California Farmer and Journal of Useful Sciences, Volume 41, Number 17, 19 November 1874 — MANURES AND THEIR USE. [ARTICLE]

Continued from last week.

MANURES AND THEIR USE.

M. Ptlermann, Director of tbe Agronomic Station of Oemblouz, Belgiam, has marie an official report on the product! serving as manures, aa displayed by 197 competitors at the Vienna Exhibition—he deals specially with the phosphates, tbe salts of potash, and nitrogenil.d matters. It is satisfactory to learn that if tbe greater part of onr arable lands are poor io phosphoric acid, t: c beds of natural phosphates to be everywhere met with, are sufficient to meet all wants for uenturies to come. His description ol tbe potash beds at Stassfurt, near Madsburg, and tbe preparation of tbat salt for manure are very interesting. If. Petermann insists that tbese commercial preparations ought not to be considered as other but complementary manures, and tbat farmers should be on their guard against all mixturss destined to assure tbe development of particnlar plants, and tbe recipes laid down for all assigned situations. A salt that may often contain a deleterious compound is sulphate of ammonia. Prof. Marker bas long ago shown, tbat in its unrefined State, it may contain oxide af iron in combination witb sulphuric acid snlfioient to destroy germination and kill vegetation, and such sulphate of ammonia when mixed witb phosphates, rende s the phosphoric acid more insoluble, as much as to 48 psr cent. Its effects on plants is to cause the leaves to wither and become yellow at the extremeties, It acts more Injuriously on barley than on wheat. The farmer should avoid the sulphate which ia redbrown in color, selecting tbat only which is white or gray. In case the former cannot be ob talned pnrefied at tbe gas works, it should be mixed well with compost and frequently turned to admit uf the transformation of the protoxyde of iron, tbe same obange is brought about if tbe sulphate be scattered in antumu on tbat soli Intended for spring sowings. rAVORABt.B BSPOBT OH BBBT BOOT. Tbe culture of beet p-omiaes to be very excellent this year for the mtofactarera, as the roots are small and riob. Some analysis made already, ebow nearly 8) per cent, of sugar, and 11 percent of alkaline salts in that sugar. visa DISB4IB, VIRBYA ROi CPROOTBD, Quite an ontcry has taken place respecting a decree of the authorities orderiog that all vines attacked witb the phylloxera be uprooted, as well aa those in tbeir proximity, and tbe soil sown witb a chemical compound, tbat will In poison ing tbe soil destroy tbe bug. Now it is not exactly demonstrated tbat science haa found it or rather suitable means for tbis poisoning, and proprietors are not content at receiving only one year's estimated revenue per aore, 500 franca as an indemnity lor the eradication of tbeir vine, 1 Flooding tbe Vine from 30 to 60 df.js during au . tumn and winter, and manuring tbem witb f lb powdered colsa oil cake, remains so lar Ibe only effi-acinus mean: knowo to combat the phylloxera

trial or reaping machines.

The five day's trial of reaping machines et Mrt ray was very successful, and (he we I. known makers carr'ed off the prizes. The fact to signal is, tbat oxen yoked io several machinre le Itt nothing to be desired in regular nnd easy draught. Some manufacturers complain against reapers made by tbem, but not directed by tbeir employees being entered for competlon. com ros diseased peans In the vicinity of Soissons , famous for its kidney beans, a farmer seeing his pants suddenly fading without any assignable caugu dusted tbem by chance with sulphur, tbe effect was magica l , quite a resurrection ensued in tbe beans. If ANDRE EXPERIMENTS. Dr. de Vaureal has concluded some interesting experiments to test the effects of manures on the transportation of a plant has for object the introduction into its organism of all the mineral substances ol wbicb it stands In need ; this transportation is greatest as tho soil is less rich in mineral substances, or in other words, the more the boil is sotted to a plant the less the transpiration, and tbe more intense the nutrition. REMEDY POR WEVILL. Hemp has Ihe property of repelling the wevil even when it bas taken possession of a heap of grain; it bas further been fonnd successful in keeping away caterpillars, a few plants sown where tbe insects have a tendency to come, or at the fool of a tree, will prove efßcacioQS. TO SBIP APPLES. Apples are preserved for tbe Paris market long Into spring by placing a case in a dry cellar, or an appartment exposed to the south, selecting the fruit which is sound, wiping eacb apple end placing tbem in alternate layers of gypsum, stalks downwards. Concluded