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diatcly the food of the crop, and the gradual decom- 

 position affords a supply for successive years. 



Rape cake, which is used with great success as a 

 manure, contains a large quantity of mucilage, some 

 albuminous matter, and a small quantity of oil This 

 manure should be used recent, and kept as dry as pos- 

 sible before it is applied. It forms an excellent dres- 

 sing for turnip crops ; and is most ceconomically ap- 

 plied by being thrown into the soil at the same time 

 with the seed. Whoever wishes to see this practice 

 in its highest degree of perfection, should attend Mr. 

 Coke's annual sheep-shearing at Holkham. 



Malt dust consists chiefly of the infant radicle 

 separated from the grain. I have never made any ex- 

 periment upon this manure ; but there is great reason 

 to suppose it must contain saccharine matter j and this 

 will account for its powerful effects. Like rape cake 

 it should be used as dry as possible, and its fermenta- 

 tion prevented. 



Linseed cake is too valuable as a food for cattle 

 to be much employed as a manure ; the analysis of 

 linseed was referred to in the Third Lecture. The 

 water in which flax and hemp are steeped for the pur- 

 pose of obtaining the pure vegetable fibre, has consi- 

 derable fertilizing powers. It appears to contain a 

 substance analogous to albumen, and likewise much 

 vegetable extractive matter. It putrefies very readily. 

 A certain degree of fermentation is absolutely neces- 

 sary to obtain the flax and hemp in a proper state j 

 the water to which they have been exposed should 



