186 STATISTICAL SURVEY 



is ufelefs as fuel, no operation being enabled to give it 

 the neceflary adhefion. 



In the neighbourhood of towns many manures are 

 ufed, that do not come within the reach of farmers 

 in general, but which are very advantageous. Coal- 

 afhes are very good for heavy land j for coarfe mea- 

 dows they are fuperior correctives of the harfh her- 

 bage they naturally produce. Soot is a very powerful 

 manure alfo, and, as a top-drefling for wheat, very 

 fuccefsful ; but it is not eafy to colledl any confiderable 

 quantity. In the neighbourhood of bleach-greens, the 

 afhes, after being boiled, improve meadows and paftures 

 very much ; foaper's wafte, being of the fame nature, 

 is alfo ufed for the fame purpofe, where it can be pro- 

 cured. There are many other fubftances, which far- 

 mers in the vicinity of large towns might with a little 

 care and induftry procure, that are not very much at- 

 tended to, and are yet very valuable. 



Before I quit the fubjecl of manures, I muft take 

 notice of an obfervation I lately met with in a book of* 

 agriculture, the name of which I do not recollect ; 

 ground, naturally fertile, has a great advantage over 

 ground made rich by manures ; in the former, the 

 ftraw is of a much firmer texture, and able to fupport 

 a much greater weight of grain, than that of the latter, 

 \vhofe ftraw wanting flrength is apt to fall before the 

 grain is properly ripe, which prevents its filling, as in 

 that fituation it is deprived both of air and fun. 



SECT. 



