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ABSORPTION AND FIXATION OF MANURE BY EARTHS. 
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and dimensions, and numberless Alisma echinocarpum. Farther on were herbaceous Melastomads, 
with rosy flowers, and the beautiful Cassia alata, profusely adorned with glorious flower-spikes of 
yellow. Beyond was the capital of Surinam, above which were visible the crests of many Palms, and 
immense trees of the white-flowered, magnolia-like, Mainmea americana.” What a delightful recollec¬ 
tion ! 
ABSORPTION AND FIXATION OF MANURE BY EARTHS. 
By J. TOWERS, Esq., C.M.H.S. 
H UIESE subjects have recently acquired peculiar interest in consequence of the facts disclosed in the 
IX Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society, vol. xi. part 1, particularly in the elaborate article of 
Professor Way, which describes the results of many decisive and luminous experiments. Manures in 
the fluid state have been greatly extolled ; and of late years we have seldom taken up a horticultural 
periodical without meeting with some observation or other, recommendatory of liquid manures. The 
practice, however, has been altogether empirical, grounded upon the assumption that fluids are more 
readily absorbed than solids by the roots of plants. The light of truth will, as it becomes diffused, 
banish error in theory and practice, and by the following detail of a few very simple experiments, I 
hope to elucidate the principles of the new theory—of which Mr. Way’s essay may be considered the 
basis—and at the same time enable any intelligent cultivator of garden or field to experiment for him¬ 
self, and thus to obtain results which must prove undeniably conclusive. 
All earths suited to the proper culture of good vegetables in general, come under the denomination 
of loams, which must be understood to comprise varying proportions of sand, clay, iron, and carbonate 
of lime (chalk)—sand and clay being the preponderating constituents. Loams absorb manures, and 
hold them fast, thus (while themselves being converted to soil) they prepare the decomposable matters 
that they have absorbed, and bring them into the condition of raw sap—a fluid which the plant can 
alone attract as its essential aliment. Sand, and that flue earth called peat or moor-soil, though 
suitable to the hair-rooted tribes, do not retain manures, and therefore are designated hungry, being 
incapable of sustaining the higher vegetable crops. These facts comprise the leading principles of the 
sublime theory which it is our object to render plain and comprehensible. 
The dark fluid which runs too much to waste from dung-hills and compost heaps, is fitted for the 
purpose of experiment; or, in lieu of it, a good substitute can be easily prepared by infusing a quart 
measure of horse-droppings that have been collected two or three months (and so far fermented as to 
be somewhat blackened), in a gallon of boiling, pure rain water. As dung in the state described, has 
acquired a portion of the peculiar product of decay called humus, two fluid drachms (equal to about a 
dessert spoonful) of strong liquor of pure ammonia, are to be added when the heat is much reduced. 
The whole should then be stirred repeatedly, and thus left to digest for twenty-four hours, wTien the 
ammonia will have united with the humus matter, and a deep brown liquid manure will be the result. 
It should be clearly understood that any kind of such fluid, however prepared, from the excrements of 
animals or of poultry, whether recently made and sweet, or in a state of decay and fetid, will answer 
equally well; but the foregoing preparation is recommended to enable the inquiring operator to “ begin 
at the beginning,” and thus to make himself acquainted with every individual process. When the mix¬ 
ture has remained undisturbed for some hours after the last stirring, the liquor should be strained 
through a cloth or flannel drainer, and kept in a bottle, or covered jug for future operations, which 
will be duly described after I have mentioned the tests or re-agents that are required to ascertain the 
several chemical changes effected. 
1. Lime-water, prepared by agitating cold water with excess of powdered fresh lime, in a closely 
stopped vessel, and after the deposition of the lime, pouring off the clear liquid, It is a curious fact 
that cold water dissolves more lime than hot water does, for a pint of the former is stated to take up 
eleven grains, whereas at 212 degrees, or the boiling point, “ only seven grains are retained in solu¬ 
tion.” A very small quantity of lime, if thoroughly well burnt, and fresh, will saturate a large mea¬ 
sure of water; but it is always prudent to employ it in some excess. 
2. Oxalate of Ammonia —a most delicate test for lime. 
3. Nitric acicl, an essential article in many chemical processes. 
4. Nitrate of Barytes, for discovering the presence of sulphuric acid. 
5. Nitrate of Silver, for the detection of muriatic acid, or its salts. 
The four last tests—of which a small quantity only will be required—can be purchased at a trifling 
