The Portland daily press., 1882-01-10
7 LIE PRESS.
Chemistry in Farming.

Chemistry has assisted the farmer in a va
riety Of ways. It is true that few farmers,
If they have the special training neces-
sary, have the time and means at hand to
pursue original Investigations in the science
of chemistry, but because they cannot do
this, it does not follow that they are not
generally benefited by 1t. OF course itwouid
be we'll for every head of farm to be theo-
retcally and practically acquainted with ag-
ricnltural chemistry, but since this is not
practicable, the next best thing is for them
to avail themselves of the labors OF those
who make it study and profession, which
they can easily do by reading the published
accounts of their investigations. Some OF
these investigations require persistent labor,
such as few would have the patience to con-
tinue to a successful issue, though the re-
suits when reached may appear quite simple.
One important lesson which chemistry
has taught is how to feed our soils. This
result was reached by ascertaining what ele-
ments are ored up in plant growth. This
was accomplished by chemical analysis. BY
ascertaining the constituent elements OF our
different food plants, it follows that soil 10
produce these plants must contain the same
elements in the right, proportion; that to
maintain the proper fertility of the soil there
must be restored to il annually the amount
of these elements renewed in the crops.
But further investigation showed that this
was not a complete solution OF the question,
because Of the two sources OF plant food, the
air and, earth; it was ascertained that true
thrift and economy were successful in the
growth of certain crops, hen one or more
of the elements or ingredients of plant food
are omitted from the fertilization annually
added, or, If not entirely withheld, are at
least supplied in mnch less quantity than
the amourt of such elements apparently
appropriated by the harvested crop. Thus
it was found that a great saving could be
made in corn production by adding much
less nitrogen to the soil than analysis indica-
ted, showing that nitrogen is not supplied to
growing corn entirely from the soil.
Chemistry also comes to the aid of the
farmer in determining the food value and
digestiblity of feeding stuffs for his stock,
enabling him to compound rations which
shall be economical and at the same time
sufficient for the purposes for which the ami
mails are kept. Hitherto there has been too
much guesswork in cattle feeding; in fact it
has been mostly guesswoIk. 1t has been
done without any regard to the laws of ami
NAL nutrition, and with no consideration of
the kind and quality of food required for the
production of flesh, fat or work. For the
little light we have upon the subject we are
indebted mainly to German and French in
vestigators, though something has been ac-
complished in this direction at the expert
ment stations of the United States. We re-
gard this question of feeding domestic ami
mails as of greater Importance to the Ameri-
can farmer at the present time than almost
any other, and its lmportanceis greater or
less in different localities in proportion to
the time that domestic animals require to be
fed In Maine, where our feeding season at
the barn is more than half the year, the
question of economical feeding is of the
greatest Importance. There are some farm
ers who will reject all this, and other persons
who will denominate it scientific bosh;'
but the number is growing less, and the
time has gone by forever when book-farming
can be derided' or set at naught by the sue
cessful cultiyator Of the soil. The most
sceptical of few years ago are now the firm
friends of and believers in scientific investi-
gation.-Maine Farmer.