On Liquid Manure. 5 



agricultural chemist. It devolves upon him to ascertain on what 

 principle or principles are based the astonishing effects which 

 liquid manure produces in some instances, and to endeavour to 

 explain the reasons why in others it does no good, or is attended 

 with but partial success. The question of profitable return for 

 the expense of proper arrangements for the distribution of liquid 

 manure is one for after consideration ; it may overrule or not the 

 theory which informs us that in the liquid form manuring con- 

 stituents are most conducive to the rapid development of certain 

 kinds of agricultural produce. But in the first place we have to 

 examine carefully whether this doctrine can be accepted uncon- 

 ditionally, or whether this very generally received opinion has 

 not to be modified in a considerable degree. A principle like that 

 which informs us that fertilising matters produce their maximum 

 effect in a liquid form may be true in the abstract, or with reference 

 to particular kinds of plants, or in certain climates, or with 

 reference to soils of a particular character ; but in other climates 

 or other soils there may be operating causes which render it by 

 no means advisable to administer manuring matters in a state of 

 solution. 



Having given of late much attention to this subject, it is my 

 purpose to give in the following pages my views on the utility 

 of introducing the system of liquid manuring into ordinary farm- 

 practice. I would premise, however, that I wish the present 

 article to be considered in the light of an attempt to explain the 

 somewhat conflicting experience with respect to the application 

 of liquid manure. 



It will, I think, be admitted by every one that, under the name 

 of liquid manure, fertilisers of widely different characters are 

 applied to the land, and that probably the differences in the 

 observed effects of liquid manure may be due, at least to some 

 extent, to its variable composition. It will therefore devolve 

 upon me, in the first place, to point out the composition and 

 fertilising value of several descriptions of liquid manure which I 

 have selected for examination, and to show how far differences in 

 composition influence the effects which it is capable of producing 

 in the field. 



In the next place 1 propose to examine the circumstances in 

 which liquid manure is employed with decided advantage, and 

 to attempt giving an explanation of the causes of success. 



In the third place I shall discuss the characters of soils upon 

 which liquid manure produces no beneficial effect, and state the 

 reasons of failure ; and 



Lastly, I propose to offer some remarks on the means of dis- 

 posing of liquid manure. 



B 



