ON MANURES. 



Btt 



Ao 9 and odds: " Though this is accomplished more slowly, 

 * 4 yet it is attended with less loss of carbonic acid, of vola- 

 4 ' tile alkali, of hidrogen, and of the fluid matter of heat ; 

 " all which are emitted in great quantity during the rapid 

 •' fermentations of large heaps of manure, and are wasted 

 " in the atmosphere, or on unprolific ground. By using 

 " dung in a less decomposed state, though it will require 

 " some time before it will be perfectly decomposed and re- 

 «' duced to carbonic earth, it will in the end totally decay, 

 *' and give the same quantity of nutriment to the roots, 

 " but more gradually applied." 



The testimonies of Kirwan, Sennebier, and Dr. Pearson, 

 are equally in favour of carrying dung fresh to the field. 



What is still more' to the purpose, the theory of these and the prac- 

 able chemists is supported by the authority of many of the tice of the best 

 most skilful and judicious farmers founded on extensive ex- 

 vperirnents. 



As dung is a compound of animal and vegetable matters, Nature of 

 but chiefly {he latter, it must be resolvable into the princi- dung, 

 pies of which they are composed. 



These principles, thus separated by decomposition, will ^ pr0 . iert ^^ 

 be ready again to enter into the composition of the growing 

 vegetables. The grand property of dung therefore is, to 

 yield immediate food to plants. Farther, it opens the soil, 

 if this be strong ; it attracts moisture ; and by the fermenta- 

 tion, which it excites in the soil, promotes the decomposition 

 of whatever vegetable particles may be already in the land. 

 Its effects have powerful progressive influence; for the pro- 

 duction of a great crop of leaf, root and stalk, by its shade 

 and fermentation leaves the land in better order to produce 

 succeeding crops. 



The circumstances to be considered in the receptacles of Collecting, 

 yard and stable dung are few but important. 



The first object to be attended to is to spread a layer of 

 earth over the surface of the yard. Peat is the best for this 

 purpose, with a portion of rnarle, or chalk. In want of this, 

 turf, rich mould, scourings of ditches, and some marles, or 

 chalk ; but not so much of either as to prevent the penetra- 

 tion of the fluids, which should enter sufficiently, to give a 

 black colour to the whole. There is no necessity for remov- 

 ing 



