MANURES. 39 



pbstances are the very materials, in the proper form to nourish 

 |ie vegetable. We might state some very striking facts, showing 

 lat manures in solution are carried to great depths into the 

 le ground. Such are wells which are often rendered useless by 

 iie leaking of neighboring sinks and dung heaps. 

 We would not be understood as advocating the application of 

 anures to the surface, but that they should be thoroughly incor- 

 prated with the soil on the surface, or just below, and not buried 

 . the ordinary depth of the furrow, which should not be less than 

 ght mches. The roots of very few cultivated crops ever reach 

 ■j that depth in the soil, and consequently if buried so deep the 

 ]3nure is to all intents lost. If well mixed with the surface soil, 

 ijis easy of access to the superficial roots, and deeper ones are sup- 

 ]|ied by the descending water charged with their food. Thence the 

 jod effects often experienced from top dressings to crops, of well 

 <|Composed manures. 



iThe question however, would not be answered even thus, if the 

 (anions of those are correct, who make the atmosphere the store- 

 l,use of all the organic food for plants. If they are right, manure 

 spuld not be buried at all, but suffered to decay upon the surface, 

 yre all the volatile portions would mingle with the atmosphere.' 

 y cannot, however, subscribe to the opinion that even the carbon 

 ijiow or has been at any previous age of the world, derived from 

 tl,t source ; and it might be easily demonstrated, we think, that if 

 tl present existing carbon, which is now or has been at previous 

 p lods since the creation in an organized form, were converted 

 im carbonic acid at the expense of the oxygen of the air, an 

 atiosphere would be formed in which no plant could exist. And 

 wdeem it only wild and groundless conjecture that either 'plants 

 or;inimals have existed at a former period, which have not analo- ^ 

 gi at the present time, and none now exist which could flourish 

 m,n atmosphere containing a much greater proportion of carbonic 

 ac, than the present. The practice of the farmer is however cor- 

 re; in the main. The roots are the proper mouths of plants, and 

 tUT food is taken in mostly through them. That the leaves have 

 anmportant office to perform is also true, but they cannot be re- 

 ga ed as of so much consequence as is attributed to them by the 

 ad )cates of this theory. 



' conclusion we would say, that it is very important that expe- 



