224 



Manurincj Effects of Burned Clay. 



bred sire ; and he told me that, practically, he should prefer a 

 cow of no breed, to an indifferent pure-bred cow, for a good 

 thorough-bred bull. I'he principle, however, has never been so 

 thoroughly carried out as in the above experiments at La Char- 

 moise, for the communication of which I am indebted to 

 Mr. Rives, the late diplomatic representative at Paris of the 

 United States. Besides their practical value, I cannot but think 

 they throw some little light on one of the most mysterious of all 

 physiological problems — the renewal of the features of parents 

 in the reproduction of animals. 



Ph. Plsey. 



XVII. — 0)1 the Subsequent Manuring Effects of Burned Clay, 

 By J. J. Mechi. 



To Mr. Pusey. 



Dear Sir — On the 10th of October, 1846, I made a communi- 

 cation to our Society on the subject of burned clay (vol. vii. p. 

 299). I therein stated that I had burned 400 cubic yards per 

 acre on a poor plastic yellow clay, that 250 loads or yards per 

 acre had been removed to other fields, and that the remaining- 

 150 yards per acre were spread v/here burned. The field is 

 opposite my residence, and, years having elapsed, it may be 

 interesting to deduce the results after so long a period. The 

 field, before burning, was a poor 2-years ryegrass lea, and my 

 neighbours seriously predicted that by removing 250 yards per 

 acre of the top soil I should ruin the field. Fortunately, antici- 

 pating such objection, and desirous to arrive at comparative 

 results, I left about half an acre of the field undisturbed. It has 

 been, since, all equally treated, viz. oats sown dov/n with grass- 

 seeds, and is still in grass : so far from the burning and removal 

 of so much soil being injurious, in every crop and to this very day 

 the worst portion of the field is that which was unburned and 

 unpillaged. The fact is interesting and encouraging to earth- 

 burners of strong clays. In every case in v^^hich I have used 

 burned earth (I mean poor cold argillaceous subsoil clay, free 

 from organic matter), I have during the last 7 years had reason 

 to be satisfied with its advantages, which are still obvious. 



I am, dear Sir, yours truly, 



J. J. Mechi. 



Tiptree Hall, Kelvedon, Essex, 

 May 30, 1853. 



