72 [Senate 



the soil, Indian corn, potatoes, and the grain crops generally, are 

 of this classj the two first particularly. The time when corn and 

 potatoes require the most nutriment, is at the time when the ears and 

 tubers are forming; and when ro.anures but partially fermented, or used 

 fresh from the yard or stable, are applied, the decomposition is com- 

 paratively gradual, and the supply greatest when most needed. I 

 cannot recommend the application of manures of any kind directly to 

 grain crops, as it has a tendency to give straw at the expense of the 

 grain, and wheat so manured, is far more apt to suffer from mildew 

 or rust, than when the manure, by application to other and previous 

 crops, has become perfectly incorporated with the soil. In this state, 

 that rapid growth, which is the result of first fermentation, is avoided 

 by the wheat plant; and the substances necessary to perfect the berry 

 are already prepared and within reach of the growing or maturing 

 plant. 



Dung varies much in its quality, not only from the perfection or 

 imperfection of the fermentation to which it is subjected, but also 

 Quality ^^°™ ^^® animals producing it, and the food which animals re- 

 ofDung. ceive. The richest and most effective manure we have ever 

 used, was that from the hog yard, and produced by fattening hogs. 

 That from cattle, fed on corn meal and oil cake, will be little inferior; 

 and either will be found 100 per cent better than ordinary farm yard 

 manure. The reason of this is very plain. Such animals are fed 

 with substances abounding in the materials most needed by plants, 

 with very little admixture of useless matter, and the comparatively 

 small quantities of animal matter and salts added, rather contribute 

 than detract from its efficacy. The dung of sheep is more valuable 

 than that of horses or cattle not fattening, as the materials are more 

 perfectly assimilated or mixed in mastication, and more fully decom- 

 posed. 



Next to farm yard manures, to keep up the fertility of his lands, 

 the farmer may most certainly rely on green crops, either fed off up- 

 Q on the land, or turned under by the plow, and there allowed to 



Crops, ferment and decompose. For a plant to enrich exhausted 

 soils, affording as it does both top and roots to a large extent, there 

 is no plant equal to clover; and particularly where it is necessary or 

 desirable to have the green crop fed off by animals. I prefer letting 

 the clover grow until nearly or quite in blossom, and then turning 

 sheep upon it. They will eat much of it and fatten rapidly; but they 



