Clarke's and Lance's Composts, Sj-c. 29 1 



distinctly, I had three rows of cabbages planted, one upon farm- 

 yard dung, one upon desiccated compost, and one without any 

 manure. The result was, very superior vigour in the growth of 

 the first row, while no difference could be observed between the 

 second and third, except that the plants which had no manure 

 had rather the advantage. I will not take upon myself to say, 

 that salt may not be beneficial upon some soils, or under some 

 circumstances : but I have applied it to my wheat fields in the 

 quantity recommended, in parallel lines with other portions of 

 the same fields to which none was applied, and no difference was 

 perceptible in the crops. I have also tried some of Mr. Lance's 

 composts prepared precisely according to his dii'ections, with 

 absolute loss of the value of the articles, and comparative loss 

 of my crop. I look, therefore, to all such inventions with a jealous 

 eye, and a determination not merely to try them against other 

 manures, but more particularly to try them against the applica- 

 tion of nothing. 



M. Quenard's plan is very simple. It consists of the union 

 of lime, soot, and ashes (which means undoubtedly soot and 

 ashes from burnt wood), and the immersion of straw and grass 

 in a lie formed with those ingredients previous to their being 

 placed in a heap, or the alternation of layers of them, applying 

 in either case water from time to time in sufficient quantities to 

 promote the fermentation, which is said to be complete in fifteen 

 or twenty days, according to the temperature. 



The first observation to be made upon this is, that it does not 

 bring into use a single article that is- at present either unused or 

 cheap. Every particle of vegetable produce that can be obtained 

 is, in this country, greedily sought by the gardener and the agri- 

 culturist, and reduced by him to manure. The reduction of ingre- 

 dients to a serviceable state by the interposition of layers of lime, 

 is a process frequently practised in all parts of this country; soot 

 is not to be obtained at a low price, and not an atom of it is now 

 wasted ; and wood ashes being in general unattainable amongst 

 us, if they are essential to this combination on account of the 

 potash they contain, it would be necessary to purchase the re- 

 quisite quantity of potash at a high price to complete the mixture. 

 But here immediately arises the question, Does the union of soot 

 and potash with lime essentially promote the decomposition of 

 the vegetable mass, and does any benefit result to the land from 

 these ingredients being so combined, beyond that which is af- 

 forded by the present mode of applying them? We must there- 

 fore ascertain whether the fermentation of such coarse vegetable 

 matter as the cattle do not consume is most beneficially effected 

 by union with the excrements of animals or with lime ; and 

 whether the action of the lime is promoted materially, and in 

 due proportion to the expense, by the addition of potash; and, if 



