1835.] 



FARMERS' REGISTER. 



655 



the most useful of its parts, and the ultimate re- 

 sults of this process are like those of combus- 

 tion.'* 



The sentiments of this celebrated chemist are 

 certainly entitled to great weight; but though we 

 admit that the fermentation oi farm-yard manure 

 may be rendered injurious, both through the waste 

 which occurs in bulk,! as well as by the loss ol 

 some portion of its nutritive properties, if that pro- 

 cess be carried to excess, yet we are inclined to 

 doubt the correctness of that position which says 

 'that it should be applied long before decomposition 

 has arrived at its ultimate results.' We think, 

 also, that some distinction should be drawn be- 

 tween the different kinds and qualities of dung, as 

 well as of the crops to which it is to be applied, 

 and of the season in which it is to be used, before 

 any such unexceptionable rule should be adopted 

 for its preparation. Thus, to recommend the ap- 

 plication of fresh manure for a crop of turnips, in 

 like manner as for another of potatoes — for heavy 

 clay equally as for a light sand}' loam, or to draw 

 no disiinclion between the time in which it is to be 

 laid upon the land — rather affords evidence of the- 

 oretic generalization than of sound conclusions 

 dravvnlroma multiplicity of well-supported ex- 

 periments, and established by practical eflect.J 



There are perhaps lew agricultural subjects on 

 which theory and practice are so much at va- 

 riance as in the management and application of 

 putrescent manure. There is hardly a farmer 

 who will not admit that a crop of turnips may be 

 altogether risked if short muck be not employed; 

 and though some of them are often under the ne- 

 cessity of applying a portion of long dung perhaps 

 to the same field on which the ibrmer has been 

 laid, yet the very drill on which the two kinds 

 meet may in general be distinctly pointed out, 

 while potatoes, on the contrary, are almost inva- 

 riably planted on fresh farm-yard manure: though 

 neither of these instances prove either that fresh 

 dung gains any fertilizing power by fermentation, 

 or that short muck loses it; ibr these facts apply 

 only to the mechanical action of the manures, and 

 to the natural economy of the plants. It is also 

 generally admitted that long dung is more suitable 

 to clay lands than to light soils, which are render- 

 ed too porous by its application; and, in like man- 

 ner, fresh manure is objected to for all springcrops, 

 because it is found to keep the land in too open a 

 state in dry weather, and liable to be burnt up in 

 the summer. 



Sir Humphry, however, adds — 'that the dry 

 straw of wheat, oats, barley, beans and peas, and 

 spoiled hay, or any other similar kind of dry vege- 

 table matter, is, in all cases, useful manure. In 

 general, such substances are made to ferment be- 

 fore they are employed, though it may be doubt- 

 ed whether the practice should be indiscriminately 

 adopted.' 



* Elements of Agricultural Chemistry, lect. vi. 

 t See, however, the note in p. 239. 





X On this it has been observed, that, in the instance 

 of turnips, Sir Humphry only meant to say, 'that the 

 manure should be applied long before decomposition 

 had arrived at its ultimate results:' but this does not 

 weaken the general force of our remark, which refers 

 to the indiscriminate use of Ions: dune. 



On which it may be observed that although in 

 another passage he admits 'that a great objection 

 against slightly fermenting dung is, that weeds 

 spring up more luxuriantly where it is applied,' — 

 which forms in itself a strong impediment; yet 

 that is not the only fault to which it is exposed — 

 for it also occasions foul husbandry. It is scarcely 

 possible in any soil to plough down effectually a 

 large quantity of rank strawy manure; for even 

 the stubbles, when cut high, are found difficult to 

 bury, and more especially on light land this fresh 

 stable dung slides along the ground before the 

 breast of the plough, and thus clogs the furrow. 

 The harrows also drag up considerable quantities, 

 which not alone impede their action, but a large 

 portion of the manure is thus scattered over the 

 surface of the ground, and uselessly left, there to 

 perish; and litter that had been ploughed down 

 fresh has, in numerous instances, been turned up 

 in the following spring without any apparent 

 change. Objections such as these are not easily 

 obviated, but even were they surmounted, the va- 

 lue of the dung in that, state of preparation still re- 

 mains to be considered. 



Of the mysteries of nature in her supply of 

 food to plants we have no certain information, and 

 it is even probable that they will ever elude disco- 

 very. Some experiments which were made by 

 Sir Humphry Davy, however, favored the opinion 

 'that soluble matters pass unaltered into the roots of 

 plants? in support of which he says — 'that the 

 great object in the application of manure should 

 be to make it afford as much soluble matter as 

 possible to the roots of the plants, and that in a 

 slow and gradual manner, so that it may be en- 

 tirely consumed in forming the sap of the organ- 

 ized plant;' in order to attain which effect, he ad- 

 mits Hhat it must undergo chemical changes.'' Now, 

 the materials of which the great bulk of (arm- 

 yard manure is composed, consist chiefly of straw 

 or other litter, which, being fibrous, can onby be 

 rendered soluble by fermentation: but chemical 

 theorists assert that this process should be perfect- 

 ed at least, if not commenced, under ground; for 

 they insist that, if completed in the dunghill, it 

 would occasion a great loss of nutritive matter; 

 and it must be admitted that several practical men 

 of considerable judgement have become converts 

 to the same notion. Thus, one of the latter body 

 says — 'that, although half-rotted manure will 

 sooner disappear in the soil, and that the crop 

 sown along with it may often be better than on 

 fresh dung improperly applied, there may be little 

 doubt; but. there can be as little that, during the 

 time the latter is visible, it has afforded the great- 

 est share of nourishment;' and he then asserts, 

 'that the ravages oi* fermentation and exhalation 

 are more to be dreaded, and ought to be more 

 guarded against, than any other waste to which a 

 heap of dung is liable.'* 



In contradiction to this, however, another writer 

 upon the same subject, thus expresses himself: — 

 'the object of applying all kinds of manure is to 

 nourish the seed which is sown in the earth; and 

 we know from observation that its developementis 

 much accelerated by the immediate assistance of 

 manure. If manure requires to be in a soluble 

 state before plants derive benefit from it, it is evi- 



* Finlaj 

 Guide, 2nd 



's British Farmer and Ploughman's 

 lit., pp. 65, 68. 



