Annual Report of the Commissioner of Patents

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U.S. Government Printing Office, 1848
 

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Page 155 - the crops on a field diminish or increase in exact proportion to the diminution or increase of the mineral substances conveyed to it in manure...
Page 27 - February, 1839, and which is made by washing the best writing paper, first with a weak solution of common salt, and next with a solution of nitrate of silver. Although it takes a much longer time to obtain a copy upon this paper, yet, when obtained, the tints appear more harmonious and pleasing to the eye...
Page 155 - ... is calculated so seriously to mislead the agriculturist that it is highly important that its fallacies should be generally known. The contempt which the practical farmer feels for the science of agricultural chemistry arises from the errors which have been committed by its professors. They have endeavored to account for, and sometimes to pronounce as erroneous, the knowledge which ages of experience have established: and they have attempted to generalize without the practical data necessary to...
Page 155 - Without entering into the merits of the different opinions maintained by these distinguished chemists, I may here observe that many of the errors into which Liebig has fallen have, I think, arisen from his not sufficiently considering what agriculture really is. Practical agriculture consists in the artificial accumulation of certain constituents, to be employed either as food for man or other animals, upon a space of ground incapable of supporting them in its natural state.
Page 135 - Formerly the highest attainments only resulted in the production of a fine muscovado-like sugar ; but now, by improved processes, specimens are annually exhibited at the various agricultural fairs, vying . with the most beautiful loaf sugar. This has been effected by greater attention to cleanliness in the preparation of the sap, and the improvements in draining and refining the sugar.
Page 27 - Dissolve 100 grains of crystallized nitrate of silver in two ounces of distilled water; add to this solution onesixth of its volume of strong acetic acid.
Page 27 - Then take a sheet of iodized paper and wash it over with this gallonitrate of silver, with a soft brush, taking care to wash it on the side which has been previously marked. This operation should be performed by candlelight. Let the paper rest half a minute, and then dip it into water. Then dry it lightly with blotting-paper, and...
Page 353 - The size and mode of constructing the kiln may be varied to suit circumstances. The following is a very cheap plan, and sufficient to dry one ton of roots at a time. Place four strong posts in the ground, twelve feet apart one way, and eighteen the other; the front two fourteen feet high, and the others eighteen; put girts across the bottom, middle and top; and nail boards perpendicularly on the outside as for a common barn. The boards must be well seasoned, and all cracks or holes should be plastered...
Page 327 - The advantages obtained by this method of making hay, or rather of preserving grass in a dry state, are sufficiently obvious. By this means all the constituents of the grass are retained in a state of integrity ; the sugar, by the absence of water, is protected from undergoing decomposition, the...
Page 27 - I merely evaporate the solution above described without inlroducing the carbonic acid. The muriate of potash or of soda I merely evaporate the solution above described, without introducing the carbonic acid. The muriate of potash or of soda may also be decomposed when in a fused state by the action of steam ; alumina or the subphosphate of alumina being present, the operation is to be conducted in all respects in the same manner as that just described for the sulphates of potash and soda. But owing...

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