ALPACAS.

was first introduced into England and other parts of Europe, to considerable extent, in 1840, and so Ar the January meeting of the American Agriculpopular has it become with the farmers of that tural Association, a committee was appointed to country, that upwards of 156,000 tons were con- collect all the information to be had in regard to sumed of it the past year. It was first imported into Alpacas, and to devise a way of introducing them the United States in 1824, but was little used till into the United States. At the February meeting last year, when the season being very dry, rendered of the Association, the chairman, R. L. Pell, Esq., it peculiarly unfortunate for experiments. Guano reported favorably to the project. He said, that the must have moisture to derive benefit from it. The committee had given information through the public Peruvians always irrigate their lands after applying papers of their appointment, and had solicited subit. We should take care to apply it just before scriptions in aid of the enterprise. They put themrain, or early in the spring, when the ground is selves in communication with Amory Edwards, wet, unless it is buried deep enough for the moisture Esq., an American merchant, residing in Peru, who of the ground to fully act upon it and ensure decom- chanced to be in New York. From him they obposition. This may be easily done in planting corn, tained much valuable information. The Alpacas are potatoes, and some other crops, as directed above. to be bought in Peru for six dollars a piece. It is Best Kind of Guano.-The superiority of the genu-proposed by the committee to import three hundred. ine PERUVIAN Guano has led to various attempts For this purpose it will be necessary to raise in England, and latterly in the United States, to im- $10,000. It will cost $1,800 to purchase 300, and port and sell that of a very poor and sometimes $1,200 more to lay in the necessary feed for them almost worthless quality, under the name of Peru- during their voyage round Cape Horn, home. Of vian. Farmers should be careful to ascertain the the sum of $10,000, the committee had already on origin of what they buy, to avoid imposition The the 1st of February, $8,000 subscribed. Of the only genuine Peruvian Guano brought to this coun- $10,000, it will be necessary to place in London, try is shipped by the Guano Company of Lima, immediately, the sum of $3,000, against which to under the authority of the Government of Peru. draw for the purchase of the animals and their food. Every cargo thus shipped will come to New York, Bills on London are more valuable in Peru than to the consignment of EDWIN BARTLETT, or to Balti-money, and this is the best remittance. It will cost more, to SAM'L K. GEORGE. Every other offered as $6,000 to $7,000 for the freight of the vessel from Peruvian is spurious and should be avoided. An in- Peru, home. The whole vessel must be taken up ferior kind from Chili has been offered as Peruvian, by the animals and their food. This, of course, is an analysis of which will be found below, showing the great expense. The animals delivered here, if it to be of little value. they arrive all alive, will cost about $35 each, and more per head in proportion to the number that may be lost on the voyage. They are to be brought in a first class vessel, that they may be more secure, and insurance may be small.

For further particulars of this important fertilizer, see Mr. Teschemacher's Essay, recently published in an octavo pamphlet of 50 pages, at Boston. It is the best work on the subject we have yet seen, and we are under considerable obligations to it in makAny person who wishes to participate in the im. ing up the above rules. See also American Agricul-portation may still do so. They will for this pur turist, vol. 3, pages 23, 98, 220, 222, 251, 334, 348; and vol. 4, pages 36, 108 156, 179, 236.

pose address R. L. Pell, Esq., New York. When the animals arrive, they will be divided among the subscribers, in proportion to the amounts subscribed by each person. In case there should be subscribed more than $10,000, there will be more animals im4.16 22.94 ported, or the subscriptions will be rateably diminished to the aggregate of $10,000.

Peruo. Chilian. African.

..26.82 52.65 38 00
..46.43

......

..5.44

Chilian. African.

Mr. Edwards, who sailed for Peru on the 5th of February, with the liberality that characterizes a patriot, has tendered his services free of charge, and, as he returns next summer to the United States, has agreed to accompany the Alpacas on their voyage here, and to give his personal attention to them. He states that they yield about 12 lbs. of wool per head, and that large quantities of their wool are exported from Peru to England; that it is worth in England about forty cents per pound; that the flesh of the animal is highly prized in its own country.

