148 A TREATISE ON THE CONNECTION OF 



the benefit arising from the mechanical arrangement of 

 the soil will probably more than compensate for the dis- 

 sipation of the vegetable matter of the sward. It would, 

 however, be m.ore ceconomical, when the soil is thus in- 

 tended to be made more open, to calcine the clay in 

 clamps or kilns, and to spread it afterwards on the ground j 

 either by itself or mixed with lime. 



Paring and burning is the process, which, in the cul- 

 tivation of peat mosses and fens, is made to succeed that 

 of draining. Care should be had to burn only as much 

 of the peat as will yield the proportion of ashes neces- 

 sary to alter the arrangement of the parts of the soil : 

 an effecl which, with still more advantageous conse- 

 quences, is to be attained by lime, lime-stone gravel, or 

 even by common mould or soil. 



It is only from the ashes of fresh or growing vegeta- 

 bles, that saline substances or alkaline salts are to be 

 obtained ; none can be got from peat or decayed vegeta- 

 ble matter. The proportion of alkaline, or other salts, 

 produced by paring and burning, is so very small, that 

 were the benefits immediately resulting from paring and 



burning 



