[ '271 J 



filled with similar dung very hot at the time, into 

 the soil amongst the roots of some grass in the bor- 

 der of a garden; in less than a week a very distinct ef- 

 fect was produced upon the grass; upon the spot 

 exposed to the influence of the matter disenga- 

 ged in fermentation, it grew with much more lux- 

 uriance than the grass in any other part of the gar- 

 den. 



Besides the- dissipation of gaseous matter when 

 fermentation is pushed to the extreme, there is ano- 

 ther disadvantage in the loss of heat, which, if excited 

 in the soil, is useful in promoting the germination of 

 the seed, and in assisting the plant in the first stage of 

 its growth, when it is most feeble and most liable to 

 disease: and the fermentation of manure in the soil 

 must be particularly favourable to the wheat crop in. 

 preserving a genial temperature beneath the surface 

 late in autumn, and during winter. 



Again, it is a general principal in chemistry, that 

 in all cases of decomposition, substances combine 

 much more readily at the moment of their disengage- 

 ment, than after they have been perfectly formed. 

 And in fermentation beneath the soil the fluid matter 

 produced is applied instantly, even whilst it is warm, 

 to the organs of the plant, and consequently is more 

 likely to be efficient, than in manure that has gone 

 through the process; and of which all the principles 

 have entered into new combinations. 



In the writings of scientific agriculturists, a great 

 mass of facts may be found in favour of the applica- 

 tion of farm-yard dung in a recent state. Mr. Young, 

 m the Essay on Manures, which J have already quoted, 