They live on the elevated plains of Peru, and on the sides of the mountains, and endure an elevation in the tropical regions of 12,000 feet. In the

Ammoniacal salts, 33 to 40 pr. c. 12 pr. c. 23 to 28 pr. c. mountainous regions of Virginia, North Carolina, Animal matter.....5 to 7 64 3 16

Salts of potash and 8 to 12

soda

Phosph. of lime,

Magnesia, and
Oxalate of lime,

Water..

and..

5 to 9

and Tennessee, they will feed themselves all the year, and flourish perfectly. In the north they will need the same care and protection that sheep do.

The high character and responsibility of the committee makes this a good opportunity to obtain Alpacas, and we advise all who wish them, to address Mr. Pell and forward their subscriptions.

AMERICAN AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION, ETC.

AMERICAN AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION. | Clark, D. P. Gardner, M. D., R. K. Delafield, Shepard Knapp. THE Annual Meeting of this Society for the election of Officers for the ensuing year, was held at the Historical Society's rooms, on the 2d of February, 1846. The chair was taken by Hon. Luther Bradish.

85 THE EAGLE PLOW.

80

LIEBIG'S PATENT PROCESS OF MANUFACTURING MANURE.

LIEBIG'S PATENT PROCESS OF MANU

FACTURING MANURE.

pounds I mix other ingredients as hereafter mentioned), so as to produce manures; and such comIT has been ascertained, that the growing of any positions, when cold, being ground into powder by crop on land in a state of cultivation, and the re-edge-stones or other convenient machinery, the moving and consuming of such crop wholly from same is to be applied to land as manure. And in the land where it was grown, takes away mineral order to apply such manure with precision, the compounds; and it has been suggested by Professor analysis and weight of the previous crop ought to Liebig, that in cultivating land and supplying be known with exactness, so as to return to the land manure thereto, the manure should be such as to the mineral elements in the weight and proportion restore to the land the matters and the quantities in which they have been removed by the crop. thereof, which the particular plants have abstracted from the soil during their growth. It has been observed in the chemical examination of marls and vegetable ashes, that the alkaline carbonates and the carbonate of lime can form compounds, the solubility of which depends on the quantity of carbonate of lime contained in the particular compound. It has further been found, that the said alkaline carbonates can form a like compound with phosphate of lime, in which the carbonate of potash or soda is partly changed into phosphate of potash or soda.

Two compounds are first prepared, one of which is the basis of all manures, which I shall describe as the first and second preparations.

The first preparation is formed by fusing together two or two-and-a-half parts of carbonate of lime, with one part of potash of commerce (containing, on an average, sixty carbonate of potash, two sulphate of potash, and ten chloride of potassium or common salt, inthe hundred parts), or with one part of carbonate of soda and potash, mixed in equal parts.

The second preparation is formed by fusing together one part of phosphate of lime, one part of potash of commerce, and one part of soda ash.

Now, the object of this invention is to prepare a manure in such a manner as to restore to the land the mineral elements taken away by the crop which Both preparations are ground to powder, other has been grown on and removed from the land, and salts or ingredients in the state of powder are added in such manner, that the character of the alkaline to these preparations and mixed together, or those matters used may be changed, and the same render-not of a volatile consistency may be added when the ed less soluble, so that the otherwise soluble alka- preparations are in a state of fusion, so that the maline parts of the manure may not be washed away nure may represent as nearly as possible the compofrom the other ingredients by the rain falling on the sition of the ashes of the preceding crop. This is land, and thus separating the same therefrom. And assuming that the land is in a high state of cultivait is the combining carbonate of soda or carbonate tion; but if it be desired to grow a particular crop on of potash, or both, with carbonate of lime, and also land not in a high state of cultivation, then the mathe combining carbonate of potash and soda with nure would be applied in the first instance suitable phosphate of lime, in such manner as to diminish for the coming crop, and then in subsequent cases, the solubility of the alkaline salts to be used as in-the manure prepared according to the invention gredients for manure (suitable for restoring to land would, as herein described, be applied to restore to the mineral matters taken away by the crop, which the land what has been taken therefrom by the may have been grown on and removed from the preceding crop. land to be manured), which constitutes the novelty of the invention.

