The Life of Sir Humphry Davy, Bart. LL.D., Volume 1 (of 2)Paris, John Ayrton
Science
The Life of Sir Humphry Davy, Bart. LL.D., Volume 1 (of 2)
Paris, John Ayrton
Chemists -- England -- Biography; Davy, Humphry, Sir, 1778-1829
He concludes with some valuable scientific observations upon
the process of _fallowing_, by which he attempts to correct
the prejudices which have existed with regard to its benefits.
He points out, on the other hand, the great advantages of the
convertible system of husbandry, by which the whole of the manure
is employed; and those parts of it which are not fitted for one
crop, remain as nourishment for another. These views he illustrates
by a reference to the course of crops adopted by Mr. Coke, in which
"the turnip is the first in the order of succession; and this crop
is manured with recent dung, which immediately affords sufficient
soluble matter for its nourishment; and the heat produced in
fermentation assists the germination of the seed and the growth
of the plant. After turnips, barley with grass seeds is sown; and
the land having been little exhausted by the turnip crop, affords
the soluble parts of the decomposing manure to the grain. The
grasses, rye-grass, and clover remain, which derive a small part
only of their organized matter from the soil, and probably consume
the gypsum in the manure which would be useless to other crops;
these plants likewise, by their large system of leaves, absorb a
considerable quantity of nourishment from the atmosphere; and when
ploughed in at the end of two years, the decay of their roots and
leaves affords manure for the wheat crop; and at this period of the
course, the woody fibre of the farm-yard manure, which contains
the phosphate of lime and the other difficultly soluble parts, is
broken down; and as soon as the most exhausting crop is taken,
recent manure is again supplied."
At the end of his system is added an Appendix, containing "An
Account of the results of Experiments on the produce and nutritive
qualities of the Grasses and other plants used as the food of
animals; instituted by John Duke of Bedford." But as these
experiments do not admit either of abridgement or analysis, the
reader must refer to the original source for information.
I shall conclude this long, and, I fear, somewhat tedious review,
with the animated appeal so earnestly addressed by the illustrious
author to the philosophical readers of his work.
"I trust that the enquiry will be pursued by others; and that in
proportion as chemical philosophy advances towards perfection, it
will afford new aids to agriculture: there are sufficient motives
connected both with pleasure and profit, to encourage ingenious
men to pursue this new path of investigation. Science cannot long
be despised by any persons as the mere speculation of theorists,
but must soon be considered by all ranks of men in its true point
of view, as the refinement of common sense guided by experience,
gradually substituting sound and rational principles for vague
popular prejudices.
"The soil offers inexhaustible resources, which, when properly
appreciated and employed, must increase our wealth, our population,
and our physical strength.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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