460 APPENDIX. 



being always the best. Maries of this description are often very val- 

 uable in forming 1 a principle ingredient in composts, of which we 

 shall presently speak, and ihe same may be observed of <he superior 

 of this manure found in bog-swamps, of which something 1 shall 

 now be said. 



This sort of marie is found, at greater or less depths, beneath the 

 surface of many bog-swamps, and is of a whu-sh, a grayish, or a 

 brownish color. The whitest is the most pov. < >m!, having most lime 

 in it ; the grayish is next in quality. The supi-.rritr;.!uMi is e'nSitr a 

 bog-earth, to wit, vegetable matter totally decomposed; or it is a 

 peaty substance, or vegetable matter in a partial state of decomposi- 

 tion. The bog-earth is gooil manure of itseif, and may be used 

 separately, or uu\ed with the marie; the peaty substance must under- 

 go a further decomposition, before il is rendered valuable as a ma- 

 nure, it being* then rendered similar to bog-earth. These manures, 

 when applies to growing crops, are somewhat similar in their effects 

 to those of gypsurn. They art valuable as top-dressings, or for mix- 

 ing with the soil. Their effects are ertul on Indian corn, 

 and they are more or less valuable when applied to almost every sort 

 of upland-crop, with the exception of wheat, rye, and barley. For 

 these they are to be applied to the sward, a suitable time before 

 breaking it up, as bus been mentioned vo gypsum. It 

 should, however, be observed, lha' peat, nor 

 bog-earth, should be applie-.i to smis v. h'.d> Already contain too great 

 a proportion of decomposed ve.gria.>h- n.^iier. 



The condition of cia\ -soils is also permanently improved, by mix- 

 ing a due proportion of sand in them. The most durable and perfect, 

 goi! is chiefly composed of certain proportions of sand, clay, lime, and 

 vegetable matter in a state of decomposition ; and, whenever an) soil 

 is destitute of a due proportion of any of these, the addition of such 

 earthy substance can never fail to serve as a manure. 



'('he stony earth culled p\ rites, when pulverized by the aid of a 

 proper degree of calcination, is much used, and highly esteemed, in 

 Flanders, as a top dressing for grass lands, as is memioned in a com- 

 munication of ihe late Chancellor Livingston to the Society for the 

 promotion of the useful ar;s in tins state. We will refer the Reader 

 to the second volume published by that Society, for the manner of 

 preparing this manure, and the quantity to be used, &.c. 



Of Coal, we shall merely state that, from the results of experi- 

 ments made by the late Mr. MuhU-nbrrg, of Pennsylvania, about 

 forty bushels to the acre of this substance, pulverized in the manner 

 of gypsum, was found a good manure, when applied us a top-dressing. 



Common Salt, pulverized, and applied as a top-dressing, at this 

 rate of from two to four bushels to the acre, has, in many instances, 

 powerful effects as a manure. Sea- water is peculiarly adapted for 

 this purpose. Mr. Deant, in his Farmer's Dictionary, mentions an 

 instance where a crop of potatoes, and another of flax, were greatly 

 increased in product by an application of sea-water to them while 

 growing. About a pint of the water was applied to each hill of po- 

 tatoes, and for the flax-crop the water was sprinkled over the 

 ground. 



Some trials have been made in this Country of burnt-clay, as a 

 manure, and its use is recommended, particularly for all dry arable 

 lands, not inclining to clay. The first step in preparation for burning 

 clay is, to have a considerable quantity of this earth dug up in spits, 

 and laid to dry in the sun : When pretty well dried, you prepare for 

 burning by raising a little pile of dry wootl in ihe shape of a pyramid, 

 'ur or five feet high; round this you build up the dried spits 



