Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1868-01-30
EMPIRICAL AGRICULTURE.

EMPIRICAL AGRICULTURE.
The Estimataon Of Manures, etc.. by
their apparent tnnuence--"Posf hoe
propter hoc.''
BY DAVID STEWART, NJ. D., PORT PENN, DEL
Aman who has received the medal for the
successful management of his farm may be
supposed to be capable of judging with re-
gard to the progress of corn crop. Such
an one assured me that the difference in cf-
feet of manure applied before and after
rain resulted in producing a good crop of
corn in the former and failure of his crop
in the latter case. If the application of any |
fertilizer had been made before the rain to |
compare with stable manure or any other |
variety subsequently,, the contrast would
have invited the attention Of the whole |
neighborhood, and its publication would I'D
vance the interests OF some manufacturer,
but fortunately the article used was Peru
Wan Guano. This was spread broad cast at
the rate of 800 pounds to the acre, soon af-
ter the corn was planted, to part of the field,
the application being suspended by heavy
rain. The remainder Of tie guano was APP
piled in the same proportion TO the other
part Of the field "as soon as cart could be
driven through it after the RAIN" II the
guano had been purchased in two parcels,
the latter would have been regarded as
adulterated, although bearing the brand of
the inspector. The reasonable inference
from the fact above stated Is, that certificates
should be received with grain of salt"
and an illustration is thus given of the i'm
portance of the following axiom of the cele-
brated Baron Justus Liebig the philosopher
whose labors in relation to agriculture, have
thus far placed him at the head of the list in
the nineteenth century:
'The negative results of experiments made
without the guidance of just principles do not
gain in value by their multiplication and millions
of them do not outweigh one successful expert
ment If the cause of its success be recognized
and ascertained.''
Another man who was much distinguished
by the agricultural society above referred
TO, soaked several varieties of seed, corn,
peas, beets, &C., in blood, and other fertil
izing solutions, also other portions of the
same seed in pure water, these were al
planted at the same time, III alternate rows
with the seed that had not been soaked
The contrast was so great not only witt
regard to the first vegetation Of the seed
but also the subsequent growth &c, that /
was supposed valuable discovery had bee
made, but the same experiment, repeated o
the following spring reversed the order .
vegetation &C., indeed the soaked seed rar'
ly gave any evidence of growth Gf the
terminated at all?). Whereas the seed thu
were not soaked grew finely after the fir
rain. Again the same individual purchase
some Usage Orange Cor hedge plant see
at ~ or - per pound from /. seed store
Philadelphia, the proprietor of which
distinguished for his care and skill in
lecting choice seed, and his publications
such matters One of these publcatio
recommended that the seed be infused
boiling water in order to facilitate sprol
ing. Fortunately it was suspected that e
piricism was the foundation for this dire
tion and it was tested, as follows Abou
ounces Of water was poured into each
three small wide-mouthed bottles in o
case at the boiling point (2l2el in the seco
at 1903, and in the third bottle at the tel
perature of the air, less than toaspooni
(lalf drachm) of the seed was put in
each bottle and when all had acquired t
same temperature, sufficicncy Of seed "
added the water. The seeds that We
soaked in cold water germiuacd frs, the
soaked in water at l5Os next, but those
posed to the water at PIP boiling wat
did not terminate. Subsequently all W,
separately planted and the result confirm
the empirical origin of the direction
rationale Of which is probably as follow
Although the seeds were not boiled
this case, but infused" neverthelc
all were destroyed. having acqui
the temperature II 2l2s. Whereas,
,linarily, only part Of the seed upon VIII
boiling water is poured, are exposed
the high temperature, and this proport
must vary with the relative quantity of
seed to the water, for instance, if pin
seed at l00e were infused in water at 81
the mean of the two temperatures or all
56s would be the result of the MKT,
nevertheless, those On the surface thro
which the boiling water was poured VIC
be destroyed, hut large part of the (
would not entirely lose their vitality
they would confirm the idea that 'sboi
water does not destroy the germina
principle in seed, but may be safely use
hasten the soaking process necessary in
der to early termination.
All seed contain an element called album
which, like the white of an egg, coagul
at any temperature over l5tis. viz; it
comes solid and insoluble, this elemei
probably necessary to the formation of
lase, another principle formed by e
seed, this principle has s,upnndous po
Icing twenty times as strong is the Hero
among acids; viz: able TO do twenty Il
the work of oil of vitriol in converting
starch that corn and other seed contain
sugar and the peculiar punishment of
embryo plants. If the prompt generate
seed is secured by soaking and dry
of weather succeeds, il were better tina
seed had been planted without any
preparation. In the use of all fertili
especially lime, an unmanurcd strip i
centre of each field should indicate the
iud at which such applications cease
remunerative, as it has been demonst
that the best manures that pay well
subsequently be excelled on the same
by Others that become relatively def
in proportion to the application of the
er but not because they are relatively
valuable as is usually the inference
one appears to excel another.
Phosphaths are mere valuable in til
tumn in proportion to their soublit,
pecially if in good order for drilling ,Ui,
seed, but very important item in til
lation is generally overlooked, viz
should be acid and this is seldom the