416 On Bucket's Skim Coulter Plough. 



" lets the sun and air into the rest, that seems covered ; 

 ** he thinks, that so used, it is mostly/ lost, or given to 

 '* the rvinds. In such a case, short rotted manure will 

 ''■ he better, covered; and should be preferred ; but with 

 '* his plough, nothing of this happens ; and it enables 

 '* him to use his dung in such a state as gives him a 

 *< large quantity, instead of a small one." 



With the opportunity, thus afforded, of viewing both 

 sides of a question of no small import to them, farmers 

 can judge for themselves ; and test, by experiment, 

 which practice is the most profitable in result ; under 

 the circumstances of climate and situation in which we 

 are placed. If they prefer the use of long and fresh 

 dung, let them pursue the only mode which is deem- 

 ed effectual, by the most exemplary advocates of this 

 practice.* Yet, I must add, that I have trenched in 

 long dung, sufficiently deep ; and nevertheless, it has 

 become burnt, or fire -fanged, in a dry season. 



Your obedient servant, 



Richard Peters. 

 Dr. James Mease. 



Secretary of the Philad, Jgric. Soc. 



* I have known garden-beds rendered duvg-sick, (as it is called,) 

 by too frequent application of muck, dug in. It seems, this is not 

 uncommon. For, in our appendix, will be seen, a mode of recovery 

 of such feculated grounds,* by manuring them with an alkali,\.o cor- 

 rect the injurious effects of the muck, or dung. An interesting 

 account is there given of Barilla, (carbonate of socfa) used as a 

 manure. This is the most powerful Alkali.—" It is pjoduced by 

 the incineration of different dried sea plants, in pits like lime kilns, 

 or those for charring wood or coal, chiefly in Sfiaiii and Italy ; 



See pag-es 234, 5. 



