Marl is sometimes found in such quantity and of such purity that it is burned for lime, and affords a fair quality of "bog lime" for mason's use. TEST OF VALUE OF MARL. The value of marl depends almost entirely upon the amount of lime and magnesia it contains, and its value is diminished in proportion to the amount of clay and sand present. The lime and magnesia are found in marl mainly in the form of carbonates. A ready test for a carbonate in such cases is to pour on the material some strong acid, and if a carbonate is present, it will foam up or effervesce in the same way that saleratus will foam up when vinegar is poured over it; only the effervescence with marl is slower, because the marl is less soluble than soda. If the material does not foam when an acid is added, it is not a marl, but probably a clay. MODE OF TESTING. A good way to determine the quality and value of a marl is to determine how much of the material is soluble in common Muriatic Acid. This can be procured in any drug store, and ought not to cost more than ten cents a pound, as it only costs three cents a pound. One pound of the acid will be enough to test three or four specimens of marl. Mix the acid with one quart of rain water and put this in a bottle for use. Take a tablespoonful of the material supposed to be marl, put this in a large glass or earthen vessel (avoiding metallic dishes) and slowly pour over the material a half teaspoonful of the dilute muriatic acid. If it is a marl the effervescence will show this fact; if it all dissolves, leaving no residue or but little at the bottom of the vessel, it is marl of good quality. If but little is dissolved and a large residue is left at the bottom of the dish, it is of inferior quality. By weighing out on delicate scales a definite quantity of the dry material, say 100 grains, and then weighing the washed and dried residue which is insoluble in acids, an estimate can be made of the percentage of active and inactive material in any specimen of marl. The insoluble residue is of no value. A popular and simple test to distinguish between marl and clay is made by placing a lump of the material in a basin of water and leaving it undisturbed for a short time. If it is marl it will crumble down into a diffuse mass, but if clay, it will be little changed. USES OF MARL To the farmer marl is of value mainly as a fertilizer. When found on or near the farm it is the cheapest form in which lime can be applied to the soil, and exerts all the beneficial influences of lime, but in a milder degree than caustic lime. A certain amount of lime is required in every productive soil to furnish the necessary amount of lime found in the ashes of all plants, and absolutely required for their growth. But lime applied as a manure is used greatly in excess of this amount. It causes the decomposition of inert vegetable matter found in many soils, and accelerates the elaboration of plant food. When mixed with the soil marl destroys the acid condition in any soil, decomposes the sulphate of iron which is sometimes present, and affords the alkaline condition in soils so necessary for nitrification and preparation of plant food. KIND OF SOIL BENEFITED. Light sandy soils containing a fair supply of vegetable matter, and where the decomposition of humus is slow; soils that run to moss and bunch grass; soils so open and porous that the physical state of the soil prevents fruitfulness-all such soils will be benefited by a dressing of marl. So also where the excess of vegetable matter prevents successful cropping, as is seen in the shallow 1uck beds. When these "cat-holes" have been cleared of bushes and flags and properly drained, it is often found that they run to wild grasses, or if grain is sown, the product is loose-jointed straw instead of ripened grain. On such soils a dressing of 50 to 75 bushels of marl to the acre will greatly benefit the crop and ameliorate the soil. To secure the benefits of marl it requires to be on or near the surface. This is one reason why the marl at the bottom of a muck bed exhibits no beneficial action. To do the most good marl needs to be finely pulverized and to be mixed with the surface soil. To secure this fineness of division no agent is so good as frost. If it is thrown on the surface of the ground and left all winter to the splitting wedge of frost, it will be found in the spring as mellow as an ash heap, and can then easily and uniformly be spread upon the field. Grass lands, whether in pasture or meadow, can thus be benefited by a surface dressing of marl. If two or three bushels of common salt are spread on each acre with the marl the benefit is usually greater. Indeed, the combination of marl and salt is usually found to be beneficial. On grass lands the marl may be applied at any season when we are sure that frosts will follow so as to mellow and break up the clods. If it becomes dry and hard without freezing it may remain in lumps and be of very little benefit. In grain crops the finely divided marl exerts most benefit if applied just before seeding. In the light soils of Otsego county, a dressing of marl was found to be very beneficial to the corn crop. I would advise farmers to try it on the light soils of our northern counties, if marl can be obtained near the farm. I also ask them to