332 



erSj without perceptible benefit. These diverse results con- 

 vince us of our ignorance, and show how much we have to 

 hope from the investigations of chemistry and philosophical ex- 

 periments in relation both to manures and soils, and the hith- 

 erto scarcely approached mysteries of vegetable life. Much of 

 the bone manure which has been used has been from bones 

 which have passed first through the hands of the soap-boiler, 

 and after all the gelatinous parts have been extracted. A consid- 

 erable portion of their fertilizing properties has thus been taken 

 away. The most successful application of bone manure which 

 I have known was where they were mixed at the rate of about 

 one part to eight with leached ashes or mould, and a fermen- 

 tation brought on before they were applied. They were then 

 spread lightly in the furrow, where carrots were sown. The 

 effects were most favorable, and surpassed a free dressing of 

 barn manure in the neighboring part of the field to the same 

 kind of crop. 1 have known this manure applied likewise 

 with great advantage to corn in the hill, a small amount in 

 each hill without other manure, and to turnips in the drill. 

 Peat mud is used with much success by many persons. Its 

 application, when spread directly from the bog upon the soil, 

 has not been approved ; but when it has been thoroughly de- 

 composed and reduced by a mixture with stable manure, with 

 ashes, or with quick lime, it has furnished a valuable manure 

 for spreading upon grass ground or putting in the hill with 

 corn. 



Various other manures have been used with great success. 

 Ashes are every where commended as excellent for corn and 

 wheat, and likewise for grass. Ashes being the direct result 

 of vegetable combustion, contain of course that which is es- 

 sential to vegetable growth and life, and being constantly car- 

 ried from the earth by the removal of its vegetable products, 

 must in some form be returned to it. 



In some cases the waste from the cotton mills has been used 

 with much advantage. This consists of that which is thrown 

 out when the cotton passes through the picker, and is made up 



