Io8 A TREATISE ON THE CONNECTION OF 



of the dung, and forms vitriolic ammoniac ; or by com- 

 bining with the calcareous matter, and by the further 

 aid of the inflamma^/le or putrescent matter of the dung* 

 it is changed into an hepar. 



The burning of peat, for the purpose of procuring its 

 ashes, must undoubtedly appear a very wasteful and dis- 

 sipating process, when it is considered that there is sel- 

 dom i-2oth of its weight in ashes procured by combus- 

 tion. This process throws into the air the remaining 

 i9-2oths of peat, which might, by other preparations 

 of it, be made to contribute, in a superior degree, to 

 the purposes of vegetation. 



The best preparation of peat, when intended for a 

 top-dressing manure, is by the addition of alkaline salts 

 or alkaline hepars, or by a mixture of glaubcr salt and 

 hot lime with peat. As the soil cannot be injured by 

 the application of alkaline salts, when mixed with a due 

 proportion of peat, the quantity made use of will, in a 

 great measure, be governed by the facility of procuring 

 it, and the price of the article, and may, in some measure, 

 be regulated by the quantity of alkahne salts capable of 



being 



