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In this State lime is abundant, and would, no doubt, prove a highly beneiicial 

 manure. 



To guard against worms and grubs in a wheat soil, a mixture of slacked lime 

 and ashes, at the rate of from three to eiglit bushels to the aci-e, harrowed in at 

 the time of sowing, is the best preventive, and will act at the same time as a 

 valuable manure. 



Gypsum and marl are very extensively used in other States; and numerous 

 examples are cited by agricultural writers in proof of their fertility. The renova- 

 tion of exhausted and worn out lands by the use of marl, is most astonishing. 

 From a farm in New Jersey, which raised at the extent ten or twelve bushels per 

 acre, by the continued use of marl, were gathered sixty-three bushels of shelled 

 corn per acre. Lime is extensively used in Pennsylvania, and with great advan- 

 tage. Neither gypsum nor marl, to my hnowledge, has been discovered in 

 Wisconsin. 



There is one method, however, of increasing the quantity of manures upon a 

 farm, which should in no case be neglected. This is by forming composts. If 

 dung, or any animal or vegetable substance, be mixed with the earth, the latter 

 will imbibe a portion of the decomposing matter, and become itself fitted to be 

 used as a manure. 



There should be, at least, one heap of this kind upon every farm, as a 

 general receptacle for all substances capable of being fermented, which may 

 from time to time be procured. Urine, soapsuds, and the like, poured upon such 

 a heap, will be found to be very beneficial. The whole should be thoroughly 

 turned over several times, so as to mix the materials together, and promote fer- 

 mentation. The management of composts of all kinds is exceedingly easy. The 

 fact, that every sort of putrescent refuse may be mixed with earthy substances — 

 that lime acts beneficially in fermenting the mass — that frequent turning mixes 

 the substances together, and produces the action required, are sufficient to guide 

 the farmer in all cases, in this simple but very important branch of farming 

 economy. 



In new countries when the soil is fertile, and vegetation rank, the preparation 

 and application of manures is almost entirely neglected. The great difiiculty with 

 many farmers seem to be, how to get rid of their stable manures. Thousands of 

 straw stacks are suffered to waste. But there is no branch of agriculture so much 

 entitled to the consideration of the farmer as the subject of manures. They are 

 the food of plants. Our farmers have not the time and ability to make experi- 

 ments. They follow the beaten track. But if we had a model farm connected 

 with a scientific institution, on v.-hich could be expended and exhibited the recent 

 discoveries of agricultural chemistry, its benefits v.-ould be gradually felt on every 

 farm in the State. 



