l!!tfPROVIN*G POOR 80IU. 371 



9thly, Those whose lands border on the Humber, or the Observations 

 sea, may derive a further advantage from this vicinity, than ^"^pg^jJn^g'Jhe 

 What arises from mere irrigation. I have already taken improvement 

 some pains to point out the absolute necessity there is for °^ l^'^^^ ^°'^*" 

 bringing the different earths into close union, in order to 

 procure that decomposition, necessary to their being con- 

 verted into vegetable life ; the same doctrine is applicable to 

 composts, and may noAv be extended to salt water. 



Salt wafter consists of certain alkaline salts united to the 

 marine acid, which form a neutral, not easily decom- 

 pounded in common earth, and therefore not a very active 

 manure. To obtain the greatest possible advantage from 

 sea water, it ought to be decomposed, which may, in part 

 be effected by adding to it gypsum, alabaster, or plaster 

 of Paris — a matter compounded of lime and the vitriolic 

 acid. When this is well soaked in sea water, the vitriolic 

 acid will in time quit the lime, seize the alkaline basis of 

 sea-salt, and leave the marine acid to combine with the 

 lime ; * but in all these operations a large quantity of earth 

 or soil should be compounded with the result, before it be 

 applied as a manure, the salts being of themselves too 

 pungent, if applied to vegetation unmixed with earth. 

 This method ought also to be purssied, when any composts 

 are formed. 



lOthly, Sand is also capable of further use than what is 

 merely pointed out by the foregoing theory. In Norfolk 

 it is thrown into the yards and stables, to absorb all the 

 moisture ; and the horses and cattle that are fed in the stalls, 

 with cut grass or vetches, are bedded with it, in order 

 that their urine may be absorbed and employed for the 

 future amelioration of the soil. 



llthly, The banks along the old or natural drains, which 



The country at large not only obtains an increase in the supply of the 

 food of man ; but thousands of acres of the most noxious fens, 

 pioUlic only in agues and remittent fevers, are by this process, 

 covered with a. healthful appearance. 



* According to BerthoUet, ciiaik is capable of decomposing sea 

 salt, in the course of four years, and by that process, the natron 

 «f alkali is suflered to chrystalize in the Jakes in Egypt*. 

 * Vide Memoirs on Egypt. 



2 F 2 hare 



