76 On Plaister of Paris, 



not worse ; as it leaves the ground full of weedsj unless 

 it be sufficiently rotted, or used in com^osX, fc) 



Query. 7. To what products can it be most profita- 

 bly applied? — grain and what kinds? 



CcJ It is as much on account of its containing the seeds of 

 weeds, as its supposed inferiority in other respects, that the 

 Chinese neglect the dung o:' horses and cattle, as we do hu- 

 man excrements. But they provide every where, " covered 

 reservoirs for storing up what is dropped, in most countries, 

 uselessly in the privies and streets," Ingenhausz is apparen- 

 tlv extravagant in his preference oi human alvme and urinous 

 ejections, to those or horses and cattle. He goes so far as to 

 suppose, that these ejections from an individual, will manure 

 as much ground as would produce more vegetables than he 

 could consume ; and by selling the superfluous portion, he 

 might purchase enough of other food, to render the vegetables 

 palatable. However improbable this may appear, there may 

 p^^siblybe more soliditjMn the observation, than our inexpe- 

 rience, and perhaps ideas of delicacy will permit us to believe. 

 The Chinese have as much knowledge of practical agricul- 

 ture, as any people in the world. Their immense population 

 compels them to concentrate their efforts to this point, so as t^ 

 raise the most off the smallest possible portion of ground. 

 Antipathy, and habits of using other manures, will prevent 

 our following the Chinese, in their practice of manuring. 

 Lime, burnt clay, calcareous earths oi all kinds, and even com- 

 mon earth, deprive the most putrid and nauseous substance-s 

 of their disagreeable qualities, and assist them in promoting^ 

 sweet and wholesome vegetation. Night soil is so strong, that 

 a fi th part is a sufficient proportion ior a compost ; and it 

 should never be used by itself. Two loads, mixed with ten- 

 of earth, and one of lime, are sufficient for an acre. 



