180 Muck and Fresh Stable Manure. 



ing us the principles of vegetables, that has enabled us to 

 submit it to demonstrative, and therefore satisfactory- 

 proof: nor has any application that I have made led me 

 to conclude, that this " inevitable loss was, in profitable 

 result, a gain." Among many, I will particularize the 

 result of one application upon a poor washed piece of 

 land, where but a few solitary roots of grass would grow, 

 and where a return of the seed of wheat could not have 

 been expected from the most favourable season. It was 

 applied at the rate of about twenty cart-loads to the acre. 

 The smell of ammonia was penetrating : the wheat grew 

 so thick, that it actually moulded as high as the third 

 joint, before it lodged ; but it was better filled than ever 

 I witnessed of an equal quantity of straw on any ground, 

 and far superior to any other part of the field, where there 

 was nearly an equal quantity of straw. I was under the ne- 

 cessity of cutting it four days sooner than the rest would 

 do, that was manured with rotted dung. The farmer that 

 applies his muck before fermentation, is able to cover 

 nearly twice the quantity of land, with equal effect. The 

 difference in result of the two systems, therefore, will 

 stand somewhat thus : — Two men have equal sums at 

 interest ; the one takes up his interest when due, applies 

 it in some business, by which he gains one hundred per 

 cent, per annum ; to this doubled sum he adds the next 

 year's interest, for a new capital, to embark in the same 

 trade ; while the other lets it lay in the hands of his debtor. 

 Let me impress it upon the mind of every farmer, that 

 loss by warming rains, or exhalation, is not the greatest 

 foe he has to contend with. The existence of the latter, 

 in sensible quantities, is even doubtful : the former may 

 be arrested by a layer of earth under the muck, and a 



