114 



LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY. 



{^Sulphate of Iron) ^ in water,* the escape of the disagreeable 

 smelling gases will be prevented and the good qualities of the 

 manure preserved. Even without the use of the solution of 

 green vitriol, by mixing the excrements with the charcoal pro- 

 cured by burning peat with a smothered fire, a valuable com- 

 pound capable of being applied with the drill may be prepared. 

 In France the vegetable matter at the bottom of rivers is char- 

 red in close vessels, and advantageously employed for this pur- 

 pose ; spent bark, and burned clay, are also used. Dry peat 

 mould is also a most valuable material for mixing with night 

 soil, and is much employed by the farmers in Normandy and 

 other parts of France ; two parts of the peat mould, one part 

 of gypsum in powder, and one part of night soil, form a 

 mixture which may be at once applied to the soil and has 

 been found to possess the greatest value as manure. 



164. Urine of the cow^ horse, pig, and sheep. — The 

 solid excrements of the domestic animals have long been 

 regarded as valuable manures, and have been employed 

 from the earliest times to increase the fertility of the soil. 

 But the value of the urines of animals has not until within 

 these few years been properly understood; and in general 

 but little attention is, in this country, paid to their pre- 

 servation. It is however to be expected, that when in- 

 struction in the principles of agricultural chemistry is made 

 a part of the ordinary education of the young farmer, the rich 

 supply of the matters which plants require for their food, 

 contained in those liquids, will no longer be disregarded. 



The following table will make you acquainted with the 

 amount of organic and inorganic matters which 1,000 parts 

 of the urine of the cow, horse, pig, and sheep, and also that 

 of man, are capable of conveying to the soil: — 



* 10 oz. of Sulphate of Iron may be added to each 20 gals, of urine. 



