74 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Now, in all I have written I have not answered the question — Is 

 it best to decompose manure out of the soil, or in it ? I have simply 

 presented some of the arguments pro and eon. The special circum- 

 stances of a market gardener would seem to indicate that he can 

 best use rotted manure, while it might be equalh' wise for a farmer 

 on a light, loose soQ to apply it in a fresh state. At the same time 

 no exact experimental work has been done to determine the relative 

 profits from the use of stable manures in the two conditions. It is 

 a somewhat complicated question, aud one that demands further 

 investigation. 



The matter of top dressing as compared with working manure 

 into the soil, is one of importance. And here we cannot appeal to 

 definite results to establish the correctness of either method of 

 practice. I have not the slightest doubt but that so far as theo- 

 retical arguments are concerned, they are strongl}' against top 

 dressing. This is especiall3' true if horse manure be the one used. 

 By putting fresh manure on the surface of the land we lose the good 

 efifect that would result from its decomposition in the soil, we stand 

 in danger of a certain amount of loss of manurial value, and when 

 the manure is in a coarse, lumpy condition, as it is likeh' to be 

 when not rotted, we get a poor distribution and slow returns. Do 

 not say that it costs something to mix manure with the soil. Culti- 

 vation pays for itself in the greater utilization of the natural fertility 

 of your fields. 



Nevertheless, in spite of the weight of evidence furnished by 

 theory, we are not prepared to assert that top dressing is always 

 less profitable than some other method of applying manure. We 

 are waiting for accurate facts. 



It is not claimed that this paper approaches an\'thing like com- 

 pleteness as a presentation of the facts bearing upon the manuring 

 of land. It does contain facts enough, when heeded, to greatly 

 improve the condition aud profits of Maine agriculture. 



