The American Agriculturist. Vol. II. No. XI, December 1843: Designed to Improve the Planter, the Farmer, the Stock-breeder, and the HorticulturistVarious
Science
The American Agriculturist. Vol. II. No. XI, December 1843: Designed to Improve the Planter, the Farmer, the Stock-breeder, and the Horticulturist
Various
Agriculture -- Periodicals; Agriculture -- United States -- Periodicals
"The ammoniacal liquor on the surface of the tar-well has been found
a very great improvement as a manure for raising crops of grass in
this quarter, by being sprinkled on the field in the same way as
water is put on public streets in large towns, to keep down dust in
dry weather. I have myself seen an experiment of this tried, and
can say that part of a field of grass sprinkled in this way, after
the first cutting, was far superior to any other part of the field
receiving manure of any other kind, and that the part so sprinkled, or
showered over, was ready to be cut down a second time in the course
of between fourteen days and three weeks; whereas, the other part
of the field cut at the same time, was only beginning to spring or
rise from the roots in that time. It must be mixed up before use with
four parts of common water. In particular, the said experiment of the
gas-water has been used by David Nairn, Esq., Doumkilba, near Meigle,
in this neighborhood, with success; and I am informed that he has
purchased and taken a lease of the ammoniacal liquor from different
gas-companies in this country.
"I am convinced much good might be derived from different qualities
of the refuse products of gas-works as manure. An inquiry into this
subject would remunerate the engineer or agriculturist to the full,
and would besides confer a considerable benefit upon his fellows, and
give that practical proof of the correctness of a theory so welcome to
the man of science."
"The fertilizing power of gypsum has been explained by its supposed
action on the ammonia which is presumed to exist in the atmosphere. If
this be the true explanation, a substance containing ammonia should
act _at least_ as energetically. At all events, the action of foldyard
manure and of putrid urine, is supposed to depend chiefly on the
ammonia they contain or give off.
"Now among the substances containing ammonia in large quantity,
the ammoniacal liquor of the gas-works is one which can easily be
obtained, and can be applied in a liquid state at very little cost. It
must be previously diluted with water till its taste and smell become
scarcely perceptible.
"I would propose therefore, as a further experiment, that along with
one or more of the substances above mentioned, the ammoniacal liquor
of the gas-works should be tried, on a measured portion of ground,
and, if possible, in the same field.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account