Muck and Fresh Stable Manure. 181 



basin situated in a convenient place, to receive what 

 drains away. But it is the decomposing efforts of fer- 

 mentation, by converting the materials into an elastic 

 fluid, that bids defiance to the practical provisions of art 

 to prevent its escape, in the presence of the heat produc- 

 ed by a fermenting mass. 



Note to the communication on Hot Muck, &c. 



I receive with pleasure any correction of errors I may commit 

 in theories of any kind ; and particularly on a subject so impor- 

 tant to tillage crops as that observed upon in the foregoing essay. 

 But both the writer and myself will find that theories do little 

 towards conviction, in operations wherein practice is the surest 

 guide. My theories, in his opinion, are inapplicable ; and short 

 of proving the points I aimed to establish : and so, for aught I 

 know to the contrary, some of them may be; and if so, they show 

 the impolicy of giving too many reasons, when one or a few would 

 be sufficient. Practical proof, too, supersedes the necessity of 

 abstract discussion. But still my experience warrants my de- 

 cided disapprobation of the use of hot muck. I have no personal 

 object to gain ; and, desiring that truth may prevail, by an eluci- 

 dation bestowed on it by a series of facts, I consider myself as 

 having done some service in producing discussion. I have been 

 a practical farmer, with more or less activity and personal atten- 

 tion to it, (accordingly as my other engagements permitted) for 

 the greatest portion of my life. The account I gave is founded on 

 numerous facts, which, through a long course of time, fixed my 

 opinion, and directed my practice. Had I kept a journal of every 

 experiment I have made and seen on this subject, I could have fur- 

 nished perhaps stronger proof of accidental or rare success, witli 

 hot and unrotted dung, than I have perceived in the few instances 

 related by the writer, and others who disagree with me. But safe 

 practice must be warranted by the balance of many facts. In 

 some instances, with me, the earth surrounding the covered dung 



