148 ONT THE FOOD OF PLANTS. 



In the general mode, I have always thought 

 sufficient care and attention are not given to 

 the preservation and application of the urine of 

 the animals ; and that this is more valuable in 

 the composition of the food of plants, than is 

 generally calculated : urine not only in itself 

 contains greater fertilising powers than the 

 excrement, or dung ; but added to this, it consi- 

 derably accelerates and moderates the ferment- 

 ation, and particularly when diluted with water 

 in a due degree. The effects of the urine, also, 

 when thus divided and diluted, by mixing with 

 the dung, are much increased and beneficially 

 extended : and a much better mode, in my opi- 

 nion, for conducting this process, than that 

 recommended by Sir Humphry, is described by 

 Sir John Sinclair, as adopted in the Netherlands. 



He says, *' The more opulent pave and line 

 " with brick the receptacles for their dung, 

 " which is thus constantly kept plunged in a 

 *< mass of liquid matter ; the fibrous paits of 

 " the vegetables are thus completely decom- 

 *' posed, and four tons of this manure go as far 

 " as five kept with less precaution." 



But this liquid should consist of urine not too 

 much diluted, or with no more w^ater added, 

 than is sufficient to keep the fermenting heat 

 below the power of generating steam. 



