Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1870-03-24
AGRICULTURAL.
Change Of Natures,

EDS. RURAL AMERICAN 1t is essential
to successful farming that we know what
kind OF manure our various crops require,
also when to change from one to another
To elucidate this point little, shall de-
vote this article to the consideration of the
subject.
In the first place, let us see what are
some OF the more important elements con-
tanned In our common crops. According TO
Prof. johnson and some other chemists of
equal note, wheat contains of potash and
soda 3S per cent, lime 3, magnesia u. and
OF phospho.ic acid 40 per cent. oats 20 of
potash and soda, 6 Of lime, 10 ofmagnesia,
and A per cent. of phosphoric acid; bar
ley % IL per cent. of potash and soda,
l-2 of lime, l-2 of magnesia, and SO per
cent. phosphoric acid; rye 33 per cent.
of potash and soda, of lime, 10 IL of ma
gnesia, and 4s l2 OF phosphoric acid: In
dian corn 32 l-2 per cent. ofpotash and So
da, l-2 of lime, 10 of magnesia, and A. of
phosphoric acid; turnips 81 l-2 per cent.
OF potash and soda, IL Ia OF lime. 3 of
msgnesia, and IL l-2 of phosphoric acid /:
potatoes 5s of potash and soda, of lime
ofmagnesia, and u l-2 ofphosphoric acid
BY inspecting the above per ccntum>.
we may readily see that marked differences
exist in the proportions of the elements
contained in these crops.
Oats contain PC per cent. of potash and
soda, while potatoes as much a IS; and
then wheat 80 of the same. while turnips
contain 81 l-2 per cent. Indian corn has
l-2 per cent. of lime. and turnips / IA
again Indian corn has l6per cent of ma
gnesia, and turnips only of paosphoric
acid, wheat contains ~ per cent. and po-
tatoes only IL 1-2
On the other hand some OF the crops
3d. ~
Thus wheat and rye have each 80 per cent.
of potash and soda; wheat ~. rye ~ -
per cent of phosphoric acid: oats 10 and
rye 10 l-2 per cent. Of phosphoric acid
From these comparisons il viii be seen
that manure very rich in phosphorie acid
is excellent for wheat. oats, barley. rye and
corn; but would be injurious to iurnips or
potatoes. Again, il will be seen that a
dressing of lime that would make turnips
flourish, would kill potatoes or wheat: po-
tatoes and turnips take up largely of pota-
sh and soda. while oats and barley rc-
quire about half SO much then again whea,
and rye require considerable masnesia
but turnlps AMI potatoe very little.
Now if wish a large crop of tunips,
dress them Literally with the ashes of hare
wood, since the ashes are rich in pota>l
and lime, but so much would not do fol
wheat or rye; these require phosphoriC
acid: for that reason | apply bone dust
Poudrette is excellent for the same reas, n
Barnyard manure comes in play for mos
any crop, but the trouble is. we cannot get
enough of it.
But there is another reason why W,
should change our manures occasionally
The soil lc0uid become s0fnrated-so I.
spedI--trh one or a fer clements. and bar
ren IN others. Thus suppose | appl,
ashes year after year. and nothing else
don't II show very plain that my soil would
be filled with potash 10 excess. but poor in
phosphor:c acid or some other clemen;
equally important.
Ii i apparent to some of the West Jcr-
sey" farmers. that on their fields whcr,
mari has been used Literally for years. il
does not seem to tell now a. il d.a former.
ly, because the soil is saturated with it
he soil, therefore. requires Somcthin.
that Will act in another direction. so il i
through the lists of crops and fertilizers
There must be a wise discrimination. else
our efforts end in disappointment and loss.
john =. EVANS.