CH. II.] 



THE EOOT. 



89 



be of great benefit, if eveiT plant could be manured 

 •with the decapng parts of its o^vn species ; the 

 ancients made this a particular object. We read 

 that those vines were the most fruitful, which were 

 manured Avith their own leaves and pmnings, and the 

 skins of expressed grapes^. This rule might be so 

 far followed, as that the stems of potatoes, peas, &c., 

 could be dug respectively into the compartments 

 where those crops are intended to be groA^Ti in the 

 following year. 



The foUo^nng table shews the relative constitu- 

 tion of common stable manure and our usual 

 crops : — 



Stable manure. 



Carbon . . , 

 Hydrogen 

 Oxygen . . . 

 Nitrogen . . . 

 Carbonate of lime 

 Carbonate of soda. 

 Benzoate of soda. 

 Muriate of potash 

 Muriate of soda 

 Sulphate of soda. 

 Sulphate of potash 



These are the chief components 

 of all plants. 



In some vegetables. 

 In almost all plants. 



In cucumbers, garlic, &c. 

 Perhaps in all. 



In cucumbers, garlic, &c. 



Crescentius Agric, sect. 2, c. 6. 



