184 OF MANURE. 



finds its effect to be equal, if not superior, to his best dung. 

 It is suggested, that covering the pit, so as to exclude the 

 access of rain-water, and to prevent the exhalation by the 

 rays of the sun in hot weather, would be an improvement 

 on this plan.* 



Bones sprinkled with urine may be dissolved by the fer- 

 mentation thereby excited, and if the same plan would an- 

 swer with sea-shells, it would render that species of manure 

 much more valuable, and more speedily efficacious. 



3. Lime. There is perhaps no country in Europe, where 

 calcined lime is used to so great an extent, and in such 

 quantities, as in the more improved and improving districts 

 of Scotland. This may be partly owing to the total absence 

 of chalk, which abounds in so many parts of England, and 

 which renders calcined lime less necessary there ; but it is 

 principally to be attributed, to the great benefit that has 

 been derived from its use. In bringing in new or maiden 

 soils, the use of lime is found to be so essential, that little 

 good could be done without it. Its first application in par- 



By some, this carting of the earth into a pit, and then out again, is 

 objected to as likely to be attended with too much expence, and, at any 

 rate, as practicable only to a small extent. It is therefore proposed, after 

 ploughing the headlands, to cart the urine upon them, and then to re- 

 move the soil to the field as a top-dressing, or for turnip drills. Mr John 

 Shirreff' thinks that it would be a better plan to run the collected urine 

 weekly over the surface of the dung-heap. Nothing tends more to pro- 

 mote the preparation of dung, or to make it richer, than urine. The 

 whole mass might thus be brought, at an early period, into a state com- 

 pletely prepared for use, which cannot be expected so soon, if it ever ar- 

 rives at such a Btate, when deprived of so essential an ingredient. Mr 

 Curwen pumps urine from pits, on his dung, and carts it off every six 

 weeks, in a state of maturity, ready to be laid upon the land, covering it 

 with earth, till laid on. 



