Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-09-17

it pays the farmer we'll 10 secure a good
supply. / cannot help remarking, how.
ever, in this connection, that many of the
statements made by chemists and journals
writer's regarding the value of muck or
peat are simply absurd, ami are proved
erroneous by practical experiment. The
great value Of peat, after all, lies in the
absorbent qualities.
SEWAGE OF WASHINGTON CITY
The Report of the Department of Agrl-
culture for May and June gives a paper by
DIR. Antisell npon the E'Value of Sewage
Deposits of the City Of Washington. 1t
seems hat large part of the sewage Of
the city is discharged III the broad canal
on the northern border Of the public
grounds west of the Capitol Dr. Antisell
speaks OF the emanations from the canal
as ''potent causes of disease" and it is
stated that "the color and oGor of the mud
give vivid and strong Impressions Of
fertility" A careful analysis of this mud
is given by him, and the result shows that
it has no value as manure which will pay
for transporting it at all. From. 100 lbs.
OF the mud dry enough to transport % lbs
of moisture may be dried. The remain
ing Is lbs. he found to contain 1925 lbs.
of insOluble sand and siicates, and, 3-75
lbs of saline matter. From one ton he
estimates that fertilizing materials to the
value of % cents may be obtained, "to
obtain which, the farmer would have to
haul 300 lbs. Of water and 800 HIS of use
less sandy clay.
CONCLUSION.
We all remember when we we're Young
and were obliged to go to meeting all day,
how joyfully we heard the minister's fifth
ly and sixthly, followed by finally, and how
disappointed we were to hear him set in
anew with series of refections But real
ly the scattered facts and opinions which l
have drawn together, seem to need some
kind OF arrangement to give them consis-
tency, and I will conclude my sermon with
thesfollowing moral reflections
First-Although as a good citizen of a
commonwealth which has prohibitory Ii
quor law, [ have a profound respect for
cold water. 1t seems to be folly to haul a
ton of it many miles, for the sake of 250
lbs. of peat Or muck, which is then half
sand.
Secondly-However essential slick may
be to vegetation, yet since most of our soil
contains plenty of it, it is unwise to cart it
into our cellars except as an absorbent, or
to use upon peats and clays.
Thirdly-We may learn from DIR. Anti
sell that the sense of smell is very unsafe
test of the value of manures. Two or
three dead cats will scent ton of spurious
superphosphate to an intolerable degree,
while the pure article is nearly inodorous
His statement also shows our liability to
mistake bulk for value, and confirms opin-
ions of scientific men, so often given, that
the sewage of cities in the common system
of drainage is practically worthless for ag
ricultural purposes, because too bulky to
pay freight.
Feurthly-When we consider that 80 per
cent at least of even our farm manure is
water and sand, we may see that very
small bulk comprises all that is really val
liable, and that it is not Incredible that 500
lbs. of the right stuff per acre is enough
for crop, and that commercial fertilizers
honestly made and properly Inspected and
certified, may be proftably used in the
production of valuable crops After con-
suming the fodder raised on our farms, we
must look in that direction for the furth-
er supply of manure.-Coonatr:y Gent.