c 



SYSTEMS OF PERMANENT AGRICULTURE 



that all seeds contain oil, and that hemp, rape, and flax (rich in oil) 

 are very exhaustive crops, Doctor Hunter adds, much to his 

 credit as a scientist: 



"As I have not the vanity to think my experiments sufficiently conclusive, 

 I embrace this opportunity to request assistance of the practical farmer, in order 

 that the merits of the invention may be fully determined. Should my theory 

 concerning the food of plants be thought erroneous, the compost (made in part 

 of crude whale oil, 'train oil') will of course be disregarded. But, on the con- 

 trary, should it be agreed to that oil, made miscible with water, constitutes the 

 chief nourishment of vegetables, then the invention will probably become the 

 subject of future experiment. 



"Though theory may direct our inquiries, yet experience must at last deter- 

 mine our opinions, for which reason I propose to enlarge my experiments; and 

 as I have no other view but the investigation of the truth, I shall lay them faith- 

 fully before the public, whether they prove successful or not." 



Among the " Georgical Essays," the two reports which follow 

 are of special interest. The first bears upon the oil theory, and both 

 show evidence of the search for truth, and indicate the approach- 

 ing dawn of chemical science. The editor says that the 1777 edi- 

 tion is a reprint, and that " this volume contains several additional 

 papers"; so it is not clear that Doctor Hunter knew of these 

 experiments. 



"A COMPARATIVE VIEW OF MANURES 

 " BY A. YOUNG, ESQ. 



"In the year 1771, 1 marked out a rood of land into divisions, and sowed them 

 with oats. The variety of manures made use of in this experiment are marked 

 as follows: 



PRODUCE PER ACRE 

 No. B. P. 



1. 40 cubical yards of farmyard compost, and dung ... 40 2\ 



2. 20 ditto . 51 i 



3. 10 ditto 45 o 



4. 10 ditto 46 i 



5. 10 loads of bones, each 40 bushels 63 i 



6. 20 ditto 57 o 



7. 200 bushels of lime 38 if 



8. 40 yards of chalk 31 r 



9. No manure 30 z\ 



10. 80 yards of chalk 25 2\ 



n. 120 ditto 27 a 



