formation of ammonia and nitrates. The shells contribute to this effect long after their occupants have ceased to be animal matter. Both these effects ought to be produced, as doubtless they are on all soils, by muscle bed; but they are not permanent like the decomposition of clay. It is not alone that part of clay which is in contact with shell which is acted on. The insoluble shell or carbonate of lime is changed to bi or soluble carbonate of lime, by the abundance of carbonic acid arising from the decay of organic matter of the shell or its fish, and from that eliminated by the roots of growing plants. As bi carbonate of lime the shells are dissolved by rain, and so penetrate deep into the clay, acting on it even where it is subsoil only. It appears that the poorer grasses and white weed are killed out by muscle bed, which feeds clover and red-top and Timothy. Would not fresh muscle bed kill them? It seems from Mr. Wasson's account that muscle bed must be frozen before use, or it is valueless. I do not understand this. If freezing is not intended for disintegration, it may be necessary that muscle bed should undergo a slacking, by which it parts with sulphureted hydrogen, like gas-lime before it can be applied. At any rate, it is well settled that the marine deposits about the shores of France, called "Tangue," so much valued as manure, must be many months exposed to air before application. It is very desirable that analysis should determine how much carbonate of lime the "muds," mentioned by Mr. Bailey, contain. The "tangues" contain thirty to forty per cent.; their constituents otherwise are like the "muds.' Tangue swells and slacks like marl. Perhaps an experiment in this way will settle the question. I have thus endeavored to lay before you such thoughts as have occurred to me on one of the subjects presented in your note received some days ago. I trust that the scientific survey of Maine will afford, by analyses of muscle bed, results which may confirm the views above put forth. In this case, as usual, practice has preceded science, which can only hold up your State banner "Dirigo," explain, and point to new explorations and applications. With great regard, Your friend and servant, SAMUEL L. DANA. PROSPECTS AND DUTIES. In concluding this Report I desire to offer a word of exhortation to the farmers of Maine. We have fallen upon troublous times; where, for nearly half a century, almost uninterrupted peace, at home and abroad, has been our lot, for nearly two years past a gigantic rebellion has threatened our national existence. Deadly war is raging between hosts, in numbers unparalleled in modern times. Again and again the call has come to us for men. Nobly and promptly has the call been responded to. Our sons and our brothers have exchanged the harvest field for the battle ground. In place of the plow and the scythe, they handle the musket and the sword. And we who remain, although we share not their perils and hardships, have not less weighty responsibilities resting upon us. It is not for me here to speak of our duties as citizens: God helping us, we will support our Government, uphold the Constitution, crush insubordination and lawlessness, and maintain law and order and justice, North and South. But of our peculiar duties as farmers I may speak. Those thousand and more regiments in the field, from being producers have come to be consumers. Every man of them must be fed and clothed -fed and clothed from the productions of the earth. A time of war is usually a time of diminished production; our experience in this respect, thus far has been exceptional. By the blessing of Providence our harvests have been ample, and famine has not threatened us. Taking the country together, the years 1860, '61 and '62, have been very plentiful years, and the help afforded by these abundant crops, in enabling us to sustain the call for men and means, can scarcely be over estimated. They have had much to do, also, in preventing foreign intervention. The foreign press has been steadily predicting our failure to produce a sufficiency of Europe has been amazed beyond measure, to find us able, not only to feed our own population, (with all the loss and waste incident to great military operations,) but to export bread to feed her hungry millions. How much longer we may be able to do this, is a serious question. The last call for 600,000 men was responded to, for the most part, after the crops for 1862 had been safely garnered, and the men came, in large proportion, from the food producing ranks. We are getting to be short handed. Experience teaches us also that a series of abundant seasons is usually followed by a succession of more scanty ones. While we would trust, with undoubting confidence, that the Great Ruler of Nations will do all things well, and will crown the right with victory, it behooves us to strain every nerve and muscle, to put forth every energy and faculty to secure the end desired. We, who go not to the battle field, must do our utmost to support those who do, as well as those who must always be cared for at home. There is a demand upon us to lay our plans for the coming season wisely and well, so that every hour of the time, and all the means at command, be employed to the best advantage. There is need of the acquisition and diffusion of knowledge, and the great extension of improved practice. There is need of the utmost economy in saving, and skill in applying the manures of the farm yard, and need to draw upon all other sources of fertilization within our reach. There is a louder call than ever for the employment of improved implements and farm machinery, for every contrivance begotten of the necessity and ingenuity of man, by which the powers of nature or the force of brutes may supply the lack of human labor. There is need of brains as well as muscles, of knowledge as well as force. There is need that no unprofitable beast be allowed to consume the forage which ought to yield a valuable return. In a word, there is greater need than ever before, of all those things and just those things, the attainment of which has been the constant object of all the efforts made in behalf of agriculture, whether by Farmers' Clubs, by Agricultural Societies, by the Board of Agriculture, or by any other means. To whatever extent the efforts of past years have been successful, to the same extent we shall now reap a more abundant reward. That this is very great, was clearly shown by the report made to the Board last winter, (see page 37.) Statistics show, that while from 1850 to 1860 the population of the State increased less than eight per cent., the cultivated acres increased thirty per cent.; and that this greater breadth was accompanied with better culture also, is shown by the greater increased value of farms, which was no less than forty-three per cent. Increase of value in farm implements and machinery also fully kept pace, being forty-four per cent.; and the improvement of farm stock alone (throwing out of account all that might be due to increase in numbers,) was more than fifty per cent. Millions have thus been gained to the resources of the State, and never were such facts cause for greater rejoicing than now. Let us, then, thank God and take courage. Cherish those organizations by which so much has been accomplished, and which, if ever useful at all, are more needful now than ever before. Help one another. Encourage one another. Be of good cheer. "WORK AND LEARN." Work, in order to produce. Learn how to work, that you may produce the more. S. L. GOODALE, Secretary Board of Agriculture. JANUARY, 1863. |