APPENDIX. 457 



also, to be generally agreed, that using 1 this manure for drill-crops, 

 burying it a good depth, and raising the plants over the dung thus 



buried, is the best possible way in which it can be used. We lately 

 saw an account published of upwards of one hundred bushels of In- 

 dian corn to the acre being- raised by this mode of culture. The 

 success of Mr. Cobbctt, and others, in raising great crops of ruta- 

 baga by this method of using this manure, seems to demonstrate its 

 utility, if evidence were wanting- further than what appears in Eng- 

 lish publications on the subject. 



The plan that we would therefore recommend is, to apply the 

 fresh barn-dung to all drill-crops which are to be put in the ground 

 in the Spring, and for these we refer to what has been said under 

 rotation of crops. The shortest dung should be used for these pur- 

 poses, except for potatoes; and it should, as far as practicable, be 

 applied to the soils best adapted for each kind of dung, as has before 

 been mentioned. The longer or more strawy parts of the clung, we 

 should advise to be laid in the stercorary, if this building has- been 

 provided, or else som where under cover: or, if no cover can be 

 afforded, let it be thrown in a heap about three or four feet high; 

 and, wherever it be laid, let it be stired up from the bottom in the 

 course of about five or six weeks after it has been thus heaped or 

 otherwise stored away; after which it will soon be found well fited 

 for being used for the crop of ruta-baga. It is also advisable to cover 

 the heap with a layer of good earth, which will serve to absorb and 

 retain much of the steam or gaseous matter that rises from the heap, 

 and when saturated with this, and mixed with the mass of dung, will 

 be found a valuable addition. 



Of manures which may be termed fossils we will mention the vari- 

 ous kinds of calcareous substances; the stony matter called pyrites, 

 coal, salt; peaty substances ; silicious and aluminous earths. Lime- 

 stone, gypsum, chalk, and marie, are the calcareous substances we 

 shall notice, and each in its order. 



Limestone (carbonate of lime) has always more or less aluminous 

 or silicious earth in its composition. Frequently also it contains 

 magnisia. Limestone of this latter description, when calcined, makes 

 what the English Farmers call hot lime, which is more powerful in 

 its effects, and therefore less of it should be applied at once to the 

 soil. That without any mixture of magnesia is considered more 

 durable in its operation, but less powerful. Magnesian limestone is 

 known by its effervescing but little, when plunged in nitric or other 

 acid; while limestone that is not magnesian, when thus immersed, 

 produces a strong effervescence. The magnesian, also, when im- 

 mersed in diluted nitric acid, or aqua-fort is, renders the liquid of a 

 milky appearance. It is usually of a brownish or pale-yellow color. 

 Being more caustic, when calcined, than common limestone, it is 

 more efficacious in decomposing peaty earths, and is best adapted 

 for soils which have too much either of peaty or vegetable matter in 

 them. Where lands have been injured by too plentiful an applica- 

 tion of this lime, peaty earth should be applied to them, to correct 

 the evil. 



The trials of lime in this Country have, been quite limited, and 

 confined mostly to the Middle States, particularly Pennsylvania. It 

 has usually been applied there at the rate of about forty bushels to 

 the acre ; but, whether the lime used there is magnesian, we have 

 never understood. Lime may be applied as a top -dressing, or mixed 

 with the soil. Its application has been found most successful, when 

 the first succeeding crop was Indian corn : Afterwards, wheat is 

 grown to advantage. Instances are mentioned, in the Memoirs of the 



