MANURE. 167 



taken up by plants, will then attribute all the decid- 

 ed good effects of spent ley to its salts. Glauber's, 

 and common salts applied in equal quantity, to that 

 contained in soda spent ley should produce equally 

 good effects. It is well known that such is not the 

 fact. Nor will those who maintain this doctrine, ad- 

 mit that glycerine acts by its evolving gases, for then, 

 an equal weight of peat would answer. It is well 

 known that such is not the fact. 



237. If spent ley then acts neither by its salts, 

 nor its evolved gas, it acts by the perfectly dissolved 

 state of its glycerine. That such is the case, ad- 

 mits not of a doubt, and goes to show that plants ap- 

 propriate the geine or humus of soil, by absorbing it 

 as geine or geates. 



238. The spent ley acts, both by its salts, and its 

 geine. The action of salts has been explained. 

 The soluble state of geine is the most important fact 

 to be borne in mind, if it is attempted to make spent 

 ley on a farm. Swamp muck, or peat, ashes, and 

 common salt, will afford all the elements of spent ley, 

 and the following may be proposed, as an imitation 

 of that from soda soap. 



Fine dry snuffy peat, 50 lbs. 



Salt, 1-2 bushel. 



Ashes, 1 



Water, 100 gallons. 



