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and dry it by exposure to the sun. These cakes, we 

 are informed by the French missionaries, have no dis-* 

 agreeable smell, and form a common article of com- 

 merce of the empire. v 



The earth, by its absorbent powers, probably 

 prevents, to a certain extent, the action of moisture 

 upon the dung, and likewise defends it from the ef- 

 fects of air. 



After night soil, pigeons 9 dung come next in or- 

 der, as to fertilizing power. I digested 100 grains of 

 pigeons' dung in hot water for some hours, and ob- 

 tained from it 23 grains of soluble matter ; which af- 

 forded abundance of carbonate of ammonia by distil- 

 lation ; and left carbonaceous matter, saline matter 

 principally common salt, and carbonate of lime as a 

 residuum. Pigeons' dung when moist readily fer- 

 ments, and after fermentation contains less soluble 

 matter than before: from 100 parts of fermented 

 pigeons' dung, I obtained only eight parts of soluble 

 matter, which gave proportionally less carbonate of 

 ammonia in distillation than recent pigeons' dung. 



It is evident that this manure should be applied 

 as new as possible ; and when dry, it may be employ- 

 ed in the same manner as the other manures capable 

 of being pulverised. 



The soil in woods where great flocks of wood- 

 pigeons roost, is often highly impregnated with their 

 dung, and it cannot be doubted, would form a valuable 

 manure. I have found such soil yield ammonia when 

 distilled with lime. In the winter likewise it usually 

 contains abundance of vegetable matter, the remains 



