12S QUARTERLY JOURNAL. 



is as a compost with animal manures. For this purpose the barn- 

 yard is to have a thick layer of peat put upon it, which may be 

 mixed with the manure of the yard by the feet of the cattle ; and 

 thus it serves the double purpose of increasing the actual quantity 

 of manure by being itself converted into it, and also of absorbing, 

 the gases and liquids which might otherwise be mostly lost. 



Still another mode of preparation is, to make a pile of alternate 

 layers of peat and stable manure, using one load of manure to 

 two or three loads of peat. This should be covered with a thick 

 layer of the peat, to prevent the escape of the gases formed bv thef 

 action which takes place in the mass. Or the peat may be well! 

 soaked wiih the liquid manure of the stable yard, which will have 

 the same effect. They should remain in this state until fermenta- 

 tion takes place, when they are to be put upon the land. 



For any of these processes the peat should be dug six months 

 or a year beforehand, and exposed to the action of the atmosphere 

 and aficrwards made into compost. 



South Stephentoicn, Jpril 14, 1845. 

 Sir— I have been reading for a few days past the two numbers o 

 the Quarterly Journal which I procured at your office. . 



I am much pleased with the xvork, and confidently expect tha 

 it will yet do far more for agriculture, than any thing of the km 

 which has been published in this country. ■ , r ^i 



I have been particularly interested in the experiments of Mi 

 Campbell, on the effects^of soaking seeds in chemical solutions, 

 and have determined to repeat one or two at least of his expen 

 ments, provided the expense will not be too great. _ 



I should like to try the effect of sulphate of ammonia on abot 

 two acres of land where we intend to sow oats. I^ y."u;a 

 inlorm me what will be the expense I shall be much obbged t 

 vnu Mr Campbell states that he " prepared the various mixture 

 from the above specified salts, exactly neutralized.'' 1 suppose 

 that the sulphate of ammonia was neutralized by the addition ( 

 some alkali, as potash or soda ; but I am not sufficiently versed i 

 chemistry, to determine either the substance which should be use 

 or the quantity which is required. ^,^..^. p .^oTTO 



Respectfully yours, SAMUEL P. l^^^^l^"- 



We have not seen any account of the final results ot M) 

 Campbell's experiments, but we have regarded them as doubtfi 

 in some respects. Soaking seeds in mineral soluUons is by n 



