Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1870-06-08
EAST rrxNrssEr uNIrERsrrY.
Prof. Nicholson. LECTURE ON AgricuIture

We give below an abstract of Prof Nlehoi-
sons lecture on manurng:
Nature is continually manuring the soil OF
uncultivated lands. The wise farmer will fol-
low Natures teachings. There is no soil, how
ever rich. that will not become exhausted with
ont manuring Our American soil was pre-
cminently rich when taken possession ofby the
white people The Virginia farmer titled his
land a great many years without manurlng'
thin king that it needed none, but 1t finally be
came exhausted and was abandoned Tor iresh
land, in the West Yet these lands have been
reclaimed, by draining, manuring, &c: Ma
nuring is not practiced to any extent IN TINS
country.
"Thc only kind of farming which pays is
that which produces large crops; IN 1ruer 70
secure these, food taken from the soil by the
plant must be returned in the form of manure.
We classify manure rs organic and inorganic.
Inorganic manure contains ashes, lime, magne-
sin, gypsum, phosphate, salt etc Ashes con-
tain the elements of good manure, Often,
great quantities of il lie in the ash bank, within
thirty feet of the farmers garden, as If 1t were
of no value, when it is worth $500 per ton.
Ashes may he drilled, sown broadcast, or mix
ed in the manure heap. They improve almost
all soils The quantity must depend on the soil
and crop--12 to 10 bushels to light soils, % to
80 ON heavy. Leached ashes are not as good,
because they have lost some potash and soda.
Grasses, beans, peas, potatoes and roots are
much benefited by ashes. Coal ashes are not
so valuable rs wood ashes.
Lime is the great manipulation and the bes
of all manures for this section. Its sources are
limestone marble, chalk and shells. These
contain, before burning from 30 to 45 per cent.
of carbonic acid. In burning this is expelled,
and the lime is left quick, or caustlc. linen It's
affinity for moisture and carbonic acid is very
great and if exposed to the air, mixed with
earth or water it soon passes again into a car
Donate or hydrate. In this state ut Is used on
the farm. 1t is a panacea for all the ills plants
are heir to. 1t makes heavy land lighter, and
light land heavier. Itdisnfects the atmosphere
and purifes the soil. 1t is the key that unlocks
the wealth of the soil.
Large crops only are profitable. If field
bring but ten bushels of wheat per acre, and 1t
costs eight bushels to grow it, then there can be
only two bushels profit. If the ten bushels can
be made thirty, the profit will be at least fifteen
I'm application, it should be either laid on
the ground in small heaps, in quick state, for
the rain and wind to slack, or covered up in
large piles with earth, and allowed to reduce to
a powder, then spread on when well Stacked ;
or it may be put it into the manure heap 1t
should be kept near the surface
Gypsum is more largely sold, perhaps than
any of the commercial manures. 1t is valuable
when applied to sandy or clayey soil in quanti-
| ties of from two to four bushels per acre 1t is
a specific for clover, and very good for legumi-
nous plants
"The great amount of mineral matter in bones
entities them to be classed among the inorganic
mamres. All parts of the bone are useful. APP
! ply twenty-five bushels to the acre, and renew
every five years, but in less quantity. Worn
! out pastures are much benefited by it.
Salt is good when used alone but mixed one
| part with three parts of ashes and five parts OF
lime, is excellent for corn, and almost all
plants
The speaker then referred to organic manures
explaining their nature, and then gave the com
| parative values of barnyard manures.