

On Manures. 2 1 1 



Much useful matter of this description is lost : for instance, 

 if animals which have died of old age or disease, were covered 

 with five or six times their bulk of soil, mixed with one part 

 of lime, the earth would, in the space of a few months, be so 

 impregnated with soluble matter, as to be rendered an ex- 

 cellent manure ( iy8 ). Besides preventing a nuisance, the 

 putrifying flesh would be more valuable to the farmer, than if 

 sold for dogs' meat. 



Much manure is got from the offals of butchers, and the 

 blood and other substances that are collected in markets. The 

 graves, or refuse of tallow-chandlers, are likewise excellent 

 for turnips, and will produce good crops of corn on the poorest 

 soils. Every attention ought to be paid, to the collection of 

 such useful articles, which, at present, are too much disre- 

 garded. 



The use of bones as a manure, has become an object of such 

 immense consequence, that it is proposed to make it the sub- 

 ject of a separate discussion, in the Addenda, (No. 1.) 



Every species of animal offal or refuse will act as a ma- 

 nure ; as, 1. Woollen rags, chopped in small pieces ; from 5 cwt. 

 to 12 cwt. to be used per acre. They are best for dry, sandy, 

 or chalky ( I99 ) soils, as they attract moisture from the at- 

 mosphere, and retain it. 2. Curriers' shavings, farriers' clip- 

 pings, and leather rags, are likewise calculated for dry soils ; 

 the quantity required is about thirty bushels per acre. 3. Horn 

 shavings, equally applicable to all soils, worth about Is. per 

 bushel, thirty of which are sufficient per acre. 4. The scrap- 

 ings of sheep trotters, calves' feet, fyc. hog's hair, feathers ( zo ) ; 

 and in short, all sorts of animal substances should be collected, 

 and, if ploughed in, will increase the fertility of the soil. 



7. Fish. Along such an extent of coast as Great Britain 

 and Ireland possesses, much advantage might certainly be de- 

 rived from fish as manure. In the fens of Lincolnshire, Cam- 

 bridgeshire, and Norfolk, the small fish called stickle-backs, 

 periodically swarm in the rivers to such a degree, that they 

 may be purchased at from 6d. to 8d. per bushel, and applied 

 in forming composts. Herrings, sprats ( a p ' ), and the fish called 

 sea-dogs, (after the oily parts are taken out), are managed in 

 the same way. The refuse of the pilchard fishery in Corn- 

 wall, never fails to give great crops wherever it is spread. 

 Whale-blubber offal also, is frequently applied to this use, 

 and with the greatest success. Such manures minutely di- 

 vide the particles of the soil, and are highly beneficial to 

 newly broken-up barren soils. The offal of fish is found pe- 

 culiarly calculated for raising cabbages ; and that valuable 



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