12 
ON BURNING WEEDS AND OTHER RUBBISH. 
the year 1826, I made the site about one sixth burnt soil, and this 
gave me every satisfaction as to improvement, from its producing a 
crop. But by way of correcting, I could not perceive the least symp¬ 
toms, nor was there scarcely a particle of the ashes to be found in it 
at the end of twelve months. I afterwards reversed the two matters, 
but still found the original to be troublesome, which induced me to 
leave it out altogether. But this part must be left to the judgment 
of the gardener or person employed, according to the nature of his 
soil. I wish to be understood, not only as treating upon it for cor¬ 
recting, but as one of the best improvements that can be used, and 
hence the practice of it is of more importance. I have tried it in 
many instances instead of dung, and never found it to fail. The ad¬ 
vantage in quality over our clay, when burned, so far as I am able to 
judge from my own experience, is in a six fold degree. I have some 
that has borne several good crops of vegetables without any improve¬ 
ment, and it seems little exhausted. I made one plot eighteen months 
back, and immediately sowed it with onions which did well. In 
autumn, after I had got them off, I planted it with cauliflowers, cab¬ 
bage and lettuce, to stand through the winter, all of which I think 
were as early and as good as could be produced in a similar situation. 
The cabbage I commenced cutting in the beginning of April, and 
the cauliflowers in the middle of the same month, not having the least 
protection during any part of winter; whereas had I planted the 
latter on the original soil in the same situation, though the winter 
was so favourable, they would have perished completely from cold 
and wet. Any kind of roots such as potatoes, turnips, &c , particu¬ 
larly radishes, grown in the vegetable ashes, will be found superior 
in flavour to what are grown in most other sorts of soil. Health 
being one of the greatest blessings bestowed upon us in this world, it 
should be carefully preserved. Now I scarcely know any thing more 
noxious about premises than a heap of vegetable matter, lying for 
months in a state of fermentation; it impregnates the atmosphere, and 
the air in a certain degree becomes impure all round. I object to the 
fermentation of vegetable matter for two reasons. First, that before 
it becomes thoroughly decayed, and fit for use, it is one of the finest 
nurseries for the breed of all kinds of insects, which ought to be 
guarded against. And Secondly, when thoroughly decayed, (they 
mav be an improvement) but they only tend to fill the gardens with 
weeds which are completely obviated by my system. With regard 
to the burning of clav, as a corrector, it is certainlv the best method 
that can be recommended. Its good or bad qualities, in a great 
measure, depend on its nature before it is burned, and as I am a com- 
