90 , [Senate 



vent their accumulation. He of course succeeded in his wish ; but 

 he might, with almost equal propriety, have built his granary across 

 the stream, so as to shovel the wheat into the water when it increased 

 on his hands. 



The loss of manure by the escape of gas is often very great. The 

 proof of this was finely exhibited by Humphrey Davy, in an experi- 

 ment, performed by filling a large retort from a heap of fermenting 

 manure, placing the beak among the roots of some grass. Nothing 

 but vapor left the vessel, yet in a few days the grass exhibited greater 

 luxuriance round the beak of the retort than any of the surrounding 

 portions. Hence the superiority of unfermented manure — the rich 

 portions are not yet lost. And hence, too, the importance of prevent- 

 ing this loss by an immediate application and plowing into the soil, 

 and also by mixing it in composts with muck, peat, swamp mud, and 

 even common earth in a dry state, — and of preventing its escape from 

 stables and yards, by a daily strewing with dried peat, lime, or 

 plaster. 



The superiority of unfermented manure has just been mentioned, 

 which is by many doubted. But the very facts on which these doubts 

 rest, only prove its efficacy. For, say they, " I have always found 

 fresh manure to be attended with little effect the first year, while it 

 yet remains fresh ; but afterwards, when fermentation and decay had 

 taken place, the benefit was great and striking." But here is the 

 proof at hand, that not until the rich, soluble and gaseous parts had 

 well penetrated and been absorbed by the soil, was their powerful and 

 invigorating influence exerted upon the growing plants. Fresh manure 

 is generally in a state not readily mixed with s«ils ; it is thrown into 

 large lumps over the surface, some of which are plowed in and others 

 not, but none of them prove of immediate use to the crops. But on 

 the other hand, fermented manure, from its ready pulverization, ad- 

 mits of an easy admixture. Let fresh manure be thoroughly ground 

 down and worked into the soil by repeated harrowings, and two or 

 three plowings, and its influence will be like magic. 



Swamp muck has often been spoken of as manure. But those who 

 expect great and striking results from its application, will be disap- 

 pointed, as the writer has been. Even with ashes, it is much less 

 powerful than stable manure, not only because it possesses less inhe- 

 rent richness, but because it has less soluble parts, and consequently 

 imparts its strength more slowly to growing plants. But this quality 



