C 94, ] 



On mixing Lime and Stable Manure, 



[The following are the remarks alluded to in page 

 423 of the Memoirs. The circumstance of the stinted 

 wheat appearing chiefly in manured fields, naturally 

 excites wonder in those who think that nothing is 

 wanting to secure a good crop, except abundance of 

 stable dung : but from the observations of Mr, Somer- 

 ville, it appears that a failure of wheat on manured 

 spots takes place in England, similar to that observed 

 in Maryland : the reason of which he ascribes to the 

 insects bred in the fresh manure.] 



For many years I have been struck with the failure 

 of the wheat crop in the spring, more particularly at 

 the circumstance of this failure happening oftenest up- 

 on the richest and best prepared lands , and after the 

 most severe weather was over ; and could never ac- 

 count for it upon any other principle than the loose- 

 ness of the soil, occasioned by the manure put into it, 

 and the operation of the winter frosts. 



The observations which I have recendy made, have 

 however given me very different ideas ; and though I 

 am still of opinion that a number of the plants may, 

 and in fact do perish, by being thrown out of the ground, 

 I am at the same time convinced, that a very great 

 majority of all the plants which die in the spring, are 

 killed by vermin, and as I believe upon inquiry the as- 

 sertion will be found true, that great numbers of ver- 

 min are generated in the manure, there must always 

 be an evident risk of the crop being destroyed thereby. 



