What is the reason of this?
How does charcoal overcome offensive odors?
How can you prove that charcoal absorbs the mineral impurities of water?
A rich garden-soil contains large quantities of carbonaceous matter; and, if we bury in such a soil a piece of tainted meat or a fishy duck, it will, in a short time, be deprived of its odor, because the charcoal in the soil will entirely absorb it.
Carbon absorbs gases as well as the impurities of water; and, if a little charcoal be sprinkled over manure, or any other substance, emitting offensive odors, the gases escaping will be taken up by the charcoal, and the odor will cease.
It has also the power of absorbing mineral matters, which are contained in water. If a quantity of salt water be filtered through charcoal, the salt will be retained, and the water will pass through pure.
We are now able to see how carbon renders the soil retentive of manures.
1st. Manures, which resemble the brown liquor of barn-yards, have their fertilizing matters taken out, and retained by it.
How does charcoal in the soil affect the manures applied?
Why does charcoal in the soil cause it to appropriate the gases of the atmosphere?