IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CULTURE OF VEGETABLES. C\ 



Also from the following farmers, resident in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Lancaster: 



Thomas Tart. 

 William Armstead. 

 William Staller. 

 Anthony Eidsforth. 

 Christopher Atkinson, 

 . Robert Edmondson. 



Dear Sir, 

 Mr. Curwen having informed me, that a question would Subject afe*m 

 probably arise in the Society of Arts &c. relative to the poration <** 

 degree of exhalation of water from the earth, and it appear- ™"^ imp< *^ 

 ing to me to be intimately connected with various matters 

 in agriculture, I think you will not be displeased at my 

 mentioning a few circumstances, to prove, that the object 

 much deserves attention. I conceive that it bears upon the 

 point of showing the great depth, to which dung may be 

 ploughed with safety; for when we find, as I have done, 

 that from two to three thousand gallons of moisture are ex- 

 haled in a day from an acre of land, and that the quantity 

 varies greatly according to the state of tillage, it should ap- 

 pear, that such a vertical stream of vapour must remove all 

 apprehensions of burying dung. I also think it goes to the 

 point of hoeing and horse-hoeing such plants as demand 

 much moisture. I have found, that the dung in a farm- 

 yard, laid three feet deep and hard trodden by cattle all the 

 winter, has exhaled in the proportion of above four thou- 

 sand gallons per acre in ten hours; hence a practical con- 

 clusion may be surely drawn. I could much extend these 

 observations, but they are sufficient to convince so enlight- 

 ened a mind as yours of the propriety of a very extensive 

 pursuit of this inquiry. 



I have the honour to be, 



With much regard, dear Sir, 



Your faithful and very humble servant, 



ARTHUR YOUNG. 



IX, 



