Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1877-03-29
ELEMENTs OF AGRICULTuRE

liolie' aI Il regular eAainllauOn, TO MS class
in elements of Agriculture; the examna-
ton occurring after portion of each school
day had been devoted to that subject for
nine weeks. The examination was conduct
eel in the usual manner, the pupils being al
lowed to consult no books, except dictionar-
les. The following are the questions pro-
pounded to and answered by Mr.. A. B. Con-
ant, Of Montgomery, ILL.,:
l. What substances are found in the ash
of plants?
2. The atmospheric part of plants con-
sists of what substances?
3. In which of these substances are culti-
waited soils most frequently deficient?
4. Why will not the plowing under of
green crops add to the potash or phosphoric
acid of the soil?
s. What is the effect of mixing lime with
barn-yard manure?
6. With what should muck be composted
before applying it to the land?
Z. If we sell straw from our farms, in
what substance will the soil become deficient?
g. Which is the better substance to use in
purifying our stables, lime Or plaster of
Paris?
9. How does the value of the manure from
ton of bran compare with the value Of the
manure from ton of oat straw?
10. Under what circumstances is it best
to apply well-rotted manure to land?
Answers:
l. The ash of plants consists of ten sub
stances which are divided into three classes
namely: Alkalies, acids and neutrals. Th
alkalies of the ash are as follows Potasl,
lime, magnesia and soda. The acids areI
phosphoric, sulphuric and silicic. The neu
trails are, chlorine, oxide of iron, and oxide
of manganese.
2. The atmospheric parts Of plants conf
sists of four substances, namely: oxygen
hydrogen, nitrogen and carbon.
3. Cultivated soils are often found def
cient in some of the following substances
nitrogen, potash or phosphoric acid.
T. In plowing under green crops we can
not possibly add to the earthly matter of thy
soil, because all the earthly matter of tlf
crop was taken from the soil, and in ploW
ing it under we merely return to the sol
that which was taken from it.
Lime is an alkali. Ashes are also alk+
line. When we mix either of them win
barn-yard manure chemical change occur.
The alkall unites with the acids of the M
nure, setting at liberty the ammonia, whid
contains much nitrogen.
6. Muck. when first taken up, is sor,
because of the presence of ..acids. Befoe
: applylng it to the land it should be compot-
:, ed with lime, which, being an alkali, vii
neutralize the acids of the muck.
z. If the straw of the grain is sold frn
t the farm the soil will become poor in pt
I ash. Especially if the straw be that frn
oats.
g. By scattering lime in our stables ve
lose the valuable part of the manure. as as
been shown. By scattering plaster-p1s
: (gypsum) in our stables, we may savehe
4 valuable part of the manure and at the sne
x time take away all the smell OF ammela,
!, because, while some of the elements ONE
GYPSUM are uniting with the acids othe
i manure. the other elements will unite 18th
:, tho ammonia. the valuable part, and neal
) low it to escape. VS."
). 8. The manure from ton OF olf' IS
e worth about twice as much as that frn
:, ton of oat straw.
I TO- Manure must go through press
o of decomposition before its elements arore-
J. nared for the use of plants; therefore, hen
u immediate results are desired, wen-Lted
manure should be applied.
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