000
lbs. of water, and from 700 to 900 lbs.
o! vegetable matter and altered calls, and
a,>o from 100 10 270 lbs of salts of in
ur-anic Substances. The latter are evil
dcu!ly the substances to which our at
tten'ion should be directed, for they are
die same which formed the component
parts OF the hay, straw and oats with
which the horse was fed. Their princi-
pal constituents are the phosphates OF
lime. and magupsia, carbonate OF lime
anl siiicatc OF potash; the first three
prepondcratcd in the corn, the latter in
tie hay. The peculiar action, then. of
til solid excromcnts is limited to their
inorganic constituents which thus restore
L. the soil that which is removed. III the
form Of corn, roots, or grain. When We
manure with dung Of cows, or sheep.
We supply ii with silicate of potash and
some >litS Of phosphoric acid. In hu-
man faces we give it the phosphates of
lime and magnesia and in those of the
horse, phosphatcs of magnesia and sill
cate Of potash. In the straw which has
served as litter, we add a further qua
u! OF Nihcate OF potash and pho
which, il the straw 10 ~ P''''''
......,. .,,... llrifed, are in
Simulated ay - Tuition DIS "',' 'S
t,,,x~ ,nr plant. 1t is evident,
r, that Il certain portion Of the
pho-l..tI;e> must be lost every year, be-
IN rem ,.yd from the land with the crops
and c;.tIl. Sent to large towns. We could
k,.p oar fields in constant state of fer
tiiity by replacing every year as muci
IL We remove from in the form of pro-
duce, but an increase of fertility, and
consequent increase OF crops, can only be
obtained when we add more to them than
We t,ke away.
From the foregoing remarks it will
readily be inferred that for animal excre-
meuts. other substances containing their
essential constituents may be substituted.