Preparation of manure for land which has had a wheat crop grown on and removed therefrom. I would here state, that although the manures Take of the first preparation six parts by weight, made in carrying out this invention will have and of the second preparation one part, and mix various matters combined with the alkaline car-with them two parts of gypsum, one part of calcined bonates, no claim of invention is made thereto bones-silicate of potash (containing six parts of separately, and such materials will be varied ac-silica), and one part of phosphate of magnesia and cording to the matters which the land to be manur-ammonia.

ed requires to have returned to it, in addition to the And such manure is also applicable to be used mineral substances above mentioned. The quan- after growing barley, oats, and plants of a similar tity of carbonate or phosphate of lime, used with character.

carbonate of soda or potash, may be varied accord- Preparation of manure for land which has had a ing to the degree of solubility desired to be obtain-crop of beans grown thereon and removed therefrom. ed, depending on the locality where the manure is Take fourteen parts by weight, of the first prepato be used, in order to render the preparation less ration, two parts of the second preparation, and mix soluble in localities where the average quantity of them with one part of common salt (chloride of rain falling in the year is great; but, as in practice sodium), a quantity of silicate of potash (containing it would be difficult to prepare manures to suit each two parts of silica), two parts of gypsum, and one particular locality with exactness, I shall give such part of phosphate of magnesia and ammonia. average preparations as will suit most soils as ma- And such manure is also applicable for land on nure, and I will afterwards give such information as which peas or other plants of a similar character will enable parties desirous of applying the inven-have been grown and removed. tion under the most disadvantageous circumstances Preparation of manure for land on which turnips to have manure manufactured for their particular have been grown and removed therefrom. cases. In making manure according to the invention, I cause carbonate of soda or of potash, or both, to be fused in a reverberatory furnace, such as is used in the manufacture of soda ash, with carbonate or phosphate of lime (and with such fused com

Take twelve parts by weight, of the first preparation, one part of the second preparation, one part of gypsum, and one part of phosphate of magnesia and ammonia.

And such manure is also applicable for lands

A SOUTHERN BARN.-FENCING.

where potatoes or similar plants have been grown and removed.

81

should be open to admit light and air. About 6 inches from the floor there should be an air hole 3 I would remark, that I have selected the above or 4 inches wide, and above, under the plate, there cases, because they represent the chief of the pro- should be an opening of about 4 to 6 inches, the ducts cultivated in this country; and in doing so, width of the stall. The partition wall should not I have given such average preparations as will be be less than about seven feet high, to keep the beneficial in most, if not in all cases, as manure, to horses from biting each other-no opening allowed be used after the different crops mentioned; but ma- on the partition walls. On the posts in the passage nures may be prepared according to the invention, there should be pins or hooks to hang up bridle, for other plants than those mentioned; and, if desir-halter, &c. The above plan of stalls may be exed, manures may be made with greater exactness tended to any number, according to the length of the for those plants which have been mentioned for barn. It should be 25 or 26 ft. wide if double rows particular cases, if the matters of which the plants of stalls are wanted; and if only one row of stalls, are composed and the quantities are first ascertained, then 16 ft. wide will do. Between the floors it by burning the plants and analyzing the ashes, and should be 9 or 10 ft. The passage or outside door then combining the manure according to the should be as wide as the passage, and have three or analysis. The manure so made is to be applied to four hinges to each one, large and strong. the land in quantities, as great or greater than the South Carolina. JOHN B. MILLER. quantities of the elements which have been removed by the previous erop. It should be stated, that where the straw of wheat and other similar plants IN my last, I omitted to state one of the losses which require much silicate of potash, is returned from fencing, which, though trifling to each indito the land as manure, that is considered to be the vidual, amounts to something in the aggregate. best means of restoring the requisite silicate of mile of our worm-fence occupies half an acre of potash to the land, in which case, in preparing the ground. If there are 100,000 miles of fencing in manures above mentioned, the silicate of potash the State, then 50,000 acres of land are covered and would be omitted.. made useless by fences. Supposing its average

FENCING.-No. 2.

