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Utility of Pyrites as a Manure, 



The following account of the utility of pyrites as a 

 ananure, by Mr. Livingston, is alluded to in page 158, 



"In an excursion, I have lately made into Flanders, 

 I observed, at some distance from the road, several 

 large beds of earth, that appeared to me, to emit smoke 

 and flame, which two men were tending. I stopped 

 the post chaise, and went to examine it, I found that it 

 was pyrites sufficiently impregnated with sulphur, to 

 burn when dry. This Was laid in beds and set on fire. 

 They endeavoured to extinguish the fire, when the 

 ashes became of a red colour. If it burned longer, it 

 became black, and the quality of it not so good. This 

 earth so burnt, was easily reduced to powder by wood- 

 en mallets, and in this state was carried upon the backs 

 of asses forty or fifty miles as a manure, and was used 

 particularly for grass, at the rate of about six bushels 

 to the acre. The seed grain was also covered with it 

 as with gypsum in our country." 



[[Pyrites consist of sulphur and iron, crystallized 

 in various shapes, frequently in cubes : and abound in 

 the United States, and especially in Pennsylvania.^ 



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