ON MANURES. I99 



therefore does not appear, from past experience, that it can 

 ever be made to supersede the use of lime on land which has 

 not been formerly dressed with the latter; but in such cases, 

 or in parts of the country where lime cannot be procured, it 

 may yet be employed to a certain extent with advantage. 



As to paring and burning, there can be no doubt that the 

 earth, if combined with fibrous roots and other vegetable 

 matter, will answer the purpose of manure when burned ; yet 

 shallow soils are thus frequently more injured by the abstrac- 

 tion of too large a portion of the surface, than improved by 

 the temporary addition of the manure. We have lately seen 

 down-land, which was broken up during the war, and has 

 been now during several years returned to pasture, yet still 

 bears nothing like the sward of a fine sheep-walk on the 

 poorest chalks, and probably will require half a century to 

 bring it back to its former condition. We therefore cannot 

 but again caution all farmers and owners of land against 

 bringing such soils under the plough.* 



With regard to gypsum and salt we have nothing to add, 

 except to repeat our recommendation of experiments on their 

 effects. Though quite aware of the common sentiment — 'that 

 gentlemen may use their superfluous cash for this purpose, but 

 farmers have uses enough for their money in the regular 

 routine of their business, and fe\N are so overburdened with 

 capital as to afford the risk of its diminution by uncertain 

 speculation' — yet we entreat them to reflect, that experiments 

 may be tried with those two articles upon a single acre ; that 

 the expense, if unsuccessful, can only occasion the loss of a 

 few shillings; but if they succeed, may be productive of in- 

 calculable advantage. 



Neither respecting the various miscellaneous substances 

 which we have enumerated have we any further observation 

 to make upon their respective properties. The fluid or dis- 

 solved parts of animal matter require some preparatory process 

 to fit them for manure, the great object being to blend them 

 with the soil in a proper state of minute division; for when 

 they have been applied in a rank or unreduced state, bad 



* A treatise has been just published by Professor Rennie, on Parin» and 

 Burnin-g, in which he attributes whatever value it may have to the eflfects 

 of the fire, considering it 'in the light of an instantaneous fallow.' Were 

 this principle to be relied upon, it" would follow that paring and burning 

 might, within a few years afterwards, be advantageously repeated; whereas 

 experience proves that, with whatever benefit the operation may be attended 

 in the first instance, a repetition of it is always found to impoverish the soil. 

 R 



