tie, that it may take it up and incorporate it into its own tissues and 

 grow thereby; and the element acting injuriously upon the delicate 

 fibres and tissues of the tender plant, must be removed, or, which is 

 the more practical way "jr the farmer, must be changed in its character ; 

 and thus either rendered harmless, by being made inactive, or, which is 

 better, beneficial, by furnishing a proper pabulum for the growing plant. 

 But it may be said, and very properly, this will require a good deal of 

 knowledge. We must know not only the constitution of a health j'' plant, 

 but we must know the constitution of the diseased or unhealthy plant ; 

 and we must know whether these materials are, or are not in the soil, 

 and how and by what means they can be supplied if they are wanting. 

 Very true ; no employment requires more science than farming. No 

 knowledge of nature or her laws, comes amiss to the farmer any more 

 than to the physician. The farmer should be the last mc^n to despise 

 learning, being the very one Avho the most needs it. 



To enable the farmer to judge of the merits of the principles which 

 we have been advocating, and also to bring more fully and evidently 

 before his eye, and thus present to his mind these truths, we have 

 taken great pains to compile the following Table from the most reliable 

 sources, showing at a glance, the inorganic composition of most of the 

 crops cultivated by our agriculturists, and Ihe relative proportion of each 

 of the ingredients. We have given, at the head of each crop, the basis 

 of our calculation, whether per ton, or per acre, the number of bushels 

 and their weight, so that any one can calculate for his own field. 



It is not to be supposed that the Table is wholly without imperfection, 

 yet it is hoped that it is substantially correct and reliable. The constit- 

 uent eleme.its are given in pounds and decimals of a pound, and in the 

 last column is the total, removed by a ton, or from an acre, as the case 

 may be. The different varieties of the same kind of grain would furnish 

 a difference m the constituents to some little extent, but Ave have given 

 the analysis of the most common varieties. 



It is hoped that the Table will be found of much value for reference by 

 the fctrmer, in making his estimates of what his soil needs, and how 

 much, for any crop which he designs to produce. It can but be of use 

 to him, if it guards him against exhausting his fields by constant crop- 

 ping, without replenishing the materials vrhich the crops severally remove. 

 Let him remember that it is seldom that any cultivated field is so rich in 

 all the essential elements of crops, as to be beyond danger of exhaustion. 



