Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1869-11-11
,farllt \ fireside.


LETTER FROM DAVID STEWART, NJ. D., TO
THOMAS b. ooURsEY.
The following letter is written by Doctor
David Stewart, in answer to one recently
addressed TO him by Mr.. Coursey, and pub
lished in our columns -
MRT.B. CouRsEY, OF FREDERICK, DILL
As some men are inspired to write that
which is OF "no private Interpretation, |
have taken the liberty to answer your very
polite and interesting letter of the 18th ult.,
through paper which favors its readers
with some of your choice essays on agricul-
ture. AS few practical farmers can appre-
ciate Gas you do) the Importance of the
department attributed to me, and not half
of these, perhaps, understand Gas you do)
the language OF science in this relation,
will take the liberty to explain and popular
ize my answers to your questions as briefly
as possible.
First, as to the policy of burning vegetable
matter in order to economic its use on the
farm: This have advised under certain
circumstances, but generally discourage.
An extreme case once occurred which may
illustrate the idea. received (while at An
napolis) a sample of soil from one of our
Southern States, described as above tide
water many ieet-eight feet in depth, &C.
1t yielded more than half its weight of
water, and, although perfectly black,
was entirely vegetable or carbonaceous.
except about five per cent. of sand
that appeared perfectly white, when the
other elements were exposed to a high
temperature or burnt off and the ashes re-
moved. Now in this case ''soil burning
was certainly indicated in order TO increase
the relative proportion of earthly matter-it
is also successfully practiced in Europe
where old pasture lands become super-sat-
urated with organic remains or vegetable
lnatter-but where the proportion is much
smaller nitrate of Soda or caustic lime in
duces a slow combustion o. soil burning the
former perhaps acting sometimes as ma
| nure and the latter by determining the kind
of combustion that shall take place, produc-
| ing the same effect rs saltpetre and much
more economically. In ether words lime not
| only rots all vegetable and animal matter
causing its slow combustion, but arranges its
elements so as to form ammonia. whereas
| without lime the same soil would form NAL
aria or carburetted hydrogen, sulphuratted
| hydrogen and phosphoretted hydrogen. Lime
with very small proportion of potash is
seven fold more active, ana even soda WiH
The acid Of heat will aid lime, but
soda is not only weaker but worth
less as measure compared with potash
or even with lime. | have demonstrated
then that oil farmers practice soil-burning
iwho use lime; but the question has refer
cnce TO the combustion of vegetable mattel
outside of the soil, and this sometimes pro
duces effects which can hardly be attributed
to the small proportion of ashes that result
but rather to the disintegration or change
produced on the surface of the soil wher,
straw is spread and then burned The SAINT
sort of change or disiniegration is produced
in soil by following or weathering it, that Il
Immediately produced by superficial scorch
ing as described. Both processes, howevc
effectual, are generally not economical, an,
should be discouraged, however apparent,
beneficial.
do not discredit the experience of prac
teal farmers in this respect, but / an
satisfied that this is most wasteful an,
unnecessarily laborious disposition of vcge
table refuse which should never be move,
!, fifty yards from the original deposit on an
farm, except il is so combined as to be wort
at least five dollars per ton as u manur
, anywhere. Whereas the manure of til
barn yard is seldom worth fifty cents pc
load, as may be easily demonstrated.
Having answered this question, | wi
proceed 10 answer the remaining in anothe
letter, and then indicate the most econom
+ cal appropriation Of vegetable refuse o
f the farm.
Respectfully, your friend,
DAVID STEWART, NJ. ID.
r POIT PENN, DEL, Nov. LIST, 1869.