8. The soiled or damaged locks of wool, or trimmings of sheep, deserve to be more generally known as a fertilizing article: they are at present chiefly used in the county of Surrey, for ameliorating the hop-grounds.
9. Woollen rags are an excellent manure; but, instead of being collected in a heap, similar to a dung-hill, they ought to be cut into small pieces in a paper-mill; strewed by hand; and ploughed in, three months before wheat or barley is commonly sown: the usual quantity is from six to ten cwt. per acre; though, in the county of Kent, a ton weight is spread on each acre every third year, for hops. On account of retaining their moisture, such rags are eminently adapted to dry, gravelly, or chalky soils; the fertility of which will thus be considerably increased, especially during dry seasons. The only obstacle to their more general adoption, appears to be the apprehension entertained by many farmers, of catching the small-pox by chopping and scattering the rags; but, since the virulence of that disorder may be subdued by inoculation, those fears are certainly groundless.
10. Insects. See p. 20, of the present volume.
II. Vegetable Manures are either whole plants, or parts of vegetables, together with their ashes, &c. which are sometimes ploughed in, while growing, and are afterwards burnt, or otherwise decomposed.
1. Wheat-straw, according to Mr. Bordley, is a very valuable article; but it ought to be ploughed in, "when it is muck-wet from soaking rains that have softened it;" for, if it be turned into the ground under less favourable circumstances, it is seldom of any advantage.
2. Weeds, such as dock-roots, cabbage-stalks, the roots of couch-grass, &c. are of great service: hence Dr. Darwin pertinently remarks, that they should not be improvidently thrown into the highway, or consumed by fire, as too frequently happens: on the contrary, if laid on the ground in heaps, occasionally turned over, and covered with soil, they will inevitably perish, and speedily ferment, on account of the sugar and mucilage which they contain. The decomposition of weeds is still more effectually accelerated, on adding quick or newly-burnt lime, by which they are rapidly converted into a most valuable manure. For this purpose, Mr. Henry Browne, an ingenious chemist of Derby, directs a layer of green vegetable matter to be formed, about one foot in thickness, on which a very thin stratum of pulverized lime is to be scattered; and such alternate layers are to be continued till the pile is of a sufficient height. When these materials have lain together for a few hours, a dissolution of parts will commence; and, in order to prevent the inflammation of the whole mass, a few sods, or a small portion of fresh vegetable matter, ought to be added. In the course of twenty-four hours, the process will be complete, when a quantity of excellent ashes will be ready to be laid on the land. Weeds and vegetables of every description, if used green, will answer the same purpose, and thus be productive of double advantage to the farmer; because they may not only be collected at a small expence, but
