188 ARTIFICIAL MANURE. 



of equal value to itself — that is a cord of clear stable 

 dung, composted with two of peat, forms a manure 

 of equal value to three cords of green dung. In- 

 deed, the permanent effects of this compost, accord- 

 ing to Mr. Phinney, exceed those of stable dung. On 

 this fact, 2 lbs of ammonia in 100 lbs. of cow dung, 

 should convert 200 lbs. of fresh dug peat into good 

 cow dung. The equivalents of these, as has been 

 shown, (265,) are 2 lbs. of soda ash, or 3 lbs. of pot- 

 ash. Allowing the gaseous ammonia to be divided 

 equally among the 300 lbs. of dung and peat, this 

 is in proportion of 10 2-3 oz. of soda ash, or 1 lb. 

 of potash to 100 lbs. of fresh peat. Now this cal- 

 culation, deduced from actual experiment, confirms 

 the theoretical proportions (268), supposing only 

 1-3 of the nitrogen acts, though that was made before 

 the author met with the statement of Mr. Phinney. 



271. There is a coincidence here of proportions, 

 which makes it quite certain, that the quantity recom- 

 mended, (269) is a perfectly safe basis, for agricultu- 

 ral use. By theory, the proportions are, 1 cord peat, 

 61 lbs. soda ash, 92 lbs. potash. As deduced from 

 the compounds of dung and peat, 61 lbs. soda ash, 92 

 lbs. potash. This proportion, gives each cord of peat, 

 a value equal to that of cow dung ; if 1-3 of its nitro- 

 gen acts, it may be composted, as that is, with loam or 