try the combination of salt and marl on such soils. I have spoken mostly about the use of marl on light soils abounding in humus. Soils entirely destitute of vegetable matter will probably derive little benefit from marl. On heavy clay soils marl will be less beneficial unless used in so large amount as to change the physical properties of the soil. The expense of transporting so large an amount of material as will be required to alter the physical properties of the soil, even when the distance is short, is too great for this region of cheap lands and high wages. POWDERED LIMESTONE. The inquiry has been made about the value of powdered limestone for manure. If the limestone is as finely pulverized as marl it would be as valuable for manure. In these days of cheap fuel the least expensive way to grind the limestone to dust is to burn it into caustic lime, and when this slakes in water, or, better still, air-slakes, by taking up water and carbonic acid from the air, the pulverization is most complete, and the material is in the best condition to be applied to the soil The dose of marl to the acre is from 30 to 100 bushels. For arable soils and light lands 30 bushels will do. On lands having a large excess of vegetable matter, as in muck beds, the larger dose is desirable. There is little danger of injuring the soil by a heavy dose of marl, whereas an excessive dose of caustic lime may produce lasting injury. The marl is "mild," and entirely wanting in the burning qualities of caustic lime. AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE, R. C. KEDZIE, Professor of Chemistry. No. 10.-VETERINARY DEPARTMENT. A DISEASE AMONG HORSES THE RESULT OF INJUDICIOUS FEEDING. In the spring of the year it is generally a matter of much consideration amongst farmers to have their horses in the best condition possible to do the work necessary at this season, and after a severe winter, which we often have in northern latitudes, many matters in the shape of extra farm work accumulate, which would have, weather permitting, been done before; and there is the spring plowing to be done, which, with a good pair of horses up to their work and in high spirits, becomes a much lighter task for the lover of horse flesh who tills the soil. We can scarcely wonder then that such a man will feed his horses well, and upon the most nutritious food while they are resting, recruiting as it were, in order that they may be the better able to perform their various duties when the time comes, and thus, through the error of liberality, quite a number of animals are sacrificed, "killed by kindness" every year. Again we find at this season of the year that horses kept for pleasure, or very light work, are often compelled to remain in the stable for several days, owing perhaps to inclement weather, and as such horses are generally pretty liberally fed and in high condition, they are frequently affected with the complaint which I am about to describe; but before doing so perhaps it may be better to settle upon a name for the disorder, and although this may appear to some an easy matter, or may be one of little importance, yet this very point has given rise to considerable controversy as to the cause, seat and other matters in connection with the disease-for instance, it has been called "Congestion of the loins," but I have seen cases where the muscles of the shoulders were alone affected. In the State of Michigan I have from time to time seen the disease referred to in agricultural papers as "Red water," but this is misleading from the fact. that in some of the worst cases the water (urine) is not red; besides it differs from a disease of that name in the bovine tribe in several respects, among others the cause. Without however commenting at any length upon the name, let me say that the one by which it is generally recognized in this country by veterinarians is Azoturia, a name given to it from the fact that the urine has been found to contain an undue proportion of nitrogen during an attack. So, adopting this cognomen, let us for a moment turn to the cause of the complaint, which in this case, as in all others, is the first thing to discover before we can hope to combat in an intelligent manner the invasion of the disorder; and in reference to it I may say, without going further, that experience has taught us beyond all reasonable doubt that the disease is caused by feeding horses too liberally upon nutritious food and not giving them any exercise. I may say in this connection that every case of this malady I have met with presented just about the same history, and may further say that those who have described the disease, did so in a manner which corroborates what I myself have witnessed, so I think if I just briefly outline in familiar terms the history which I invariably get, it may make an impression that will do good in the future, to wit: The horse was in good condition and well fed, but owing to certain circumstances had not been out of his stall for a day or two. When brought out he was in the best of spirits, never, perhaps, feeling better in his life; but in a variable time, from a few minutes to, say, a quarter of an hour after being on the road, it would begin to show symptoms of distress, and the change from what would appear to be robust health, to