St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1871-01-20
Farmers CIUG.

LETTER FROM Hon. +. Il. CARPENTER.
LOWER WATERFORD, Vi,
Jan. IL. 1871.
Sec. Of PISS Farmers CLUB :-Dem'
81. ] herewith send you 4 trial of Ter
tilizcrs for potatoes, First, ashes in the
hill at the rate Of about 20 bushels TO
the acne. Second, ashes s parts, plaster
l part, and salt part, a handful in the
hill. Third, forest leaves in the hill.
found by actual weight that ashes
alone increased the crop 20 per cont
ashes, plaster and salt, 1877 per cent,
but that forest leaves decreased the crop
I33 per cent. The Season being 50 eN-
tlcmcly dry was peculiarly uniavorable
TO the use of leaves, and should expect
better results in moist season. The
ground where tbs experiment was tried
was planted to corn last year, well ma
nurcd, but no manure was put on this
year 1t is Il deep, warm soil, somewhat
slaty. | had yield Of at least 800 bush
els to the acre and had | used ashes on
Tie whole field it would have increased
the crop 80 bushels, 50 that for 20 BUSH
els Of ashes | should have received GO
bu-hcl, f potatoes.
Science teaches tliat potatoes require
large amount Of potash TO perfect them-
Larger in fact than any otlcr crop we
raise ana | have thought that perhaps
the want o. potash WAS one occasion Of
the rot that las prevailed in years past,
AMI that nature had taken the matter Of
supply into her own Lands and partially
destroyed the crop 10 rctum2rate herself
for the long continued drain that has been
made upon her. believe il Is conceded
that ,tuLb!c ground IS the b,st for po,a-
tcc-->ward ground the best, grain stub
lie next best; and tic reason l. that the
stubhIc of grass and grain contain Il large
amount Of potash. Bat this siubbIc Is
not caough to supply tlc "an:s OF con-
slant cropping, and the supply must lie
furnished 10y Tie farmer.
But it docs not follow tlat a,hcS are
the best remedy in oil eases, for the ret-
son That there Is great variety of soil
Some soils are sour, as indicated by the
growth OF sorrcl: in Others Il LARGE amour!
of muck or other organic matter Is ;;bun-
,lant Su Il soils must Gc treated will
lime, which Will correct sourucs> and
has;cn the decomposition of the organic
matter, aud also il will cause tl.e mineral
part, of the sill t. crumblc, and thus Il
larger supply Of earthly matter, ncIud-
ing potash i prepared tor plant use
Lime should he applied as a top-lrcs>ing
for the tendency Of lime i 10 settle int
the soil-anl it should, as General rule
be Stacked in stromg brine. | sowcd
some mangcl wurtz,l seed from Henry
Llne Of Curnw,ll, Vt, and could not St,
much difference 10y weight in the yirl,
over the common rcd variety of the shops
| planted some of the southern swcc
corn for fodder and think it al,o9clhcl
better than any other variety have cvr
seen. Respectfully yours.
+. Il CAErENrEE
The subject for tie day WIS lhen dis
cu>sed-"Manure and its application"
j. T. Foster .aiI manure WAS former
ly considered To M an the cXcrcmcnt Q
domestic animals. but science has t.lgh
Us that other substances are OF equal val
ue Done a-Lc~, plaster and .unno will
surerpho>plate Of lime, are AL cillcicn
fertilizers if uS.d in accordance will
scientific principles lie deprecated tn
unwilIinrmcss Of farmers 10 adopt thc-
principle, iii their farm operations
j. Dow believed that manure shoul,
he as near the surface a. tn harrow
would lear il. Top-drcS,ing was IN OK
ample. His G.rm was generally mis-
and rather heavy land preferred Il lar@
: manure heap to any other fertilizer.
ID. Chapman, formerly soap maker,
w;Is asked the difference in measure @
lcachcd and un.crchcl ashes, and SAT-
that thirty bushels OF dry ashes woul,
n measure twenty-five bushels wien leach
cd, and that lie sid them !or onc-hal
the price of unlcached.
VIM. McLcran. Bones have bccr
carried from our farms for series G
=. years, until the soil is sadly deficient il
that element. A little attention to villa
>, are thought small matters, would dUubl
the amount Of manure made on the farm
: After making all he could, he Lad use
A about onc-half ton of guanc, sowed 4O
lbs. TO the acre, ON high fcld,-lha
: lldu never uccii lndIluIcu-!iau DCSn /
: oats two years, Il light crop each year
then sowcl i: to wheat, stocked dow
o with grass, got twenty-five bushels {
c wheat to the acre and a good crop of ha,
!. last year, in spite of the drouth. It
: cost of the 500 lbs. Of guano used on I'll
two acres did not cost rs Womb IN
hauling the same value of manure iron
his yard, and here is where the prof