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
Manures peculiarly adapted to the object, will tend in the highest
degree to produce the greatest quantity of _gluten_, the most valuable
portion of the flour. It is true, that climate has much to do in
condensing, and of course, improving the value of wheat. It is a
general principle, that the warmer and drier the climate where it is
grown, the more valuable the grain. Wheat from the south of Europe,
is worth more than when grown in the north; and that from any portion
of the United States, owing to our superior dryness of climate, is
more nutritive than what is produced in Great Britain. This difference
is increased from 8 to 14 per cent. in favor of the American. Gluten
varies in wheat from 8 to 35 per cent.; in rye, 9 to 13; barley, 3 to
6; and oats 2 to 5. The _quality_ of wheat with regard to the quantity
of gluten it contains, is nicely estimated and fully regarded by
accomplished bakers.
The nitrates of potash, or soda, are frequently used in England to
increase not only the quantity, but especially the quality of their
flour, a practice the high prices of land and produce may render
profitable there, though it is hardly to be expected they could
generally be used in this country to a profit. In an experiment lately
tried in England, one acre of wheat dressed with one cwt. of nitrate
of soda, gave 421/2 bushels, weighing 603/4 lbs. per bushel; another acre
dressed with two cwt. yielded 47-3/8 bushels, weighing 601/2 lbs.; while
an undressed acre, in every other respect similar to the others,
yielded only 27-7/8 bushels, weighing 61 lbs. Numerous other instances
could be given equally conclusive.
Although we may not be justified in using these somewhat expensive
salts, so highly charged with nitrogen, there are sources of supply
within our reach, especially rich in this material, and abounding in
many of the other ingredients of fertility. These are animal manures
of all kinds, but more particularly urine, human excrements, and
the offal of animals, such as uncalcined bones, horns, hair, hides,
flesh, blood, &c. All of these contain large proportions of nitrogen,
and if carefully incorporated into the soil, would tend largely to
the increased production and value of the wheat crops throughout the
country. An experiment was made in manuring wheat with cow dung, which
contains the smallest proportion of nitrogen, and this yielded 11.95
per cent. of gluten. Another parcel, grown on land manured with human
urine, gave 35.1 per cent. Thus it will be seen, that the maximum of
value in wheat, may be reached, by the application of an article,
almost everywhere wasted in the United States.
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