Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1885-02-06
FARM, GARDEN AND HOUSEHOLD.
Conl Dust An AaricuIturc.

cNAA 0NHN -
The assertion that waste anthracite may
be used with practical effect in the pre-
paratioh Of land for agricultural pur-
poses may, at first, startle some who are
otherwise credulOus as to the possibili.
ties of culm. believe it to be fact,
however. / have witnessed the influence
OF darkened color to a naturally light
soil in the promotion of plant life and
growth, and believe that our culm de-
posts can be prepared for agricultural
purposes and used with decided effect.
A dark soil will sustain a more vigor-
Gus existence in the plant than light
soil, other things being equal. The reason
for this is apparent when it is considered
that dark cOlors absorb rays of light and
light colors reflect them. The more sun
light that can be absorbed by the earth
and the plant, the more vigorous the
growth. The myriad rootlet mouths of
the plant will discover the hidden ray
and devote it to its use. The dark col
ored soils are warmer in cold periods,
and they are colder in hot, by reason of
the lessened reflections from the surface.
Every argument is in favor of the dark
soil. Witness the richness in growth of
the soils made dark by the carbon of de-
caying vegetable matter in the great
West and in bottom lands generally.
The color partially accounts for the vigor
of the soil.
On all dark soils the season begins
earlier and lasts later. The dark soils
imprison the sunshine by absorption, and
hold it for gentle distribution to the
need of the plant, while from the light
soil it rebounds with arrowy and de-
structlve intensity. In the reflection of
the suns rays from any object they are
gathered together and are more severe
than the direct rays. The burning glass
Is an example.
If we examine the leaf of a plant, we
discover that the upper surface has a
glazed, hardened or shield like quality,
but underneath it is soft and porus. 1t
receives its substance from below. Hold
a polished surface under the leaf with
the suns rays playing upon it and reflect
cd beneath, if confirmation is desired.
The sickening effects will soon become
manifest. A light-colorcd earth, in pro-
portion to the degree, does the same
thing in the very same way. 1t tends
to exhaust the natural vigor of the plant.
The Introduction of this prepared mate
rial will also tend to make the soil more
soft, porus and spongy, which in turn fits
it to become the storehouse from which
vegetation is fed.
If adequate measures are adopted to
transform this waste into usefulness, the
agricultural community will not be slow
to perceive its advantage. In this way
the culm deposit may be turned from its
present unsightly waste to certain ben
eft to mankind. Even in its present
state in the dump, farmers can use it
with good effect, but it should be re-
duced to powder.
The use of carbon as disi1fectant is
unquestioned. The preparation of culm
waste for agricultural purposes may, and
sometimes will doubtless be, supple
mented by its admixture with the sew
age of cities, thus utilizing two great
wastes, while the destructive tendencies
OF sewer discharges will in measure be
diminished. But it is not my purpose
to dwell at greater length upon the i'm
portant features of the work of utiliza-
tion.-BOStOR CultiU0tor.