Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-12-31
Charcoal as Manure.


Mr. w. Z. Brooks writes to the Scientific
Farmer as follows:
A correspondent of the Vermont Farmer
inquiries, in the issue OF October l5, il char
coal can be used to advantage as a fertilizer
upon the farm. The substance Of the editors
reply to the question was, that as charcoal is
an impure form of carbon, which enters
largely into the composition Of oil plants, it
would seem to be n simple thing to apply it
to the soil 10 such q way that it can be
utilized as fertilizer. He then goes on to
say that he can give no certain directions for
doing it, and qualities his 6rst statement by
adding that he is not sure that it would not
remain in Just the state in which it was APP
piled. He mentions various other uses Tor
touch upon, but shall eohiue myself 10 4
consideration of its value as a manure.
The idea that it may be direct source Of
carbon, which may be appropriated by the
plant, cannot be too severely condemned, for
it is q well authenticated fact that charcoal
is almost unchanged by the operation Of the
natural influences brought TO bear upon it in
the soil. As well apply granite rocks as a
sourso of potash, az charcoal Us a source of
carbon. II the carbon OF charcoal could be
assimiatsd by plants, it would still be USE
less to apply it for the purpose Of supplying
this element, for there Is an amount of it IN
the air in the form Of carbonic acid, sufficient
for the production Of ordinary crops through
out the world for at least one hundred years,
even il it were not renewed The fact is,
however, that the decomposition OF plants
aud animals, the respiration Of the latter aud
combustion are continually replacing the
carbon used by vegetation, aud hence to ap.
ply it in any from for plaut-iood il utterly
| useless.
There are, however, other considerations
to be thought of before deciding whether
charcoal is Of any value to the farmer as a
fertilizer. A few of these | will notice. 1t
has great power, when in 4 6nely-divided
state, Of absorbing gases. fixing many times
its own volume of some Of them. Hence il
may be useful as an absorbent Of ammonia,
either mixed with decomposiug manure, OF
applied directly to the soil.
The effect of charcoal on the physical con-
dition of a heavy soil is decidedly bene6 cial
as it tends to make it lighter aud more por-
Gus, thus putting it in such a condition that
it can be acted on more readily by the air.
Its color, also, renders it valuable for ap'
plication to cold, cayey soil, siace, by
making such soil darker, 1t adds to it'
heat-absorbing power.
Notwithstanding these beneficial inhuen
ces, however, charcoal is not Of sufficient
| yaIua M n ernn.nrn1ucino aoanf IN nav f,I
its application, except in cases where 1t cal
be procured and applied at very small OK
pense.
We are very glad of this substantial con
tirmation by scientific writer Of our sug
gestions in regard to the use of charcoal a
q fertilizer. We are not aware, however
that what we said carried "the idea that i
may be direct source of carbon, which ma.
be appropriated by the plant Ou the con
trary we supposed we were very guarded il
the use of language that could be construed
into recommendation OF charcoal as a fer
tlizer as a direct source of carbon, or indi
reotly, by the absorption ofammouiAcal gases
not going as far as Mr. Brooks 10 the latte
direction. The query arises in our min
whether tho gases it mi ght absorb from tn
atmosphere aud from manure decomposiD
in the soil would then be avoidabO for plan
food, or whether these valuable gasses woul
: be retained aud consumed by slow process
of combustion, and we limited as much, NJ
Brooks seemed to assume that the gases 5
absorbd wouled be available as plant foo'
If they are, it would seem that charcoi
would be of immense value TO spread upo
land to absorb ammonia from the air. Au
yet he says 1t is not of sufficient value
: pay for its application except when apple
= at very slight expense.
: We stated the well.kuown composite
Q aud Absorptive power Of charcoal. aud aske
= for information Of others possessing know
= edge Of chemistry or practical knowledge
l. the subject. Our knowledge Of chemists
a is such only as busy farmer may pick U