86 MANURES. 



sembles the substance thrown off by roots; the 

 saccharine juice is in sufficient abundance to 

 create the strongest fermentation and heat, so 

 much so that the boards with which a vessel 

 was lined inside while carrying a cargo of this 

 refuse from St. Petersburg to Marseilles were 

 completely converted through and through into 

 charcoal. There is no doubt therefore that it 

 is a most effective manure, but it requires 

 great caution in the use, and to be mixed with 

 a large quantity of earth previous to application, 

 otherwise its heat will completely destroy vege- 

 tation. One injurious effect it produced how- 

 ever was to excite the vines so excessively that 

 when it was impossible to obtain this stimulus 

 none other could be found to supply its place, 

 and the vines fell into a state of weakness. 



It has lately been subjected to fermentation 

 for the purpose of manufacturing vinegar from 

 it previous to its application to. the soil. This of 

 course by abstracting the saccharine juice, 

 leaving a portion of acetic acid in the mass, 

 and perhaps by destroying in some measure 

 the phosphate of lime, much impairs its quality 

 as a manure. 



On the much discussed question of the com- 

 parative value of manure applied fresh from the 

 stable, or applied after it has lain in a heap for 



