313 
The process of burning renders the soil less com- 
pact, less tenacious and retentive of moisture ; and 
when properly applied, may convert a matter that 
was stiff, damp, and in consequence cold, into one 
powdery, dry, and warm ; and much more proper 
as a bed for vegetable life. 
The great objection made by speculative che- 
mists to paring and burning, is, that it destroys 
vegetable and animal matter, or the manure in the 
soil ; but in cases in which the texture of its earthy 
ingredients is permanently improved, there is more 
than a compensation for this temporary disadvan- 
tage. And in some soils where there is an excess of 
inert vegetable matter, the destruction of it must be 
beneficial ; and the carbonaceous matter remaining 
in the ashes may be more useful to the crop than 
the vegetable fibre, from which it was produced. 
1 have examined by a chemical analysis, three 
specimens of ashes, from different lands that had 
undergone paring and burning. The first was a 
quantity sent to the Board by Mr. Boys of Bell- 
hanger, in Kent, whose treatise on paring and 
burning has been published. They were from a 
chalk soil, and 200 grains contained 
SO Carbonate of lime. 
11 Gypsum. 
9 Charcoal. 
15 Oxide of iron. 
3 Saline matter. 
Sulphate of potash. 
Muriate of magnesia, with a minute 
quantity of vegetable alkali. 
The remainder alumina and silica. 
