On Vegetable Matter as Manure. 249 



spring. The seed, which this afforded, having been preserved 

 in mould during the winter, was, in March, placed in a small 

 garden-pot, which was nearly filled with the living leaves and 

 roots of grasses, mixed with a small quantity of earth ; and 

 this was sufficiently covered with a layer of mould, which 

 contained the roots only of grasses, to prevent, in a great 

 measure, the growth of the plants which were buried. The 

 pot, which contained about one- sixteenth of a square foot of 

 mould and living vegetable matter, was placed under glass, 

 but without artificial heat, and the plant appeared above the 

 soil in the end of April. It was three times, during the sum- 

 mer, removed into a larger pot, and each time supplied with 

 the same matter to feed upon ; and in the end of October its 

 roots occupied about the space of one third of a square foot, 

 its height above the surface of the mould being then nine 

 feet seven inches. 



In the beginning of June, a small piece of ground was 

 planted with Potatoes of an early variety, and in some rows 

 green Fern, and in others Nettles, were employed instead of 

 other manure ; and, subsequently, as the early Potatoes were 

 taken up for use, their tops were buried in rows in the same 

 manner, and Potatoes of the preceding year were placed upon 

 them, and covered in the usual way. The days being then 

 long, the ground warm, and the decomposing green leaves 

 and stems affording abundant moisture, the plants acquired 

 their full growth in an unusually short time, and afforded an 

 abundant produce; and the remaining part of the summer 

 proved more than sufficient to mature Potatoes of an early 

 variety. The market gardener may, probably, employ the 



