148 ON THE FOOD OF PLANTS. 



In the general mode, I have always thought 

 sufficient care and attention are not given ta 

 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 parts 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 water added, 

 than is sufficient to keep the fermenting heat 

 below the power of generating steam. 



