10 



Another Gonlideration forbids me to think that 

 manures are loft by their valuable portion finking be- 

 yond the reach of plants, as it would then be forever 

 loft, and the means of renewing vegetable and con- 

 fcquently animal life be fo far diminiflied : a refult 

 which would feem to derogate from the frugal and 

 admired economy of nature. Whereas, what riles 

 into the atmofphere, though loft to the individuals 

 who omit the proper means to retain it, is not loft 

 to the globe : the air contributing its ftores to pro- 

 mote the growth of plants. 



From thefe coniiderations, the inference feems ob- 

 vious, that manure ariling from dung, and from all 

 animal and vegetable fubftances, ftiould be expofed as 

 little as poflible to the fun, the air and waftiing rains ; 

 and when applied to the foil, be immediately plough- 

 ed in. And further, that the aim of the hufbandman, 

 poffeffing a foil from which the effence of his ma- 

 nure foon efcapes, fhould be to add fomething which 

 will render it more tenacious ; like the foil which, in 

 current language, is faid " to hold manure well." 

 For this purpofe, nothing, probably, is equal to clay. 

 "Were a bank of clay in my own farm, I fhould deem 

 it a treafure : becaufe, fubftantially to meliorate fuch 

 a foil, fo large a quantity would be required as diftant 

 carriage would render too expenfive. Clay marie, 

 were it attainable, would be ftill more valuable ; be- 

 caufe it would at the fame time fupply a fubftance, 

 without which, a diftinguiifhed Britifti writer,* and 

 in early life a pradical farmer, pronounces, that foils 

 cannot attain their higheft degree of fertility. That 

 fubftance is calcarious, or of the nature of lime ; be- 

 ing the mouldered or mouldering fhells of animals 

 bred in water. Where limeftone is wanting, oyfter 



* The late Dr. James Anderson. 



