ARTIFICIAL MANURE. 221 



276. If these various changes take place in the midst of 

 peat, or geine, it is evident that the caustic soda acts upon 

 the geine, and also evolves ammonia from that substance; 

 secondly, that the muriate of lime in its finely soluble state 

 insinuates itself among all the particles of the geine, that the 

 soda also is equally diffused, and that when the soda becomes 

 carbonated, it produces an almost impalpable carbonate of 

 lime throughout thfe whole mass, which, by its equal diffu- 

 sion through the soil with the geine, acts upon the silicates, 

 as has been heretofore explained. In order to produce these 

 effects, take 



1 bushel of salt, 

 1 cask of lime. 



Slack the lime with the brine, made by dissolving the salt in 

 water sufficient to make a stiff paste with the lime, which 

 will be not quite sufficient to dissolve all the salt. Mix all 

 the materials then well together, and let them remain 

 together in a heap for 10 days, and then be well mixed with 

 three cords of peat ; shovel well over for about 6 weeks, 

 and it will be fit for use. Here, then, are produced 3 cords 

 of manure, for about the cost of |2.10 per cord. 



Salt, $0.60 



Lime, 1.60 



Peat, . . . . . . . 4.50 



3)|6.30($2.10 



From experiments made in a small way, it is believed 

 that this will be found an effectual manure ; the author sug- 

 gests it, in the hope that it may lead to cautious experiment. 



Lime and salt have been also commended by other 

 writers. Sir John Sinclair, in his " Scotch Husbandry," 

 says that sea water evaporated to a saturated solution, that 



