Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-02-15
Cheese Ianufacturers, A.ssocintion

Cheese Manufacturers Association.
The sixth annual meeting of the Massachu-
sets cheese manufacturers association, began
at West Warren, yesterday afternoon, in the
new chapel of the Congregational society.
Notwithstanding the severe snow storm, there
vas quite a respectable representation of the ag-
ficulturists of the nofthwesterly section of the
county. After brief address from the pres-
lent, Thomas P. Root of Barre, on the inn
portance of the objects aimed at by the associa-
lion, in the investigation of subjects calculated
to increase the facilities and opportunities for
making our farms more productive and yalu-
lble, DIR. James R. Nichols, editor of the Boston
Journal Of chemistry, a practical chemist
Of thirty years experience, was introduced, and
gave very interesting and valuable address on
The subject Of fertilizers, embodying the results
Of his own experience in the last seven years.
In order to solve certain important problems in
agriculture, and to test the true value of special
fertilizers, he had purchased the farm of one
hundred acres then in very poor condition,
comprising its full share of bog meadow, &C.,
Upon which his experiments had been applied,
With the happiest results. His object was to
show how a run down farm can be reclaimed
md made profitable with fertilizers outside of
animal manures. While it once supported one
cow aud heifer, he now supports on it eighteen
COWS, five horses, besides oxen, hogs, &c. The
sale products last year realized S2785, when he
raised 1G6 bushels of shelled corn to the acre,
and 81 of wheat.
DIR. Nichols plan for fertilization, which he
explained at considerable length, was with SUI
oer-phosphates, obtained from bones, in two or
three different ways; first, by dissolving them
in sulphuric acid, in the raw condition; second,
by dissoving after burning to whiteness;
third, by dissolving them in connection with
caustic lye, from ashes and soda. The agricul.
tural and commercial value of wood ashes
leached and unleached, as fertilizers, was also
enlarged upon. DIR. Nichols, in his very practi-
cal as well as scientific address, gave the
grounds of encouragement for the belief, and
confidence, deduced from his own experience,
that farming in New England may be made
profitable with fertilizers, outside Of animal ma
nures. Another idea he elaborated upon was,
that he had reclaimed low grounds into good
tits so as TO produce upland grasses two OF
three tons to the acre. In the m liking of his
own super-phosphatcs upon his farm, he had
used fifteen tons of bones, and also fish pomacC
and salts of potash and soda, and other fertiliz-
ing agents outside of animal manures, suitable
for plant food.
The public were cautioned against the use Of
the Grafton and Lisbon IN. H. advertised min.
eral fertilizers as worthless substances, palmed
off upon the market. Allusion was also made
to the providential iuexhaustible supply
of fertilizers recently discovered in the
coprilite beds of South Carolina, and il
the potash from the mines of Stassfurtt
in Germany, in the shape of KANT. When
properly understood and prepared these sub
stances afford very gratifying source of salts OIL
potash, in the shape of phosphoric nodules
These in the future would afford inexhaustiblC
supplies of plant food, additional to all other
means of soil tertilizing and manuling
so there need be no excuse for poor farms in
New England or elsewhere.
An interesting discussion on the general sub
ject of manures, how to apply them, the man
agement of stables, &C., followed the delivery
of the address, participated in by Messrs. Dwight
| Ellis Of Warren, j. T. Ellsworth o.
Barre, N. S, Hubbard of Brim6eld, DR.
Carpenter and DR.. Cutler of Warren
DR.. Geo. Brown and Nathaniel Holland O
Barre, b. F. Hamilton of New Braintree, Wicu
HARDWOOD and j. Henry Goddard of Barre, anc
others. One point upon which there was some
difference of opinion was, as to the comparative
value of compost and raw manure, for applica
ton to the soil. The Importance of saving
liquid manure by having cemented cellars
underneath the stables, was urged by several.
Last evening, DR.. George B. Loring was tc
| give an address on the general subject of farm
ing.
To-day, after the choice of officers for the yea
| ensuing, reports will be made from the various
factories, and remarks thereon will be made by
| several gentlemen.
Those in attendance are Hospitality entertained
| by Mr. E. S. Wells of the West Warren hotel.