On Draining. 19? 



time, to keep pace witli the accessions of knowledge which 

 the people acquire, and with the necessities of the country, 

 as it becomes more populous. The Code of Rural Legisla- 

 tion of Great Britain, unfortunately, has not improved in 

 the same ratio with its increased population, and thence it is 

 as little calculated, for the number of its inhabitants at this 

 time, as its produce a century, or even half a century ago, 

 would now be sufficient for their maintenance. It is not here 

 meant, that the law should interfere with the rights of pri- 

 vate property, farther than the public good absolutely re- 

 quires. More effectual regulations, however, for promoting 

 cultivation, drainage and inclosure, ought now to be enact- 

 ed, the existing laws being imperfectly calculated for pro- 

 moting these essential improvements ( !<JI ). 



SECT. IV. On Manures. 



INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. 



THE term manure, includes all those substances, which, 

 when artificially applied to, or blended with the soil, are 

 known from experience to restore, to preserve, or to aug- 

 ment its fertility, or to render it, in any other respect, more 

 favourable to vegetation. This includes all the articles, 

 which tend to correct any noxious ingredients in the soil, 

 or to turn to greater utility, certain substances previously 

 contained in it ( I6z ). 



Before entering, however, into the subject of manures, it 

 may be proper briefly to state the various modes in which 

 they are applied; as, 1. Mixing them with the soil; 2. Lay- 

 ing them carefully in drills, and sowing the crop upon 

 them ; 3. Top-dressing, or scattering them upon the sur- 

 face ; and, 4. Converting them into a liquid form. The 

 plan of making them up in composts, shall afterwards be 

 discussed. 



1. Mixing manures with the soil. This is by far the most 

 general mode of application, where dung can be had in con- 

 siderable quantities ; and it is the best system to be adopted, 

 in all cases where it is necessary to enrich a field, for a suc- 

 cession of exhausting crops. But it is questionable, whether 

 it is the best means to make the most of the manure col- 

 lected, as some of its most valuable parts, may be ploughed 

 in deeper than the roots of many vegetables go, and in some 

 cases, they may be entirely washed into the earth, and lost. 



