[ 127 ] 



CHAP. IV. 



Earth-burning, 1818. 



194. In paragraphs 99, 100, and 101, I spoke of a 

 mode of procurinp^ manure by the biirniun; o{ earth, and 

 I proposed to try it this present year. This J have now 

 done, and I proceed to give an account of the result. 



195. I have tried the efficacy of this maniue on 

 Cabbages, Swedish Turnips, Indian Corn, and Buck- 

 wheat. In the three former cases the Ashes were put 

 into the furrow and the earth was turned over them, 

 in the same way that I have described, in paragraph 

 177, with regard to the mainire for Savoys. I put at 

 the rate of about twenty tons weight to an acre. In 

 the case of the Buck-wheat, the Ashes were spread out 

 of the Avagon upon a little strip olland on the out-side of 

 the piece. They were thiokli/ spread ; and it might be 

 that the proportion exceeded even thirtij tons to the 

 acre. But, upon the part where the ashes were spread, 

 the Buck-wheat was three or four times as good as upon 

 the land adjoining. The land was very poor. It bore 

 Buck-wheat last year, without any manure. It had two 

 good ploughings then, and it had two good ploughings 

 a^ain this year, but had no manure, except the part 

 above-mentioned and one other part at a great distance 

 from it. So that the trial was very fair incleed. 



196. In every instance the ashes produced great 

 effect ; and I am now quite certain that any crop may 

 be raised with the help of this manure ; liiat is to say, 

 any sort of crop ; for, of dung, wood-ashes, and earth- 

 ashes, when all are ready upon the spot, without pur- 

 chase or carting from a distance, the two former are 

 certainly to be employed in preference to the latter, 

 because a smaller quantity of them will produce the 

 same effect, and, of course, the application of them is 

 less expensive. But, in taking to a farm unprovided 



