*^n Essay on Calcareous Manures. 267 



three or four inches ; then fill up the remaining eight inches with flow- 

 peat, or decomposed moss (Sphagnum). This kind of peat is light 

 and spongy, it resists putrefaction, and remains longer unimpaired in 

 its form, than any other kind of peat. After it is put into the cradle of 

 the walk, it must be levelled with the spade, and trodden upon with the 

 feet, so that no inequalities may appear on the surface ; afterwards the 

 roller should be brought over it. After this treatment it will become 

 more compact, and will have sunk a little : this will allow room for 

 two or three inches of fine engine ashes to be laid above it. The ashes 

 that have undergone two burnings are the best for color, having a close 

 resemblance to gravel. After distributing the ashes equally over the 

 surface of the peat, with a rake, they must be rolled over and over, 

 until they form a kind of cake above the peat, and then the walk is 

 finished. It may be thought that walks of this nature will be damp, 

 but I have always found them as dry as those that are made with stones 

 and gravel ; and they are strong enough for all the ordinary wheeling 

 that is required in the flower-garden. I have no doubt that the valetu- 

 dinarian would derive great comfort from such walks ; and if they tend 

 to make the flower-garden a greater source of pleasure, I shall have 

 gained my object." 



Art. II. An Essay on Calcareous JYIanures. Second edition, 

 greatly enlarged. By Edmund Ruffin. 1 volume, 8vo. 116 

 pages, Shelbanks, Va. 1835. 



This valuable work, which has long laid upon our table, but 

 which we have been prevented from noticing, from the press of 

 other matter, more immediately within the limits of the subjects 

 interesting to our readers, is, nevertheless, too valuable to be 

 passed over. Indeed, we almost owe an apology to its excel- 

 lent author, Mr. Ruffin, who sent us a copy as soon as pub- 

 lished, for so long having delayed this. 



The opinions contained in this essay were first published in 

 the American Farmer (issued in Baltimore), in 1821. Subse- 

 quent experiments were made with the intention of publishing 

 the same in the Farmer''s Register, of which Mr. Ruffin is 

 editor ; but the quantity of matter having greatly accumulated, 

 it was published in a volume, in 1832. This edition has lately 

 been issued, much enlarged, and the facts it contains are of 

 great importance to the agricultural community of our country, 

 more especially those who reside in such districts as those to 

 which Mr. Ruffin has more particularly confined his remarks. 



The properties of soils and the operation of manures are too 

 little known by our farmers. Indeed, it is our greatest wish 



