404 Keeping Ice in Ice-houses. 



to the air, absorbed oxygen, evolved carbonic acid, and water 

 was evidently decomposed. Thus, then, putrefaction seems 

 to render organic matters fit for the nourishment of plants, 

 by converting them into saccharine and mucilaginous com- 

 pounds, capable of solution in water. Hence the phenomenon 

 of wood, which is slow of decomposition, being a permanent 

 manure ; animal matters, which rapidly putrefy, being tran- 

 sient, though temporarily powerful : hence the economy of 

 using partially decomposed composts is also rationalised ; when 

 completely decomposed, its soluble matters, being more than 

 can be consumed at the time by the crop, pass away with the 

 drainage water, much is lost in the state of gas, and all that 

 is left are a few earthy, saline, and carbonaceous particles, of 

 comparatively little value. 



. ' Of the less general manures, which benefit plants by enter- 

 ing into their composition, a few words will suffice. Sulphate 

 of lime (gypsum) is a component of clover, lucerne, turnips, 

 &c. : hence it has been applied, with benefit for these crops, 

 to such soils as did not already contain it. Bones, broken 

 small, have lately become a very general manure ; their benefit, 

 which is very permanent, is easily accounted for. The bones 

 of oxen contain about 50 per cent, of gelatine, which is 

 soluble in water, and rapidly becomes putrescent; the re- 

 mainder is chiefly phosphate and carbonate of lime, salts, 

 which are components of wheat, rye, barley, oats, peas, beans, 

 vines, cucumbers, potatoes, garlic, onions, truffles, &c. Common 

 salt, also, is employed as a manure, and is beneficial, partly in 

 consequence of entering into the constitution of plants. 



I shall next proceed to consider manures as being beneficial 

 to vegetation, by absorbing and i*etaining moisture from the 

 atmosphere. 



{To be continued.} 



Art. III. On keeping Ice in Ice-houses. By Mr. Richard 

 Saunders, Gardener to C. Hoare, Esq. RR.S. H.S. &c, 

 at Luscombe, Devonshire. 



Sir, 

 A recent article in your Magazine (p. 138.) is on the pro- 

 curing of ice and filling an ice-house, and the practice recom- 

 mended being somewhat different from the method which I 

 have practised for a number of years with great success, I beo- 

 to offer you some account of this practice, considering that it 



