374 IMPROVING POqil SOILS. 



Obser%ations It is an old farming m^xim, that plants of the san^e 



respectl".^ life ^P^'^'^^ "^'^''^ ^^^ thrive successively on the same land, for, 



improvement where one plant has died, another of the same species 



poor soils, pannot live. This is the case with animal life, and with 



combustion, or fire; two processes extremely analogous to 



vegetation *. 



Where a candle becomes estinct (provided no fresh air 

 be admitted) another cannot be lighted, and where an 

 animal has died, another of the same species cannot exist; 

 but other combustible matters may be made to burn, and 

 animals of a different species may, for a time, be made to 

 live. Thus I would infer, that, where a crop of Avhe^t 

 has grown, been brought to perfection, and died, there 

 another crop of the same kind will not succeed; although 

 different kind of corn, pulse, or grass may. 



Now the reason why the former phenomena take place, 

 is partly by the abstraction or taking away of something 

 from the ajr, necessary to the life or support of the first 

 animal or combustible substance, and partly, by the giving 

 out something, which, (though inimical to the individual 

 that parts with it) is nevertheless, (so far from being hurt- 

 fill to others) the very matter some kinds prefer to live 

 upon. The same or similar processes may go on with 

 plants; where a crop of wheat has grown, the materials 

 for the sustenance of wheat may not only be absorbed, but 

 the situation in which it has lived and died, may be so im- 

 pregnated with its excretions +, as to be inimical to tRe 



life 



field, that was hurdled off successively a little at a time ; when 



the held was bare of tliistles, his attendants gave him three times 



a day, from two to five pounds at a meal. This sheep, when 



killed, measured five feet from the nose to the tail, the rump or 



cushion eight and a half in depth, plate or fore flank of the same 



thickness, breast end seven inches, one yard five inches and a half 



round the collar, and weighed sixty seven pounds a quarter, avoir- 



• dupoise weight; the legs were estimated at forty pounds each, but 



:if cut haunch of venison fashion, would have weighed fifty pounds 



each; for which the proprietor, Mr. Lumby, \yas offered two 



shillings a pound ; so that the legs only would have brought ten 



pounds. - ride ParkLnsotiS Experienced Farmer. 



* Vide preceding Observations. 



t This theory may be exeinpUfitjd by, a .fact, \yhiqli I Jiave 

 . ,:■ fre- 



