144 HAMPDEN SOCIETY. 



ing out a few suggestions, in relation to the manufacturing of 

 compost for manures, and their more effectual preservation. 

 Under the general name of manures, may be included all those 

 substances, which, whether deposited in the soil or existing in 

 the atmosphere, are capable of being absorbed by the organs of 

 plants, and of ministering to their nourishment and growth ; and 

 portions of which, are furnished by each of the three kingdoms 

 of nature. It is, however, mostly decomposed vegetable remains, 

 and certain of the parts and products of animals, which are or- 

 dinarily employed as manures. The salts, likewise, act as such; 

 being filtered by passing through the fine net-work of plants, 

 they enter into their compositions, and stimulate, (as says Chap- 

 tal in his Chemistry.) 



Manures are of two kinds, nutritive and stimulating ; nutri- 

 tive manures are those which contain such juices or substances 

 as are soluble in water, or which, by their being very minutely 

 divided, may be carried along in connection with it; and all 

 the vegetable and animal juices are of this character. But these 

 alimentary substances, are. rarely employed in their natural 

 state ; it is thought better, that, before being used, they should 

 be left to rot. or ferment ; and for the following plain reasons. 

 By the process of fermentation, all these substances are decom- 

 posed, and rendered more easily soluble in water ; and it is at- 

 tended, besides this, with the further advantage, that different 

 gases, as Carbonic Acid, Carburetted Hydrogen, Nitrogen, and 

 Ammonia, are disengaged by it, and either serve directly for the 

 food of plants, or as healthy stimulants to their organs of diges- 

 tion. 



Your committee are of opinion, that too little attention is paid, 

 in general, to the mixture of manures by farmers. Farm-yard 

 manures, which are the chief fertilizers, are very considerably 

 improved by the even mixture of those of the horse, the cow, 

 and the pig, &c. And the remark applies to almost all other 

 manures. Your committee would recommend the following 

 mixture, as being possessed of very fertilizing effects. 



Take farm-yard manure, one fifteenth or twentieth part, old 

 heaps of weeds, swamp mud, scouring of ditches — any earths, in 

 fact, which contain organic matter, such as sod, green vegetables, 



