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Paring and Burning reduces the roots of vegetables to coal 

 and afhes, and thus prepares both a flimulant and nutriment for 

 plants, as will be feen hereafter. 



HAP II. 



Of the Food of Plants, attd the Compofition of fertile Soilr. 



Having in the preceding chapter explained the nature of 

 the different foils known in agriculture, and of the diiferent 

 manures whofe general utility has been afcertained by long 

 experience, we are now to enquire which of thofe manures are 

 moft advantageoufly applicable to each of thofe particular foils, 

 and what are the caufes of their beneficial effedt in each particular 

 inftance. 



To proceed with order in this enquiry, we muft obferve 

 that the general effed expelled from the application of manure 

 is fertility ; that is, the moft copious produdion of corn and 

 graifes; and, fince fertility is itfelf the refult of the due admi- 

 niftration of the food of thofe vegetables, we muft firft fee what 

 that food is, and of what ingredients a foil ought to be com- 

 pofed in order to contain or adminifter it ; after which we 



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