The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1870-09-21


= can, Potagonian and other varie
tics arc much inferior.
AGRICULTURAL FALuE.-Thc ag
ricultural value Of guano lies prin
cipally in the ammonia and phos
phatc OF lime which it is capable
of yielding to plants. These con
stitutc, in the best varieties, about
onc-third of the whole weight.-
Part Of the ammonia is ready
formed, and part is produced il
the subsequent change which tho
nitrogcnous matter Of the guanc
experiences in the soil. The lat
ter may be produced Immediately
by chemical process, and it,
quantity accurately determined
In estimating the value Of guano
it is customary to record the guam
tity Of this potential ammonia, as
; if it were an existing constituent
ARTIFICIAL AMMoNIA.-Thc con.
stitucnts Of the ammonia which
we purchase in the form Of guano
at so great expense and bring
from distant regions of the earth,
exist in unlimited quantities at
our very doors. Four-ffths Of tho
atmosphere is nitrogen gas, and
the ocean is an cXhaustless rescr-
voir Of hydrogen. But, strange to
say, the chemist with all his skill,
cannot, except by circuitious and
expensive methods, effect their
combination. The discovery of
some cheap and ready means of
accomplishing this object, would
transform the face Of the earth,
by the unlimited quantity of fer
tilizing material which it would
supply. This result may, per-
haps, be reached by patient inves-
! tigation. But no sudden triumph
over nature need be anticipated.
improvements in agriculture will,
as a general thing, be only real
lied by the earnest cooperation
of scientific and practical mon, in
laborious and oft-rcpcatcd expert
mcnt.
EXHAUSTION OF SoILs.-Whon
soils become exhausted Of those
substances which form the mine
raj food Of plants, the growth Of
vegetation ceases. 1t is never alb
solute, but consists in a great
reduction Of that portion Of
their material which is in q con-
dition to be appropriated by the
growing plant. Such soils are
gradually restored by rest. A
gradual decomposition Of their in
soluble material occurs by means
Of agencies which have before
been mentioned, and the soil is
thus restored to it's original con-
dition. These effects arc very
much fastened by blowing in such
q growth as can be obtained. Rye,
buckwhcat and clover are among
the plants best adapted to the
purpose. Vegetable matter is thus
added to the Soil, which, in its de-
cay, hastens the decomposition of
the soil itself.
DEFICIENCY OF ONE OR MORE
CoHsTIrUESTs.-Thc comparative
exhaustion Of some one or more Of
the constituents Of the soil is
much more frequent occurrence.
1t is commonly the result Of tho
cultivation Of the same crop du,
ring many successive seasons, and
the consequent reduction of those
materials which the particular
plant requires in largest proper
ton. deterioration Of soils from
this cause is repaired by an arti-
fcial supply Of the failing ingrc,
dicnts. 1t is more wisely guard,
ed against by such a rotation Of
crops as shall make different de-
mands upon the soil in successive
years.
MAINTENANCE OF FERTILITY
The effect Of dccomposing animal
matters on the soil has been al |
ready considered. They return
the very material which was ab- |
stracted from the soil, with the !
addition Of heterogeneous matter
originally derived from the air by !:
the growing plant. In an cnlight-
cncd system of rural economy, the !
production Of these materials in
large quantity and their careful
preservation. is therefore an object !
of paramount importance. The ad- |
dition Of gypsum or dilute sulphu-
ric acid to tcrmcnting manures, is
Of great advantage in retaining !
their ammonia in the form of sui
phate and preventingits escape in
to the air. When additional ammo
MIA is required, it is most cheaply
obtained in the form Of guano. The
phosphatcs, whose quantity may
be often increased with advantage,
arc best supplied in the form Of
''super-phosphatc Of lime" Other
are less frequently re-
quired. For further information
on the subject Of the present Sec
ton. the student is referred to
works which treat especially Of
\ Agr;cultural Chemistry.
"SUpERpHosruATE OF LINE. -
The method employed in the
Of 'supcrphosphate
If lime" has been already given
C,1+e. IN 4