1V8 



tnuch more profitable to employ the land in growing green crops, than 

 to allow it to remain idle in fallow. Land which has been impover- 

 ished by frequent cropping, is much improved by being well fallowed' 

 as the soil being frequently stirred up and exposed to the atmosphere, 

 becomes again rich in soluble phosphates and silicates ; these substan- 

 ces being dissolved by the action of the elements. 



Liebig says that "fallow in its most extended sense, means that period 

 of culture, during which soil is exposed to the action of the weather, for 

 the purpose of enriching it in certain soluble ingredients. 



Fallowing should not be adopted as a system, but when land is fal- 

 lowed it ought to be plowed deep and made perfectly free from weeds, 

 and it should receive manure suited to the growth of wheat, as this 

 t:rop almost universally succeeds fallow. 



Manuring is the best method of restoring the fertility of a soil, and 

 therefore should receive the greatest attention. By examining the 

 composition of plants and the ingredients of manures, the farmer will 

 be enabled to apply those kinds of manure which are best suited to 

 forward the growth of each particular crop. 



THE FLAX PLANT. 



Flax is extensively cultivated in several parts of America, and no 

 doubt its culture will soon be considerably increased. It is a most val- 

 uable plant both in an agricultural and a commercial point of view, and 

 happy it would be for this country if flax could entirely supersede the 

 cotton plant. I quote the following analysis of the flax plant and also 

 of its ashes from Sir Robert Kane's celebrated work — The Industrial 

 Resources of Ireland. 



Analysis of the Flax Plant. 



Carbon, 38.72 



Hydrogen, V.33 



Nitrogen, _ 56 



Oxygen, 48.39 



Ash, 5.00 



100.00 

 The following is an analysis of the ashes of the flax plant : 



