356 
Nitrification of the Soil. 
into three equal parts : tlie first, consisting of farm manure, was 
consolidated in the usual manner by the feet of the stock, and 
regularly moistened with urine : the second was not trampled, 
but regularly moistened with urine, like the first ; the third part 
was disposed and treated exactly like the second, except that each 
layer of manure was covered over with a light layer of slaked 
lime, in the proportion of two per cent, of the weight of the 
manure. The three heaps of manure remained in the aforesaid 
condition for three months. The piece of ground chosen for the 
experiment, that is, for the trial of the relative values of these 
manures, was clayey and of uniform quality : it measured a 
hectare (2^ acres), and was divided into three equal parts ; to 
each part was assigned the same quantity of manure which was 
carted on to the ground in the beginning of May, at the rate of 
32 tons per acre. On the same day these three plots were sown 
alike with summer rape. 
The following are the results obtained during four years from 
these three lots : — From the first lot — farm-manure kept under 
cover, compressed and watered with urine, but not mixed with 
lime, accoi'ding to the usual farm practice ; and from the second 
lot — farm-manure watered with urine, not heaped up, produced the 
same result, viz.: — 1859, summer rape, satisfactory crop; 1860, 
Australian wheat, fine crop ; 1861, clover, two abundant cuttings ; 
18G2, clover (cut once for an experiment), feeble vegetation. 
The third lot — farm-manure Avatcred with urine, not compressed, 
mixed with two per cent, of slaked lime, produced the following 
results : — 1859, summer rape, vigorous growth maintained till 
the crop was ripe ; 1860, Australian wheat, incomparably superior 
to the two neighbouring lots ; 1861, clover, two crops, splendid ; 
1862, clover (cut once for a trial), growth continues little inferior 
to that of 1861. 
The increase of produce obtained from the third lot may be 
valued at from 10 to 12 per cent, above that obtained from the 
other lots. This estimate is the result of carefully weighing the 
respective crops. We may then conclude from this experiment, 
that on clay soils recourse may be had to the easy and economical 
process of nitrification : that the effect of this process is to give 
to the manure a more energetic and durable action is evidenced 
by an increase in the produce of from 10 to 12 per cent. 
What efforts have been made to produce artificial nitre-beds to 
furnish saltpetre for the manufacture of gunpowder ! The time 
is come for agriculturists also to have their nitre-beds, not for the 
supply of destructive agents, but of a fertiliser which brings in 
its train abundance and prosperity. 
Britannia Farm, Ghistelles, Ostend. 
Note. — M. Venvinkeroge, a successful reclaimer of land at 
