MR. JOHN JUST ON FAULTS IN FARMING. 97 



from the leaves and green parts, and the superfluous solid 

 matter either excreted from the same, or thrown out from the 

 root. The organization of a plant thus directs to the organs 

 their own supplies; and the whole mechanism is so contrived 

 as to feed itself, move itself, regulate itself, by inherent 

 powers implanted within it by the great Governor of the 

 universe. 



Whatever, then, may be the benefit which plants derive 

 from manures employed in their cultivation, it can only 

 be bv such manures entering their structures in a liquid 

 or fluid state. Even the mineral matter certain plants 

 require, such as lime, silica (or the earth of flints), &c., 

 enters the plants in a fluid menstruum. It is hence of no 

 moment to plants how manures, or tillage which acts to 

 their advantage, be applied, the soluble portions alone can 

 be taken up. It is thus that liquid manures, when not over- 

 charged with nutritive matter, act almost immediately in 

 accelerating growth. And solid manures, whatever be their 

 natures, cannot promote growth by other methods or means, 

 than by furnishing plants with their soluble portions, which 

 they distribute throughout the soil. Liquid manures, then, 

 are the most direct and beneficial agents in increasing 

 growth, and should therefore be most carefully preserved 

 and applied. And as solid manures only aid vegetable 

 growth by furnishing a continuous supply of soluble matter, 

 they should be prevented from losing one particle that can 

 be dissolved, until they are spread upon the soil or mingled 

 with it. Tanks and reservoirs for the reception of all liquid 

 and soluble matter from farm-yards, should either be as 

 common as the dunghills, or the dunghills so protected that 

 nothing soluble should flow from them. Such dunghills 

 as must of necessity be exposed to weather, should have 

 their receptacles for drainage and waste, and all others 

 should have the fluid surplus returned them, to keep them in 

 a state of thorough saturation ; or, if this be impossible, such 



