208 OI< ( MANURE. 



mass, that the chemical properties of the whole are chan- 

 ged so as to render it efficient as a manure. Earth and 

 lime make a good compost, and when the lime is applied 

 in its ordinary quantity, in addition to the earth, the effects 

 are truly astonishing. It even produces good crops, though 

 no more than the one half of the usual quantity of lime is 

 applied. 



Recent Improvements in Manures. Three improvements 

 have recently been discovered in Scotland, in the art of 

 preparing manures, of which it may be proper to give some 

 account in this place; namely, 1. Lord Meadowbank's ; 

 2. Dr Rennie's; and, 3. Mr Mitchell's. 



1. In various parts of the Highlands and islands of Scot- 

 land, it is not unusual ^to bed the cattle with moss or peat 

 earth, for the purpose of increasing the quantity of ma- 

 nure ; but Lord Meadowbank certainly was the first, who 

 investigated that species of manure, on scientific principles, 

 and communicated the result to the public. By his plan, 

 one ton of dung will ferment three tons of moss earth, 

 which is certainly a most valuable discovery, and must, if 

 duly attended to, greatly enrich many hitherto neglected 

 districts.* Mr Thomson of Bewlie, in Roxburghshire, 



* See Mr Alton's Treatise on Moss Earth, printed in 1809, The fol- 

 lowing is the process recommended by Lord Meadowbank : 



The moss and dung must be thrown up in alternate strata into a com- 

 post midden, about four feet and a half high. Moss may be laid six 

 inches deep, dung ten inches ; moss six inches, dung four inches ; moss 

 six inches, and then a thin bed of dung ; and cover the whole with what 

 remains of the moss. The lieap should be put loosely together, and 

 made smooth on the outside. 



The compost, after it is made up, gets into a* general heat, sooner or 

 later, according to the weather, and the condition of the dung-; in sum- 

 mer, in ten days or sooner ; in winter, not perhaps for many weeks^ it 



