173 



the ground in good condition, that is, whilst it is moist and oihj, and 

 uninjured by sun or rain. 



I am an advocate for well rotted dung. I have seen luxuriant crops 

 raised by means of it, and could not be easily persuaded to prefer ma- 

 nure in an unfermented state. The potato flourishes best in well rotted 

 dung. Turnips, carrots, parsnips, beets and all garden vegetables suc- 

 ceed best in well rotted dung. Rain will not injure manure to the ex- 

 tent that some persons suppose. It is true that if barn yard dung be 

 allowed to remain lying in small neglected heaps about the farm yard, 

 the rain will wash away its fertilizing ingredients, but if it be properly 

 and carefully heaped and surrounded on all sides with muck, to pro- 

 tect it from the weather, and absorb its juices and gases, a certain 

 portion of rain will have a good effect on it. M. Sprengel, the cele- 

 brated German chemist, found by analysis, that the putrified urine of 

 the farm yard becomes considerably richer when previously mixed with 

 rain water, as by this means the ammonia is wonderfully increased. In 

 100,000 parts of fresh liquid manure, he found 204 parts of ammonia. 

 In liquid manure after putrefaction, 487 parts, &c., and where previ- 

 ously mixed with rain water, 1622 parts. 



This great increase of ammonia is worthy of attention. The follow- 

 ing is M. Sprengel's analysis of the liquid manure of the urine cistern : 



Fresh. Pulverized. Watered. 



Urea, 4,000 1,000 600 



Albumen, 10 



Mucus, 190 40 30 



Benzoic acid, 90 250 120 



Lactic acid, 516 500 500 



Carbonic acid, 5,256 16 1,533 



Ammonia, 205 487 162 



Potash, 664 664 664 



Soda, 554 554 554 



Silica, 36 5 8 



Alumina, 2 



Oxide of Iron, 4 1 



Oxide of Manganese, 1 



Lime, 65 2 8 



Magnesia, 36 22 30 