A

Having thus described the nature of the inven-value to be $5 per acre, here are $250,000 more of tion, and the method of proceeding under it, I capital lying idle. would wish it to be understood, that what I claim, In most parts of Europe there are no fences, and is the preparing and applying, in the manufacture you may travel day after day, through beautiful of manure, carbonate of potash and carbonate of fields, coming up to the road side. One feels as soda with carbonate and phosphate of lime, in such manner as to render the alkaline salts in manufactured manure less soluble, and therefore less liable to be washed away by rain before they are assimilated by the growing plants. JAMRS MUSPRATT. English Repertory.

GROUND PLAN.-FIG. 20.

A, passage way, 7 or 8 ft. wide; aaa a, stalls, 9 ft. long and 71 ft. wide; bbbb, mangers for hay, 2 ft. long, 1 ft. wide, and 1 ft. deep; cccc, boxes for grain, 14 ft. long, 1 ft. wide, and 1 ft. deep; eee e, doors leading from the passage way into the stalls, 6 ft. high and 3 ft wide.

though he was riding through his own plantation. Here the section fences shut out much of the beauties of the growing crops and varied landscape, and frown defiance on every passer-by, eternally marking the fact that you are on another's soil, and a mere wayfarer. How much the pleasures of travelling and the interest in agriculture are diminished by this!

Then, again, we have here to keep up endless lanes-to close up our change roads, or put up gates, which are expensive, troublesome, and a constant source of vexation. Half the troubles of a planter's life are in some way connected with his fences. Besides the never ending labor, he has to clog, wound, and kill his neighbor's hogs, which are sure to find all the weak places; and he after all loses more or less of his crop every year. These trespasses, and the closing or changing of road, or leaving open gates, occasion nine-tenths of the heart-burnings and quarrels among neighbors. It is scarcely possible to maintain peace and good will on earth," where rail-fences and stock ranges are the fashion.

I have said that after all our ranges are of little or no value. I believe that, in most instances, we The horse's head is always at the door where feed as much to our hogs at any rate, as they would his food is; he needs no halter, and can turn require in pens, and as much as the proper number round in his stall, which gives him room to lie of good cattle would consume. Let us suppose we down at his ease. When you wish to feed, it can feed only half as much now as we should feed be done, without running the risk of being kicked, without ranges, does any one doubt that if our and the horse's head is where you want it to bridle stock was kept up all the year round, and their food him. The large passage will admit a cart or small doubled, they would give us double the meat; or, wagon to pass through and receive the dung of the in other words, that with the same food half the stable. number of stock would give us just as much meat The partition walls should go down to the floor as we get now? Our range system deprives us of of the stall, whether of brick or stone. The door all the benefit of improved breeds of all kinds.

82

AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY AND GEOLOGY.

South Carolina, Feb., 1846.

AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY AND GEO-
LOGY.-No. V.

Q. Upon what does the beneficial action of ni-
of soda upon plants depend?

A. Upon its supplying nitrogen and soda to the growing crops.

Q. What quantity would you lay upon an acre?
A. From 1 cwt. to 1 cwt. to an acre.
Q. What is sulphate of soda?

Berkshire and Short-horns were not made for such home and actually without cost-and all of these grass as our woods afford, or cane and acorns. benefits would produce in turn, many more necesThey are, when so treated, inferior to our native sarily arising from them. COKE. breed. Feed both breeds, however, and the improved ones are twice as valuable as the native. Now, hogs put up to fatten, will generally require about four bushels of corn each, when in the pen, and weigh perhaps 150 lbs. net. They have consumed at least as much, first and last, before pen-trate ning. I doubt if we do not with all our range give at least ten bushels of corn for every 150 lbs. of pork killed in the State. Now, after some experiments, I will guarantee, that if a sow be fed with half a pint of corn daily, properly prepared in slop, for every pig she has, until it is weaned, and the pig be then allowed the same, gradually increasing the quantity until the ten bushels are gone, he will weigh at that time 300 lbs. Of course it must be done judiciously, and without waste. If the corn is ground into meal, or the corn and cob ground up fine together and boiled or fermented, it will go much farther. And all this can be done with as little trouble as feeding in the common way. A hand will attend to more hogs in pens than he can properly attend to in ranges.

