ON MANURE. 61 



the roots to spread themselves oui within such a dis- 

 tance of the surface as will keep mem warm and dry, 

 and enable them to receive the cherishing influence of 

 the sun and air. 



Liquid manure. This is a species of manure that is 

 highly valuable where immediate effect is required. As 

 the pores which abound in the fibres of the roots of 

 plants are too small to admit of any solid substance 

 passing into them, and can only absorb nutriment when 

 presented to them either in a fluid or gaseous state, 

 liquid manures act with a far greater degree of energy 

 than those of a solid nature, inasmuch as they contain 

 all the soluble parts of manure in such a state as to ad- 

 mit of being taken up by the roots as soon as applied. 

 The most powerful are urine, soot-water, blood, the 

 drainings of dung-heaps, and soap-suds. 



Urine, on account of its saline qualities, is better cal- 

 culated to promote the fertility of the vine than any 

 other liquid whatever. It should be used as fresh as 

 possible, and if applied in the growing season, or betwixt 

 the middle of March and the first of November, it should 

 be mixed with an equal quantity of water ; at any other 

 period of the year it may be cast on the border in its 

 natural state. 



Soot, dissolved in water, in the proportion of one 

 quart of soot to twelve quarts of water, and mixed 

 a few days previously to its being used, is an ex- 

 ceedingly strong manure, highly stimulating in its na- 

 ture, and a great purifier of the soil. 



Blood, the drainings of dung -heaps, and, soap-suds, 

 should be used as fresh as possible, in order that their 

 good qualities may be preserved entire. They are all 

 valuable manures, calculated to enrich the soil in a 

 very high degree. 



To the foregoing may be added, every description of 

 liquid refuse that proceeds from a dwellng-house or hu- 

 F 



