Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-05-03
FARM AND GARDEN.
AMMONIA THE ATMOSPHERE

AMMONIA IN THE ATMOSPHERE
Ammonia, or nitrogen in some other avail
lie form for manure, is the most costly fer
tilizer known to modern agriculture. 1t is
therefore question Of great interest to learn
definitely bow far farm can depend on
rain, snow, dew and other atmospheric sour
ces, for supply of this element Of crops.
In his Agricultural chemistry Baron Liebig
saws: Experiments made in this laboratory
with the greatest care and exactness have
placed the presence Of ammonia in rain
water beyond all dOubs. 1t has hitherto es-
caped observation becau:e no one thought
of searching for it. When several
hundred pounds of water were
distilled in a copper still, and the
first two or three pounds evaporated with
the addition of little muriatic acid, very
distinct capitalization Of sal ammontac was
obtained; the crystals had always brown
or yellow color. Ammonia may likewise
be always detected in snow water. Crys-
tails of sal ammoniac were obtained by
evaporating in vessel with muriatic acid
several pounds of snow, which were gath
cred from the surface of the ground IN
March, when the snow had depth Of ten
inches. Ammonia was set free from these
CRYSTALS by the addition of hydrate Of lime.
The inferior layers of Snow which rested
on the ground contained a quantity deci-
dedly greater than those which formed the
surface"
The researches which developed the above
interesting facts were made some thirty
five years ago, and their general accuracy
has stree been abundantly confirmed by
others, whose statements are worthy Of all
confidence.
This supply Cf sssimila1le nitrogen is
sufficient to meet the wants Of clover, peas,
and other legumes, but not Of wheat, Germ
and other cereals. To increase the growth
and yield of wheat, English farmers pay a
very high price for the ammonia or nitro
gen in Peruvian guanO, and in the sulphate
snd muriate Of ammonia. When good
farmers pay ten or twelve dollars for one
hundred pounds of manure, and re-
pea. tie operation for thirty years
in succession, aud in dozen different and
distant natio ns, the fair inference is that this
fertilizer supplies come element OF
fertility which wheat soils lack in some
degree. But where land is cheap by the
acre, it may be better economy to use acres
in clover to collect ammonia from rain, dew
and snow, and the atmosphere, than to buy
it from drug shop, or import it from the
Pacific coast of South America. In LOG
pounds of wheat ready to grind into -four,
there are less than three pounds Of ammo
mia or nitrogen. Hence, assimilable nitro
gen is worth three or four times its weight
in wheat. Every farmers son should
see clearly why barrel of manure may be
worth from ten to twenty dollars to pro
duce wheat at from one to two dol ars
bushel. One hundred pounds of wheat
contains only from two to two and four
tenths pounds Of nitrogen; yet not a seed
can grow without this ingredient. 10
place this element in the soil, farmers otter
haul poor trash called manure, and spread
it, where 1900 pounds contain only fouI
pounds of nitrogen in any form. 1896
hounds in 9, 900 GO for little or nothing,