MANURES. 523 



potatoes in the planting, in which case it is generally admitted 

 to improve the quality of the potato ; and it is applied also by 

 being sown broadcast upon young clover; in this latter case, 

 ordinarily with success. The philosophy of its operation is still 

 obscure. It is difficult to say why it fails; but it is not less 

 difficult to say why it succeeds. It will sometimes be useful, 

 and at other times without effect, in the same locality. This I 

 have myself experienced. A very competent farmer in the 

 United States gives it as his opinion, and the result of his expe 

 rience, that it sometimes failed of its effects from being too 

 coarsely ground, but that it always succeeded when reduced to 

 an impalpable powder. 



Much has been said of the value and efficacy of sea salt as a 

 manure, and in France great complaints have been made of the 

 heavy duty, which in fact prevented its use in this way. A dis 

 tinguished French farmer and experimenter, who has devoted 

 much time and expense to this subject, and has furnished most 

 exact accounts of his experiments and observations, has come 

 fully to the conclusion that it is of no use whatever as a manure, 

 and equally useless in the fatting of animals. These conclusions 

 are different from the popular notions, which seem always entitled 

 to some respect ; but they are fully borne out by the experiments, 

 repeated and varied, of this indefatigable inquirer. 



2. VEGETABLE MANURES. Of vegetable manures I have only 

 to say, that buckwheat and clover are often turned in by the 

 plough, and with acknowledged advantage. The Flemish make 

 a point of collecting every species of vegetable refuse which they 

 can find, all vegetable matter growing upon the sides of the 

 roads, and that which is found in the canals. They are careful 

 likewise to plough in their stubbles, excepting where there is 

 another crop on the ground, such as clover or carrots, which are 

 sometimes sown among the grain soon after the crop is harvested. 



Under this head may likewise be placed ashes, of which the 

 Flemish make great use. A large part of the fuel consumed in 

 Holland is peat or turf, and the Dutch ashes are highly valued as 

 dressing for clover. These ashes are imported from Holland 

 into Flanders in large quantities in boats, and always find pur 

 chasers. They are applied as a top dressing to dry meadows, as 

 well as to clover, and likewise to flax. It is not well determined 

 on what their particular efficacy depends. 



