60 AGRICULTURE. 



prevailing on this question, induced some scientific 

 men to institute a series of experiments, having for 

 their object a full and regular solution of it. With 

 this view, parcels of dung (long and short) were 

 taken from the same stables on the same day, and 

 applied to crops of the same kind growing on the 

 same fields. The result perfectly conformed to the- 

 ory, and was similar in all the experiments. Those 

 parts of the field to which the short dung was ap- 

 plied gave the best crops the first year ; but those 

 on which the long dung had been laid gave the best 

 crops the second and third years ; a fact which au- 

 thorizes the conclusion, that, if we wish to obtain 

 one great crop, the rotted dung is best ; but when 

 we look to more permanent improvement, the long 

 dung is to be preferred. 



2d. Which is the better practice, to spread ma- 

 nure on the surface, or lay it deeply under the 

 ground T 



In favour of the former practice it has been con- 

 tended, that the distribution of the dung could be 

 more equally made on the surface with a spade than 

 under ground with a plough;* and for the latter, 

 that all tap-rooted plants, entering far into the 

 earth, require it to be laid deep ; while those with 

 fibrous roots will be sufficiently benefited by its 

 exhalations. Both modes, however, are obviously 

 bad. We have seen in the preceding article that 

 dung, to become the aliment of plants, must under- 

 go a decomposition ; and that, to the production of 

 this, the combined action of air and water is indis- 

 pensable. But, if the manure be buried deeply, this 

 action cannot reach it, and the dung remains a ca- 

 put mortuum. On the other hand, if spread super- 



* The English are said to have a machine attached to the 

 drill that goes before and distributes the manure at the neces- 

 sary depth. In planting potatoes we make a bed of dung for 

 the plant. Why not apply the same reasoning and the same 

 practice to all seeding of the ground 1 



