A dictionary of chemistry, on the basis of Mr. Nicholson's: in which the principles of the science are investigated anew, and its applications to the phenomena of nature, medicine, mineralogy, agriculture, and manufactures, detailed (Volume 2).

  • Ure, Andrew, 1778-1857.
Date:
1821
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A dictionary of chemistry, on the basis of Mr. Nicholson's: in which the principles of the science are investigated anew, and its applications to the phenomena of nature, medicine, mineralogy, agriculture, and manufactures, detailed (Volume 2). Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    they had fermented. At that time, he sup- cess as a manure, contains a large quantity posed that fermentation was necessary to of mucilage, some albuminous matter, and a prepare the food of plants; but he after- small quantity of oil. This manure should wards found, that the deleterious effect of be used recent, and kept as dry as possible the recent vegetable solutions, was owing before it is applied. It forms an excellent to their being too concentrated; in conse- dressing for turnip crops; and is most eco- quence of which the vegetable organs were nomically applied by being thrown into the probably clogged with solid matter, and the soil ai the same time with the seed. Who- transpiration by the leaves prevented. In the beginning of June, in the next year, be used solutions of the same substances, but so much diluted, that there was about only one two-hundredth part of solid vegetable or animal matter in the solutions. Plants of mint grew luxuriantly in all these solutions; but least so in that of the astringent matter, ever wishes to see this practice in its high- est degree of perfection, should attend Mr. Coke's annual sheep-shearing, atHolkham. Sea-weeds, consisting of different species of fuci, algx, and confervx, are much used as a manure on the sea coasts of Britain and Ireland. This manure is transient in its effects, and does not last tor niore than a He watered some spots of grass in a garden single crop, which is easily accounted for with the different solutions separately, and a spot with common water: the grass wa- tered with solutions of jelly, sugar, and mucilage, grew most vigorously; and that watered with the solution of the tanning principle grew better than that watered with common water. Vegetable and animal substances deposi- fibrous matter. from the large quantity of water, or the ele- ments of water, it contains. Jt decays with- out producing heat when exposed to the at- mosphere, and seems, as it were, to melt down and dissolve away. He has seen large heaps entirely destroyed in less than two years, nothing remaining but a little black ted in the soil, as is shown by universal ex perience, are consumed during the process of vegetation ; and they can only nourish the plant by affording solid matters capable of being dissolved by water, or gaseous sub- stances capable of being absorbed by the The best farmers in the west of England use it as fresh as it can be procured; and the practical results of this mode of apply- ing it are exactly conformable to the theory of its operation. When straw is made to ferment, it be- fluids in the leaves of vegetables; but such comes a more manageable manure; but there parts of them as are rendered gaseous, and is likewise, on the whole, a great loss of nu- that pass into the atmosphere, must produce tritive matter. More manure is perhaps sup- a comparatively small effect, for gases soon plied for a single crop ; but the land is less become diffused through the ma?s of the improved than it would be, supposing the surrounding air. The great object in the ap- whole of the vegetable matter could be plication of manure, should be to make it finely divided and mixed with the soil, afford as much soluble matter as possible to Lord Meadovvbank states, that one part the roots of the plant; and that in a slow of dung is sufficient to bring three or four and gradual manner, so that it may be en- parts of peat into a state in which it is fitted tirely consumed in forming its sap and or- to be applied to land; but of course the eanized parts. quantity must vary according to the nature Whenever manures consist principally of of the dung and of the peat. In cases in matter soluble in water, it is evident that which some living vegetables are mixed their fermentation or putrefaction should be with the peat, the fermentation will be more prevented as much as possible; and the only readily effected cases in which these processes can be use- Manures, from animal substances, in gen- ful, are when the manure consists principal- eral, require no chemical preparation to fit ly of vegetable or animal fibre. The circum stances necessaryforthe putrefaction of ani- mal substances, are similar to those required for the fermentation of vegetable substan- ces ; atemperature above the freezing point, the presence of water, and the presence of oxygen, at least in the first stage of the pro- cess- To prevent manures from decomposing, them for the soil. The great object of the farmer is to blend them with the earthy con- stituents in a proper state of division, and to prevent their too rapid decomposition. Fish forms a powerful manure, in what- ever state it is applied ; but it cannot be ploughed in too fresh, though the quantity should be limited. Mr Young records an experiment, in which herrings spread over they should be preserved dry, defended a field, and ploughed in for wheat, produced from the contact of air, and kept as cool as so rank a crop, that it was entirely laid be- possible. f°re harvest. All green succulent plants contain saccha- Bunes are much used as a manure in the rine or mucilaginous matter, with woody neighbourhood of London. After being fibre, and readily ferment. They cannot, broken, and boiled for grease, they are sold therefore, if intended for manure, be used to the farmer. The more divided they are, too soon after their death. the more powerful are their effects. The Rape-cake, which is used with great sue- expense of grinding them in a mill would