CHARCOAL. 121 



and carried into the soil, there to be applied 

 for the assimilation of plants, and the removal 

 of the gas by the rain from the charcoal re- 

 stores its original power of absorbing gas ; so 

 that this substance, when applied to the soil, 

 acts as a constant reservoir for these valuable 

 gaseous substances, a property which neither 

 time nor any circumstance can alter. 



Even when, in the course of cultivation, the 

 charcoal originally applied on the surface of 

 the land is ploughed under the surface, even 

 there it does not lose its power of absorbing 

 the gases, but carries on its operations with 

 undiminished energy. 



Charcoal, thus applied, derives a supply of 

 these gases from other sources than the soil, 

 thus, if rain falls, and all rain generally con- 

 tains a portion of ammonia, it is at once ab- 

 sorbed by the charcoal, or at least that portion 

 which under other circumstances would be 

 carried off during the evaporation of the mois- 

 ture from the surface. It is to this peculiar 

 property, that the whole benefit of charcoal as 

 a manure is to be attributed ; it is, however, so 

 extensively useful that a few of its applications 

 are subjoined, in the belief that circumstances 

 are daily occurring in which its application 

 may be useful. 



** Charcoal resists the putrefaction of animal 

 substances. A piece of flesh, that is already 

 tainted, may have its sweetness restored by 

 rubbing it daily with powdered charcoal, and 

 it may be preserved sweet for some considera- 

 ble time by burying it in powdered charcoal ; 

 which, however, it is necessary to renew daily. 



