AGRICULTURE WITH CHEMISTRY. 



contained in the vegetable matter, combine with that 

 which is calcareous, and form insoluble compounds. 

 What has been, and will be further stated on the different 

 uses of peat, will, it is to be hoped, cause this valuable, 

 and hitherto neglected article, to have a primary place 

 in the farmer's calender, and teach him that nothing is 

 useless, if man knew how to turn it to account. Many 

 of the counties in England contain an abundant supply 

 of peat, and it is still more generally, and in greater 

 quantities, to be met with in Scotland and in Ireland* 



In some few parts of Scotland, peat, in a natural state, 

 or mixed with too small a proportion of dung, is applied 

 as a manure. The growth of sorel is the never failing 

 consequence of such application to soils, which contain 

 little or no calcareous matter; whence may be inferred, 

 that the soreline acid produced in consequence of the 

 oxygenation of the peat, gives- a predisposing tendency 

 to the ground, on which it is applied, to promote the 

 growth of sorel. Similar effe&s, in the produftion of 

 sorel, have been observed to attend fossile coal, particularly 

 at collieries where small coal has for a time been exposed 

 to the action of air ; hence also may be inferred, that 



coal 



