Lectures on the Applications of Chemistry and Geology to Agriculture, Part 3

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Wiley & Putnam, 1844 - 298 pages
 

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Page 569 - In making rennet, some use pure water only, others prefer clear whey, others a decoction of leaves— such as those of the sweetbriar, the dogrose, and the bramble — or of aromatic herbs and flowers, while others, again, put in lemons, cloves, mace, or brandy. These various practices are adopted for the purpose of making the rennet keep better, of lessening its unpleasant smell, of preventing any unpleasant taste it might give to the curd, or finally of directly improving the flavour of the cheese....
Page 233 - If the loss exceed 5 grs. from 100 of the dry soil, it may be classed among the marls, if more than 20 grs. among the calcareous soils. Lastly, vegetable matter is sometimes the characteristic of a soil, which gives rise to a further division of 9".
Page 17 - Proceedings of the Geological and Polytechnic Society of the West Riding of Yorkshire.
Page 59 - Do grasses and trees derive their carbon from the soil? Then, how, by their growth do they increase the quantity of carbonaceous matter which the soil contains? "It is obvious that, taken as a whole, they must draw from the air not only as much as is contained in their own substance, but an excess also, which they impart to the soil.
Page 400 - It neutralizes acid substances which are naturally formed in the soil, and decomposes or renders harmless other noxious compounds which are not unfrequently within reach of the roots of plants.
Page 284 - The second was a virgin soil, celebrated for its fertility. The third had been unmanured for twelve years, during the last nine of which it had been cropped with beans — barley — potatoes — winter barley and red clover — clover — winter barley — wheat— oats — naked fallow.
Page 237 - ... the very rocks from which the entire accumulations have been derived. Thus the general conclusion is fairly drawn, that the earthy matter of all soils has been produced by the gradual decay, degradation, or crumbling down of previously existing rocks. It is evident therefore— 1°. That whenever a soil rests immediately upon the rock from which it has been derived, it may be expected to partake more or less of the composition and characters of that rock.
Page 565 - Yime and magnesia as it can be obtained, since these substances are apt to give it a bitter or other disagreeable taste. It is easy, however, to purify the common salt of the shops from these impurities by pouring a couple of quarts of boiling water upon a stone or two of salt, stirring the whole well about, now and then, for a couple of hours, and afterwards straining it through a clean cloth. The water which runs through is a saturated solution of salt, and contains all the impurities, but may...
Page 361 - I may allude here to the advantage which in sugargrowing countries may be obtained from the restoration of the cane ash to the fields in which the canes have grown. After the canes have been crushed in the mill they are usually employed as fuel in boiling down the syrup; and the ash, which is not unfrequently more or less melted, is, I believe, almost uniformly neglected — at all events, is seldom applied again to the land. According to the principles I have so often illustrated in the present...
Page 62 - When a plant is quite matured, and when the organs, by which it obtains food from the atmosphere, are formed, the carbonic acid of the soil is no further required.

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