3IO TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



Hall — I should leave them until spring, so as to have more wood to 

 work upon in case of partial winter-killing, 



AT THE OCTOBER MEETING 



The essayist for the day, Prof. Barler, read the following: 



MANURES. 



Anything that promotes the growth of plants, when applied to the 

 soil, is called manure. 



It may be a vegetable, animal, or mineral substance. 



To know what will promote the growth of a plant, we must study 

 the plant itself, and ascertain, if possible, what are the constituent ele- 

 ments of plants, organic and inorganic. 



Organic elements are the portions that pass off in the air when 

 burned. The joarts that remain are called ashes, and constitute the inor- 

 ganic elements. 



The organic elements are oxygen, hydrogen, carbon, and nitrogen. 



The inorganic elements are soda, potash, lime, silica, iron, sulphuric 

 and phosphoric acids, etc. 



These elements are the appropriate food for plants, and if wanting in 

 the soil, must be supplied, if we expect the best results. 



Not all the elements are found in all plants, nor in the same propor- 

 tions. 



For example : in grains, phosphoric acid predominates ; in root crops, 

 potash abounds; and in grasses, fruit and forest trees, lime is a most 

 important element. 



These are foundational truths, which every tiller of the soil must 

 know, in order to the judicious manuring of land. 



It would be wholly out of place, on this occasion, to enter, at length, 

 the discussion of this subject. 



To offer two or three practical hints is all that will be attempted. 



As before stated, we have vegetable, animal, and mineral manures — all 

 of them valuable, but not equally so, to all kinds of soil. 



Where a soil is wanting in organic matter, vegetable manures are 

 demanded. Of these, clover is, probably, the best in this part of the country. 



The broad leaves of the clover draw from the air an immense amount 

 of fertility in the shape of carbon, amonia, and nitric acid, which, when 

 buried beneath the soil, yield up their stores of wealth in most grateful 

 style. While the leaves are thus active, the long, heavy, searching roots 

 are not idle, but are plowing the subsoil far and wide, compelling it to 

 give up those mineral substances which are so effective in the perfecting 

 of plant life. 



Of animal manures, the stable furnishes the standard article — more 

 valuable, powerful, and and lasting than any vegetable substances. 



We have not time nor patience to apostrophize in regard to the prac- 

 tice of a class of farmers who are so eternally busy that they never get 

 time to save and apply these elements of fertility to their soil. We have 

 heard some hard stories about them, which we do not now care to repeat. 