extreme prostration is very alarming, indeed almost incredible, running its course and destroying life in a day or so; happily, though, this is a malady which, if dealt with judiciously, is often amenable to treatment. This disease may occur at any season of the year, but in my experience is more prevalent in the early spring than at other times, owing, of course, to the fact that animals are more subjected to the exciting cause at this than at other times. To be able to recognize the disorder in the early stages is a matter of importance, for the sooner appropriate remedies are administered the better. THE SYMPTOMS are usually very well marked, although we will once in awhile meet with cases where it is not easy to recognize the disease at first sight; as a rule, though, the horse, after being driven and allowed to stand, will tremble, sometimes violently. The eyes will present a very anxious look; perspiration will run down the face; sometimes the whole body is bedewed with sweat. The animal, at this stage, generally paws with its fore feet and soon lies down, or it will crouch behind and appear as if injured across the back, having much difficulty in manipulating its hind legs when required to walk, when it eventually lies down and in many instances is unable to rise, although it may be able to get up on its fore legs and sit, as it were, like a dog; but this attitude is not often attained more than a few moments, when the poor creature will fall upon its broad side. At this stage the urine, if voided or drawn away, is usually of a brownish red color. I have seen it described as being of the appearance of coffee, and, indeed, the comparison is striking. The breathing becomes hurried, the nostrils often being dilated and red within. When the hind quarters are apparently most affected they will have a hard board-like feeling when pressed upon with the hand; the same condition of the muscles will appear on the shoulders when the forequarters are affected. The pulse becomes elevated. TREATMENT. It has become a very threadbare expression to say that an Ounce of pre vention is worth a pound of cure," but I know of no disease where this adage can be more appropriately applied than the one under consideration; so it goes without saying, that horses which are well fed should be exercised daily, or else they are liable at any time, after a day or more's rest, to come down with this disease. But when they do, the course of treatment which I have found from time to time to be of much benefit, is in the first place to give an active purgative consisting of about a quart of raw linseed oil; as soon as this has been administered the affected part should be covered with cloths wrung out of warm water and the whole covered with oil-cloth or other close fabric to keep the heat in. An enema may be given every hour or two until the bowels begin to act. It should be composed of soap and warm water. After about the first twelve hours the hot cloths may be left off, but the body should be kept comfortable and clothed according to the season. In some instances great relief is afforded in an hour or two after the hot cloths have been applied, in which cases they may be discontinued. In those cases in which the animals become very uneasy and knock themselves about considerably I have found great benefit from the use of chloral hydrate in doses of about four drachms every two hours or oftener until several doses have been given or the animal is influenced by the medicine. The urine should be drawn several times a day. After a day or two it is a good plan to get the horse upon its feet, and a few steps of exercise will often stimulate the blood-vessels in the legs, and thus do much good. It is also a good plan to rub the legs thoroughly when it is possible to do so, say three times a day. I think in cases of this kind the services of a veterinary surgeon should be secured as soon as they can be, for nearly every case differs somewhat in the manifestation of its symptoms, and requires somewhat different treatment, so that the above can only be looked upon as a general outline, but at the same time such a course will have a good effect in ordinary cases. AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE, E. A. A. GRANGE, V. S., 46 No. 11.-BOTANICAL DEPARTMENT. MAKING A LAWN. MIXED LAWN GRASS SEEDS ANALYZED. 'Grass is the most lowly, the simplest, and the loveliest element to be used in the adornment of home. A smooth, closely shaven surface of grass is by far the most essential element of beauty on the grounds of a suburban home."-F. J. Scott. "It would be a great gain to horticulture if ten out of every twelve flower-beds in Europe were blotted out with fresh green grass."—Robinson's Parks of Paris. "A lawn is the ground work of a landscape garden."-H. W. Sargent. "We love the soft turf which is thrown like a smooth natural carpet over the swelling outline of the smiling earth."-A. J. Downing. Many of the farmers of Michigan, as well as large numbers of people who own, each one or more, lots in or near town, are seeking to improve their homes. In embellishing a place, we agree with the excellent authorities cited above, that nothing gives more satisfaction for the outlay than a well established and well kept plat of grass called a lawn. |