ARTIFICIAL MANURE. 218 



267. By (250) a cord of green peat weighs 9216 lbs. ; 2 

 per cent, are 184 lbs. Hence a cord requires that amount 

 of soda ash, or 276 lbs. of potash. But if the peat is quite 

 dry, so as to have lost f of its bulk, then 736 lbs. of soda 

 ash, or 1104 lbs, potash will be necessary. Two per cent, 

 of alkali seems enormous. It is stated, in the hope that it 

 may lead to experiments on the free use of alkali. But as 

 it will be hereafter shown, that this is to be reduced by 

 mixing with loam or other matter, this quantity, even if 

 applied to one acre, will probably produce very good effects. 

 It has repeatedly been proved for other purposes, that a cord 

 of fresh dug peat neutralizes 100 lbs. of soda ash, or 400 lbs. 

 to a dry cord. Further, dry peat, by boiling with, neutral- 

 izes 12^ per cent, of its weight of potash, and in actual prac- 

 tice, alkali to the amount of 6 per cent, of the weight of the 

 geine, in pond mud, has been used. It would therefore ap- 

 pear to be safe to use the theoretical proportion. 



268. But the nitrogen in cow-dung does not all tell. It is 

 impossible but that some portion of the elements of ammo- 

 nia enter into other combinations, and part also escapes as 

 gas. Besides, it is not all brought at once into action, and 

 hence a less portion of alkali than above indicated may be 

 used. It is probable that not a third of the ammonia acts. 

 Let it be taken at that quantity. Then the equivalents are 

 100 lbs. fresh peat, and lOf ounces soda, or 1 lb. of potash, 

 or 1 per cent, of the weight of the peat in commercial potash. 



269. This proportion will allow, in round numbers, to 

 every cord of fresh dug peat, 92 lbs. pot or pearl ashes, or 

 61 lbs. of soda, or 16 to 20 bushels of common house ashes. 



Having no guide here from experience of the quantity 

 which may be used per acre, yet, in order to arrive at con- 

 clusions which can be recommended safely, the alkali has 

 been calculated in the quantity of saltpetre which has been 



