The Sun.
London, England, 1805-03-04 00:00:00

AGRICULTURE.

DR. PI 2RSON, in a recent Analysis of Peat, or
Turf Ashes, has found that they (the red ashes more
especially) consist alinost wholly orsulp!oire of iron,
cr.mmonly called green vitriol of iron; mixed with
' a very minute proportion of silicious earth, and at
lime united either to sulphuric acid, or in carbonic
acid ; and to the sulphate-of iron he ataibutes the
fructifying properties of these .ashes. This posi-
tion is no less, interesting,, than novel, as metallic
salts and metallic oxides in
.general, and salts and
oxides ofiron in particular, which have hitherto been
considered as poisonous to vegetation, are now re.
commended as manures. The effeits produced. by
burnt 'earth and ashes from paring and burning,
have heretofore been ascribed to alkaline or neutral.
,
salts ; but. Dr. PI E !MN'S experiments prove that.
they do not possess either in any material (viand-
ties, and that oxide of iron is their distinguishing
property. The usual quantities of these ashes
spread on land is about so bushels, or 2250 pounds
averdupoite, per acre,or nearly seven and an half oz.
*per square yard. The crops of artificial grasses are
often trebled by the use of this manure,' and oats
and barley are mnch benefited, by it.
The Board of Agriculture, with a view to en-
courage the cultivation of Spring Wheat, have of..
fered'a preiniutn of so guineas for the greatest num.
bet of acres- sown this spring, not less than twenty;
30 guineas for the next greatest number, and 20
tar the third, or pieces of plate of equal value.—
The true Spring Wheat oriy be sown with success
so late as the end of April, and has been known to
escape the mildew, and yield better than the Au.
tumnal Wheats.' '

A calf. of the Suffolk breed, twenty-six weeks
old, fatted by Mr. Grice, of Dcngie, in that coun_
ty, was killed On Wctinpsday ae'onight by Richard
Maskell, of Bradwell, which weighed 47' stone
glb.
,the loose fat 291 b. and the caul Lit i sib.
It is 'supposed to have been the mo,t extraordinary
animal ever seen, the flesh being of a superior white..
mess and flavour.

SAturday evenings, about six o'clock, the' back
garret of Mr. Eliot's house, It.ithbone.plaee, was
discovered .to be on fire. the flames Were, how.
ever, soon extinguished ; but had it not been for a
timely discovery much mischief would probably have
ensued to the neighboAithond, as' the fire had nearly,
extended to the rafters of the bowie.

A most daring robbery was attempted to be com.
mitted on Monday evening last, between six and
seven o'clOck, .only about a mile beyond Vanxhall'
Turnpike, by a footpad, accompanied by two high.
waymen. As Mr. Field and another Gentleman
were returning from town. to Kingston,. in a• one.
horse chaise, they were stopped by a footpad, who
presenterf, a pistol, d,entanding their money, at the
same time calling out to two Gentlemen: on horseback
to come to him, whom he took to be his friends the,
highwaymen, they being fortunately mounted on the
same coloured horses, a white and a dark brown ;
by the time he had discovered.his.nthtake, his real
friends, the highwaymen,arrivedibeing close behind,.
but they seeing they had toomong a party to con.
tend with, turned their horses and rode full speed
towards town, leaving the footpad to shift for him.
self; he being pursued by one of the Gentlemen who
were in the-chaise, jumped over a paling and was
lost in the adjacent meadows.

A robbery was committed on the same road, the
Tuesday before, neitr the tl erns, on Wimbledon
COnimun, on thrt,rGentleinto returning to town in
• a post chaise. These frequent robberies round the
•Metropoli% thew of what great utility a horse pa.
trole will be on the, rollati.',

Last Daj's Dra,w;#4,.--The prize of rive Thou.
sand Pounds, No. 19.408, "8 "'ld in "c Half,
one Eighth, and flix Sixteenth Shares, at the old
establiblied Offices of liorioes and, Co. No. 14.9,
Qxford.street, and No. 4.4, Ss. Jainrs's.street
where the. Tickets and Shares of the New Lottery
will be on sale in a few days,

On
Sat►►rdsy the late Lottery finished drawing,
nd TickrrA anct Shares for the spring L,:►ttrry will
he ready for delivery:in two,or three days. For the
Scheme, see another part of our Paper.