IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CULTURE OF VEGETABLES. $J 



absorption nor evaporation. One very important result is Great crapora- 

 placed before the eyes, and within the reach of every prac- J^, rom 

 tical agriculturist to ascertain, namely, that the evaporation 

 from dung is live times as much as from earth, and is equal 

 on the surface of an acre to 5000 pounds per hour. By Dung shouM 

 making use of dung in its freshest state, the farmer may ex- be ute&tnJk 

 tend his cropping to one third more land with the same d 

 quantity of manure. It is with regret that I have viewed 

 in many parts of the kingdom the quantity of manure which 

 is exposed on the surface, and tends to no good. I am 

 : strongly of opinion, that in all light soils, if the manure 

 was buried in trenches as I propose, and the turnips sowed 

 above it, more abundant crops would be procured. By 

 cleaning with the plough, great advantage would be de- 

 rived to the crop, from the evaporation yielded by the 

 earth. Hot manure might also be used. By fermentation 

 dung is reduced to one half its bulk, and its quality re- 

 duced in a much greater proportion. The manure now com- 

 monly taken for one acre of broad cast would, if deposited 

 whilst hot in drills, answer for four acres, and the crop pro- 

 duced be much more. 



If the Society of Arts extend their sanction and patronage Experiments 

 to my exertions, I shall feel bound to proceed, and to en- , pur " 



J . ■,'..• sued. 



deavour to bring the experiments to a regular system. The 

 glasses I used for determining the quantity of evaporation 

 were of a bell form, and placed with the open part upon the 

 earth ; a quantity of tow was first weighed, ready to wipe 

 off the moisture collected from evaporation within the glass, 

 which tow was then again weighed as exactly as I could 

 after the glass had flood for a given time, and been wiped 

 dry with the tow ; and from knowing the contents of the 

 glass I made my calculations. Mr. Robert Wood, watch 

 maker, of Workington, attended to the experiments made 

 with the glasses. 



I have tie honour to be, with great respect, 



Dear Sir, 



Your obedient humble servant, 



J. C. CURWEN. 



Pear 



