ANIMAL AND VEGETABLE MANURES. 77 



vast improvement may be made in this branch of farm 

 economy. 



We will merely remark here, in regard to the applica- 

 tion of manures, that if used in an unfermented state, they 

 should be buried with the plough, at least so deep as to 

 remain saturated with moisture, a material agent of de- 

 composition, and applied to a hoed, or autumn-ripening 

 crop. If used in a rotted state, they may be blended 

 with the surface, and apphed to a summer-ripening crop. 

 We will give our reasons for this practice. Manure fer- 

 tihzes in two ways — by the gaseous matters which are 

 evolved in fermentation, and which rise ; and which, be- 

 sides constituting vegetable food, operate in the soil, like 

 yest in dough, rendering it porous, and permeable to heat, 

 air, and moisture ; and by liquid matters, which sink. If 

 used before it has parted with its gases, manure should 

 be buried, that the incumbent soil may imbibe the gaseous 

 elements. If the manure has been rotted, it has parted 

 with its gaseous matters, and all its remaining fertilizing 

 properties are liable to be carried down by the rains — 

 hence this may be deposited near the surface. Again, 

 fresh manures, even in a liquid form,* induce a rank 

 growth of herbage ; but they do not produce good plump 

 seed. Hence, if applied to common small grains, they 

 cause a great growth of straw at the expense of the grain; 

 fermentation being most rapid at mid-summer, when the 

 seed, and not the straw, requires the food. But the au- 

 tumn-ripening crops, as corn, &c., are in that state, at 

 mid-summer, which requires strong food to perfect their 

 stalks and leaves ; and the fermentation of the manure 

 has subsided before the grain matures in autumn. Fos- 

 sil manures, as hme, marl, and gypsum, are applied upon 

 the surface, or buried superficially, because their disposi- 

 tion is to settle down, and they give off no gaseous food. 



* Colonel de Courteur (see Farmers' Magazine) tried stable manure 

 and liquid manure, the latter diluted, upon his wheat. The grain 

 tillered much, or gave a great growth of straw and grass ; but the 

 product in grain was diminished. When the liquid manure was ap- 

 plied a second time, by being poured upon the growing wheat, the 

 straw was very rank ; the plants produced only a few ears of wheat, 

 and those were very defective in grain. 



