The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-05-16

y
capes from the manure heap and is dis
sipated unless the farmer used some sub
stance for arresting and fixing the am
monia as salt, or by absorbing it. There
Is always a condition OF fermentation
in the heap, however small or great, and
though imperceptible 10 the farmer, his
loss of ammonia occurs constantly and
at all seasons It is within his power to
prevent much of the loss by the use Of
absorbants, such as earth. mari, muck
ard the coarse materials Of the stables.
Moisture also retards the escape Of
ammonia, as water absorbs 1t and re-
tainS X, but when the water eVapoTates
the ammonia is then liberated. The
greater the heat generated in the manure
heap by decomposition OF the materials
thereof, the more rapid the formation or
ammonia and the greater the loss by es-
cape from the heap 10 the atmosphere,
as ammonia is a very light gas and can
only be retained by absorption or in COM
biDatiOn as a salt.
Plaster and Ammonia.
Land plaster, which costs about So per
ton for the best. is the cheapest sub
stance that can be used for preventing
the loss of ammonia. 1t contains about
% per cent of lime, 46 per cent. of sui
puullC dClu anu ~ lGl cent. VI WeibcA' IL
Is. consequently, a salt-sulphate of lime.
The lime and suIphuric acid are chem;-
cally united. the water being in crystal
line condition. When applied to the
manure heap me plaster does not direct
" unite with the gaseous ammonia, but
il has the power to absorb gases, and in
that manner prevents loss. When the
ammonia, becomes q salt, however, such
as carbonate OF ammonia, and Is brought
in contact with the plaster. two salts are
st. ~H-n~ea
carbonate Of ammOnia). the result being
a breaking up of compounds and the
formation Of others. Thus, the carbonic
acid OF the carbonate of ammonia goes
over 10 the lime OF the plaster while the
sulphuTiC acid Of the lime goes TO the
ammonia. the formations being carbon
ate Of lime and sUlphate Of ammonia,
the ammonia being fixed as a salt.
Hence il viii be noticed the plaster not
only abSOrbs gaseous ammonia, but
through the agency of its sulphuric acid
II IS enabled TO break down combina-
tons and rearrange the atoms Of differ
ent salts, the several processes demolish-
ing the entire contents Of the heap.
Direct Results on Land.
Plaster applied to the land absorbs
moisture and thus gains ammonia from
the atmosphere. and also retains IL when
the ammonia is brought down by the
rains 10 the soil. In this manner II sup
plies nitrogen 10 plants. 1t Is also spar
ingly soluble. and provides lime 10 clover
in that form, becoming thereby a special
fertilizer for clover and other legI1nin-
Gus crops. KANT is also another yalu-
able substance that should be used in
the heap and on the soil, but plaste- has
the advantage Of being always fine and
easily applied on the floors Of stables.
on the heap and on the land; but small
quantity being necessary. II is so cheap
that an expenditure Of 80 VIII be ample
for all The plaster that may be required
on an acre Of land. while The BENEFITS
from its use are ten or twenty times as
great.
Rotation of Crops.
Poor land means poor crops. \ soil
which is deficient in plant food can not
ever be titled TO the very best profit. but
It is within the reach Of all TO enrich
their soil by turning under green crops,
and this IS one Of the easiest and cheap
est methods Of applying fertility; and it
should not be overlooked that when veg
etable matter is used for fertinzing
something is gained beyond the mere
amount OF plant food supplied The
mechanical effect upon the soil. by
means OF which the other plant food
already there is made available is
often hardly second to the direct grain
OF manUrial elements. One good point
about green manuring is that IL may be
done at any season. and in so many
ways. that some Of them are open to
all. OF course. clover is the great crop
Tor this use, and the seasons at which
IL may be sown and used are somewhat
arbitrary; but there are a dozen other
things. some Of which may be sOwn at
any time that you happen to have a
piece Of land vacant. and they may be
turned under with more or less benefit
at any period Of their growth. Peas are
second 10 clover In adding 10 the stores
OF nitrogen, and they may be sOwn the
latter part of the summer. ami vet
make sufficient growth to be a valuable
manurial crop. Rye SOwn even later
may be turned under in spring Turnfps
soWn in August or September and
turned under as the bulbs begin 10 form
are very valuable. They should be
sown thickly, so as 10 make a perfect
mass Of foliage. Even weeds are good
Tor green manuring. although we do not
advise growing then for that nurnosa-