AGRICULTURE WITH CHEMISTRY. m 



peat into carbonaceous matter, or to throw off, in the 

 state of fixablc air, the acids therein contained. The 

 gasscs thus generated will l)c inflammable, and phlogis- 

 ticated air forming volatile alkali, which will combine, as 

 it is formed, with the oxygenated part of the peat that 

 remains unadled upon by the lime applied for this espe- 

 cial purpose, in a small proportion. By this mode of 

 conducing the process, a soluble saline matter M-ill be 

 procured, consisting of phosphat and oxalat of ammo- 

 niac, whose beneficial effefts on vegetation have already 



been described. 



Inattention, or ignorance of these important facts, has 

 probably, in many cases, defeated the wishes of the far- 

 mer in the application of this preparation, which is par- 

 ticularly recommended as a top-dressing to grounds un- 

 der pasture. The proportion of the lime to the peat here 

 given, should be carefully attended to, and the mixing of 

 the two substances together should be jjerformed under 

 cover, in a shed or out-housc constructed for that pur- 

 pose, as too mucli rain, or a too great exposure to air, 

 will prevent a due aclion of the lime upon the peat. 



The 



