MANURES. 
44 
some of these substances, is to buy ammonia almost at 
apothecary’s price. These practices will be followed, 
therefore, only by those who place the crop and its 
value upon ammonia. This is a limited and narrow 
view. The true and farmer-like, as well as the most 
scientific and natural mode of preserving the ammonia 
of urine, is to fill your yards and barn cellars with 
ptenty of mould; by which I mean truly decayed and 
decaying vegetable matter, as well as loam. There is 
no mode more effectual, no mode more economical. 
Consider now for a moment, how mould formed and 
forming, and ammonia act. Have I not said, again 
and again, that ammonia hastens decay ? that it 
makes mould more easily dissolved ? and cooks the 
food of plants ? That action having occurred during 
its progress, acids were formed. The ammonia unites 
with them, loses its burning properties, and becomes 
fixed. The acids having been satisfied, the ammonia 
is actually imbibed and retained by mould. 
It does not drink it in like a sponge, but the mould 
forms a peculiar chemical compound with ammonia. 
This peculiar compound, while it does not render the 
mould an easily-dissolved matter, yet holds ammonia 
by so feeble a force, that it easily yields to the power 
of growing plants. It gives up the stored ammonia 
at the place where, and the time when, it is most 
wanted. If you remember these actions of mould and 
ammonia, it will be as plain as day, that what we 
have said of the inexpediency and expense of vats, 
and tanks, and urine carts, must not only be true, but 
is confirmed by the experience of a host of hard¬ 
working, thinking, practical men. In connection with 
urine, the dung of birds, for instance, domestic fowls 
of all kinds, and pigeons, may be here mentioned. 
These animals discharge their solids, and what we may 
term their liquids, together. Their urea comes out 
combined with, or forming part of their dung. Now 
reflecting a moment on the nature of their food, 
strongly nitrogenous, being seeds, grains, &c., or ani* 
