140 



THE planter's GUIDE. 



ago, pointed out the means of rendering agriculture a new 

 art by the aid of chemistry, in which he has been since 

 followed by Kirwan, by Sir H. Davy, and other ingenious 

 authors. The general error then and still committed, in 

 the making up of lime compost, is the use of the lime in 

 far too great a proportion, thereby reducing the peat to 

 charcoal, and dissipating in a gaseous state its most useful 

 component parts. Thus the lime is rendered nearly 

 effete and powerless, and brought back to the state of 

 mere chalk, instead of forming such a combination with 

 the peat, and the gas generated in the process, as, on 

 being apphed to the soil, should promote the growth of 

 plants. 



In the same way, a want of success not less remark- 

 able has been experienced in preparing dung compost 

 according to the fermenting process discovered by Lord 

 Meadowbank. This, I conceive, has proceeded chiefly 

 from two causes : first, the want of skill in providing peat 

 of a proper quality, and in a state fitted to undergo the 

 fermenting process with effect ; and secondly, in applying 

 the dung in too exhausted a condition — both of which 

 tend to prevent the antiseptic qualities of the moss from 

 being counteracted, and the peat from being rendered 

 soluble. For the methods which have been suggested by 

 experience, for the improvement of both these valuable 

 composts, the agricultural reader, as well as the planter, is 

 referred to the notes, which may probably be found inte- 

 resting to both.'" 



There is one circumstance which deserves particular 

 attention in preparing this valuable compost. It is 

 observable in the southern as well as in the northern 

 division of the island, that peat-moss is found of very 



Note III. 



