258 



MAN 



MAN 



the same nature as coagulated al- 

 bumen, 



" Hair, woollen rags, and feathers, 

 are all analogous in composition, 

 and piincipali}' consist of a sub- 

 stance similar to albumen, united 

 to gelatine. This is shewn by the 

 in^enions researches of Mr. Hatch- 

 el. The theory of their operation 

 is similar to that of bone and horn 

 shavings. 



" The refuse of the different ma- 

 nufactures of skin and leather form 

 very useful manure ; such as the 

 shavings of the currier, furrier's 

 clippings, and the ofTals of the tan- 

 yard and of the glue maker. The 

 gelatine contained in every kind of 

 skin is in a state for its gradual so- 

 lution or decomposition ; and when 

 buried in the soil it lasts for a con- 

 siderable time, and constantly af- 

 fords a supply of nutritive matter to 

 the plants in its neighbourhood. 



" B/oor/ contains certain quanti- 

 ties of all the principles found in 

 other animal substances, and is 

 consequently very good manure. 



'• Among the excrementitious ani- 

 mal substances used as manure, 

 urine is th-- one upon which the 

 greatest number of chemical ex- 

 periments have been made,and the 

 nature of which is best understood. 



" Urine is very liable to change 

 and to undergo the putrefactive 

 process ; and that of carniverous 

 auim.als, more rapidly than that of 

 graminiverous animals. In propor- 

 tion as there is more gelatine and 

 albumen in urine., so in proportion 

 does it putrefy more quickly. 



'" The species of urine that con- 

 tain most albumen gelatine and 

 uria are the best manures ; and all 



urine contains the essential ele- 

 m'^nts of vegetables in a state of 

 solution. 



" During the putrefaction of 

 urine the greatest part of the solu- 

 ble animal matter that it contains 

 is destroyed ; it should consequent- 

 ly be used as fresh as possible ; but 

 if not mixed with solid matter it 

 should be diluted with water, as 

 when pure it contains too large a 

 quantity of animal matter to form a 

 proper fluid nourishment for ab- 

 sorption by the roots of plants. 



" Amongst the excrementitious 

 solid substances used as manures, 

 one of the most powerful is the 

 dung of birds that feed on animal 

 food, particularly the dung of sea 

 birds. It is easy to explain its fer- 

 tilizing properties ; from its com- 

 position it might be supposed to be 

 a very powerful manure. It re- 

 quires water for the solution of its 

 soluble matter to enable it to pro- 

 duce its full beneficial effect on the 

 crops. 



"Night soil, it is well known, is 

 a very powerful manure, and very 

 liable to decompose. It difTers in 

 its composition, but always abounds 

 in substances composed of carbon, 

 h}drogene, azote, and oxygene. 

 From the analysis of Berzelius, it 

 appears that a part of it is always 

 soluble in water; and in whatever 

 state it is used, whether recent or 

 fermented, it supplies abundance of 

 food to plants. 



" The disagreeable smell of night 

 soil may be destroyed by mixing it 

 with quick lime ; and if exposed to 

 the atmosphere in thin layers 

 strewed over with quick lime, in 

 fine weather it speedily dries, is 



