Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1871-11-07
agricultural
Maine Board of agriculture.
semi-AnnuaI Session and Farmers Com
vention.


what the soil is wanting in. Plants take
certain elements from the soil, and ir any
soil is deficient in certain element. as
phosphoric acid or As potash. in the for
mer case Super-phoSphate is necessary
in the latter, ashes answer the purpose.
Ashes from the furnaces with the tall
chimneys at the saw mills on the Penob.
scot are not very valuable, because the
finer and more valuable portion of the
ashes is drawn up and carried away .leav
ing only the cOarSer and less valuable
portions. These have been found to con.
tain hardly trace Of potash, and rs OF
but little value at trial lately at the
state College. -Four. fiiths of the marine
manure made on our coast is carried out
OF the State. Others are carried out di-
rect, rs in the case of ashes. kelp fertil-
izer, sc. so it Is not the lack OF manure.
We 90 not utilize our resources. Would
Use plaster Is long As it produces good
effect. rs long as il grows clover, and
The clover is ted. il enriche5 the soil. And
it clover is fed the urine must be saved,
for 1t contains the potash necessary for
the soil. Strongly recommended grow
ing clover. Ashes always DO good, and
should DO applied anywhere and every
where that they can be obtained. Lime
viii increase the fertility OF soils but in a
different way. 1t acts, to 4 certain extent
mechanically upon solid clay soils In
leached ashes are the best TO mix with
muck and correct its acidity. Strongly
opposed the old practice of blowing I'M
der manure. The nearer the surface, and
thoroughly MIXED with the soil the ma
nure can be placed. the better. In answer
20 a question by Mr.. Hersey, had never
known IN instance where ashes on wet
land caused damage, but still preferred
TO apply them to dry upland, where they
seem 10 have the best effect.
Mr. Chamberlain. OF Foxcron, said
Roekland lime burners are inducing farm
els to purchase refuse lime at low figures.
Wanted to know if it is valuable or other
wise. Had been cautioned against using
it
Mr. GoOdale would not fear to use it
Try it, or any other fertilizer, snd be
guided by the results.
Mr.. Holmes, of Knox, said these lime
ashes are used in his section, composted
with chat, &c, and are applied as top
dressing with good results. Thousands
of bushels are shipped to other States.
Mr., Goodale thought the spent bark
tan ashes made at the tanneries in this
State may lie valuable, and hoped they
may bo saved aud tested.
Nh. Chamberlain referred to the neces-
si;y OF furnishing phosphates to stock an
old farm, and especially TO milch cows
Had used super.phoSphate for eighteen
years, and his cattle had never suffered
Tor the need of phosphate But if they
are kept away on other farms for six
months. they come home hungry foI
bone dust The same with animals from
other forms wheIe phosphates are no,
used.
The Secretary said that the lack of .
sufficient supply OF phosphate in food
causes what j. termed bone disease, in
some sections. The call for bone meal
TO feed directly to stock i increasing
very largely. This answers for a tempo
rary eXpedieut. bat we should feed il first
20 the farm sol, and the plant, and thus
TO the animal.
The subject oi rc~eeding grass lands
was then taken up, ana brought Up for
discussion by resolution from Mr.. Rob
jus, Of Piscataqui~. Had field which
had been seeded twice each of the past
springs, and there arc NO grass plants
upon IT, Wanted TO know what to 90
with IT, Shall lac seed this fall or next
spring lie also inquired why white
clover followed sorrcl.
Col. SWEET had found that white and
red clover followed the application of
leached ashes to the soil, in a field where
no seed was sown. Thought the seed
was dormant in the soil
Mr.. Allen said nature has rotation OF
crops. The plains Of Brunswick were
first covered with beech growth, then
pine growth. one plant follows another
as soon - certain constituents ct the soil
are present OF in q condition TO support
IT, Seeds are Of great vitality Refer.
red toa case where red clover came up
and grew where the seed had been in the
soil Tor forty years.
The Secretary referred to an expert
ment with German potash salts. which
brought in n glow,h ofragwecd and kill
cd the sorel.
Mr.. Thing said the question is what
:ye do with our stubble land where the
grass seed failed to catch" Mr.. Per.
cival would seed on the top Of the soil
the last days before the ground closed in
the fall
Mr.. Hersey said practical farmer in
Lincoln seeds his land in the spring. on
the snow. Used clover chat, but timothy
clean. Advised to SOW clover chaff al.
ways.
The Chairman had sowed timothy and
clover, but got oulg barn grass. lie
found that tan bark is valuable.
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