122 [Assembly 



in a proper state to receive his labors, by the growth of the dandelion 

 and white clover. Where they grow, the cereals ^Yili flourish. In 

 Switzerland, marl beds are mdicated by the growth of coltsfoot, and 

 butter-bur. 



The couch-grass is seldom seen on land containing an abundance 

 of lime J but the poppy abounds in such soil. 



Muck lands grow peculiar kind of grapes suited to their nature, 

 when first laid down. Muck, when burnt, yields an ash which may 

 be used advantageously on any crop. It consists of gypsum, sihca, 

 alumina, oxide of iron, oxide of manganese, lime, magnesia, potash, 

 soda, sulphuric acid, phosphoric acid, chlor'me, carbonic acid, and 

 charred turf. These ashes are placed upon the land at the rate of 

 two tons to the acre. They are put upon flax, peas, potatoes, and 

 clover, with good effect. Farmers should use the following means to 

 render thair farms fit for agricultural productions : 



1st. They should alter the constituent parts of their soils by the 

 addition of ingredients which they are found to require, or the sub- 

 traction of substances they may contain a superabundance of. 



2d. If their lands be too wet they may drain them, and if too dry 

 may irrigate them, thus their relation with respect to moisture or dry- 

 ness is changed. 



3d. They may change their texture by thorough sub-soil plowing, 

 and deep tillage, together with a proper application of muck, and 

 they might reduce the woody fibre of muck when dried, to dust, boiled 

 thoroughly in water, until all its soluble matters arc extracted, dried 

 in an oven, and ground in a mill, so as to yield a meal that can 

 scarcely be distinguished from flour, either in taste or smell, and if 

 ■well fermented with yeast and baked, may be eaten as bread, or if 

 boiled will produce a jelly — or by an application of vitriol and water 

 in proper proportions, together with a little iodine will make starch, 

 to which may be added sulphuric acid and chalk to form gum — and 

 the gum by an addition of lime and sulphuric acid may be changed 



