ON MANtREl. 291 



plicable as a top dressing ; the rest should be ploughed in 

 as sOon as spread. 



In the second class Mr. Young includes 



1. Wood Ashes, 



Mr. Hassenfratz having questioned whether alkalis Alkalis act on 

 were a manure, Mr. Young made many experiments on the ^, 1 J ^ J ld 

 subject, which convinced him, that pearlayh was in a ve v y o.ution in wa» 

 powerful degree; and that it also had the property of act- ter ' 

 ing on charcoal by mere mixture and solution in water. 



Woodashes, wherever tried, have proved a valuab t- n,a- Woodashe*. 

 11 11 re. Mr. Young has used them on gravel and loams, both 

 dry and wet, and never without good effect. The spring is 

 the proper season, and succeeding rain of much importance* 

 Forty bushels an acre the common quantity. 



2. Peat Ashes. 



The value of these usually depends on the blackness and peat ashes, 

 density of the peat that is burned. Those of tne Newbury 

 peat are most celebrated, and ten or twelve bushels an acre 

 are a common quantity, while in other countries from twen- 

 ty to forty are usually applied. According to Mr. Davy 

 their component parts are 



Oxide of iron • • • • * * 48 



Gypsum » * • 32 



Muriate of sulphur and of potash • • 20 



100 



Some uncommonly ferruginous peat ashes are used with 

 great success on the chalk hills of Dunstable. 



3. Coal Ashes. 



All sorts of ashes are found most effective when spread coal ashes. 

 on clover, sainfoin, or other seeds in the spring. They are 

 also good on grass lands, and are by many used on green 

 wheat* The quantity from fifty to two hundred bushels an 

 acre. The effect of fifty or sixty bushels on dry chalk lands 

 is considerable. They answer best on dry, sound, rich 

 loams; but on clays, and wet gravels or loams, they make a 



U 9 poor 