By the proposition thus stated, the hog raiser will at least save himself by keeping up his hogs. If his neighbors would all do the same, they would save the expense of fences. But while the hog was consuming this ten bushels of corn, he would, if properly supplied with litter, make at least two hundred bushels of the very best quality of manure. One hand could supply litter, &c., for 100 hogs; or it might be done as our stables are (too commonly), filled only on rainy or idle days. The adoption of this system, however, accompanied with the certainty of making a large quantity of manure with little comparative feeding, would induce planters to make the manufacture of manure a regular business. A hog will not consume more than the eighth of what a horse will, and his manure will almost equal in quantity, and surpass in quality, that of a horse. Two hundred bushels of hog manure put on corn, say 50 bushels to each acre, will make a certain increase of 5 bushels per acre, first and last, if not more. We have then 20 bushels of corn returned to us, for 10 fed away. Of this, 10 bushels will more than cover the extra trouble of making and putting on the manure, and the other 10 will replace that consumed by the hog. We then actually get the hog for nothing, while our land is improved and our bacon also.

If

A. Sulphate of soda is the substance commonly called glauber salts, and consists of sulphuric acid (oil of vitriol) and soda. It sometimes produces good effects when applied as a top-dressing to grass lands, to turnips, and to young potato plants. 40 lbs. of sulphuric acid with 31 lbs. of soda, form 71 lbs. of dry sulphate of soda. Q. How is common salt applied?

A. Common salt may either be applied as a topdressing, or it may be mixed with the farm-yard or other manure, or with the water used in slaking quick lime.

Q. In what places is salt most likely to be beneficial?

A. In places that are remote from the sea, or are sheltered by high hills from the winds that pass over the sea.

Q. How do you account for this?

A. Because the winds bring with them a portion of the sea spray, and sprinkle it over the soil to a distance of many miles from the sea-shore.

Q. What is gypsum? (plaster of Paris.)

A. Gypsum is a white substance, composed of sulphuric acid and lime; it forms an excellent topdressing for red clover, and also for the pea and bean crop.

40 lbs. of sulphuric acid and 28 1-2 lbs. of lime form 68 1-2 lbs. of burned gypsum.

40 lbs. of acid, 28 lbs. of lime, 18 lbs. of water, form 86 lbs. of unburned gypsum. Native or unburned gypsum loses about 21 per cent. of water when heated to dull redness, becoming burned gypsum.

Q. What name is given to limestone by chemists?

A. It is called by chemists carbonate of lime. Q. Are there not many varieties of limestone? A. Yes, some soft, such as chalk,-some hard, such as our common limestone,-some of a yellow color, like the magnesian limestones, which contain magnesia,- -some pure white, like the statuary marble,-some black, like the Derbyshire black marble, and so on.

Here it would be advantageous if the teacher could exhibit some of these or of other varieties of limestone.

These calculations sufficiently verified, induce me to keep up my own stock for my own profit, though I live in a pine forest contiguous to swamps, and have ranges and timber fences in any quantity. If all would do so likewise, I cannot help thinking the greatest advantage would result to the State. a law was passed requiring every man to keep up his stock on pain of forfeiting them, I believe it would be of more real service to agriculture, than any one law the legislature could pass. We should save $1,000,000 annually; we should have an end put to half the quarrels, fights, and lawsuits, that take place; fine breeds of stock of all kinds would be introduced, appreciated, and taken care of; our lands would be improved, and our crops increased; A. Shell sand or broken sea shells is also the and finally, we should all raise our own bacon-at same thing, almost exactly, as common limestone.

Q. What is marl?

A. Marl is the same thing as limestone, namely, carbonate of lime, only it is often in the state of a fine powder, and often also mixed with earthy matter.

Q. What is shell sand?