92 OXFORD SOCIETY. 



iiioro vital importance than that of manure. How be shall in 

 the best and cheapest manner accumnlate a large quantit}', every 

 year, sliuuld constantly be before his iniud. 



I need jjot remind you, gentlemen, that economy is, and 

 should be the watchword of the thrifty farmer; but nndi.'r uo 

 circunistances, is it better practised than in saving )ii:3 manures, 

 and by increasing them in quantity and quality in every possible 

 manner. It is Idle. to talk of purchasing gnano ai.'d superphos- 

 phate of lime, however valuable they may be in some circum- 

 stances. 'Die farmer of Oxford county will not In one case in 

 five receive back liis money paid out for such manure 5. The 

 success of tlie farmer consists cliielly in his being in every sense 

 ^ l^^oducer, and not a consumer. He must produce, as ii. were, 

 out of nothing. The leaves of the forest, the muck swanq), the 

 weed? in his garden, refuse straw, solid and liquid excrements 

 of animals, — everything that is good for nothing but manure, 

 should be converted into that substance. 



As the farmer becomes more intelligent, he will secure a 

 greater range ol" manures. In some cases, he will find pure 

 sand just wliat his land needs. In othcn* cases, clay will satisfy 

 the demand; while under othci- circunistances deep plowing will 

 be necessary. The intelligent and observing man will lind by 

 experience tliat lime or plaster is wanting. He will learn, too, 

 that though these articles may be valualjle they will not answer 

 alone. Lime alone will impoverish any soil, while in combina- 

 tion with otlicr substances it may be exceedingly valuable. The 

 intelligent farmer will look to the air as well as the earth, to 

 beat and cold, to fire and water, as instruments by which to in- 

 sure the rapid growtli of vegetation. 



1 would here suggest an idea for you)- future consideration, 

 on the propriety of thoroughly mixing your diifercnt kinds of 

 manure. The course adopted by most farmers is to draw out 

 from his largest heap and deposit it in the ground by itself. 

 The hog pen is next visited, and its contents occupy a narrow 

 strip of the corn field. The compost heap, the sink spout, and 

 chip manure, find a location in another direction. The result 

 is this: Tlic hog manure sbows a rank piece of corn — rank in 

 the blade, but I belie^-e, not resulting in so good a yield as is 

 usually anticipated. The chip and other poorer qualities of 



