262 tiQtriD MAiamK. 



the chemist in his most delicate analyses. In Switzerland, the urinft 

 that is passed by the cattle flows along a gutter which communicates 

 with a large reservoir containing water, in which not only are the sol- 

 id excrements diffused, but in which the litter is washed, this being 

 tlianged only twice a week. The reservoir is constructed under 

 the floor of the cow-house itself, in order to be protected from the 

 frost. The fermentation of a mass so diluted is scarcely percepti- 

 ble, and, save from leakage, there is no loss of decomposing animal 

 matter. The liquid manure is raised by means of a pump, and car- 

 ried to the meadow in tubs placed upon carls. In Switzerland it is 

 also the usage to employ the urine of cattle separately as manure, 

 under the name of pvrin; to this liquid manure, a quantity of sul- 

 phate of iron is frequently added with the view of bringing the volatile 

 carbonate to the state of the fixed sulphate of ammonia, as I have 

 already said. 



Liquid manures have their advantages and their inconveniences. 

 We shall immediately discuss their value comparatively with that 

 of solid manures, and we shall be led to adopt the opinion of M. Crud 

 in regard to them, viz., that the advantages ascribed to them in Switz- 

 erland are exaggerated. Whatever the form under which manures 

 are applied, the question has been warmly discussed, whether it be 

 to the interest or disadvantage of the agriculturist to employ them 

 before or after they have undergone fermentation 1 



Organic substances, however, are in no condition to favor the 

 growth of vegetables until they have undergone material changes 

 which modify their nature. One of the results of this change, as 

 we have seen, is the development of ammoniacal salts. Fresh ma- 

 nure, such as it comes from the stable, introduced immediately into 

 the ground, there undergoes precisely the same changes, and gives 

 rise to the same producis as it does when subjected to preparation in 

 a dung-heap in the manner already described ; there is only this 

 difference, that being scattered and mixed with a large quantity of 

 inert matter, the decomposition takes place much more slowly than 

 it does in the heap. The question which has been so actively dis- 

 cussed, therefore, reduces itself to this : is it advantageous to have 

 the manure fermented in the soil it is intended to fertilize 1 We 

 may be allowed to express surprise that such a question should have 

 been raised in the present day, and still more that the afl!irmative 

 answer should have been disputed by agriculturists of distinguished 

 merit. Some have even gone so far as to maintain that fresh ex- 

 crements were injurioui to vegetation. Proofs to the contrary are 

 readily obtained ; it is enough to recollect that in the grazing and 

 folding of sheep and ki.ie, the dung and urine pass directly into the 

 ground of our pastures and fields, and who shall say that the land 

 is not benefited by what it thus receives 1 Unquestionably fresh 

 manure in excess proves injurious to vegetables, but as much inay 

 be said in regard to the best-fermented dungs. 



M. Gazzeri, an Italian chemist, has devoted himself with tr.e 

 most laudable perseverance to inquiries having for thoir object tu 

 I^OW that the general custom of leaving manures to become d«- 



