MANUKES. 37 



manure, *and such manure as we can make about our buildings ; 

 there is no mistake about that. We must depend upon that, and 

 to the utmost extent of our ability increase that and apply it to 

 our ground. Yet, at the saine time, as our friend Mr. Howard 

 saj^s, we may use commercial manures. How ? In what way ? 

 It strikes me that we should use them as a means of increasing the 

 barn-yard manure. For instance, I go and buy a farm somewhat 

 run down. I don't cut much hay and cannot keep many cattle, 

 and therefore, for the time being, I have either to starve along or 

 take some other course. We all know that to go to a city and 

 buy manure and haul it five or six miles won't pay. We can get 

 our manure more cheaply than that. What am I to do ? I must 

 scrape together and save all I can about my barn-yard, privy and 

 hog-pen, and compost all I can, and go into the muck swamp and 

 haul up all I can, and scrape the edges of the streets and gather 

 together what I can, and compost it, and do the utmost possible 

 in all these directions ; but at the same time,- I believe it will 

 pay, — I know it will, for I have tried it, and the best knowledge 

 is what we get from experience, — to go and buy some good super- 

 phosphate. I know there is a good deal that is not worth much, 

 that will hardly pay for transportation ; but we have an article of 

 superphosphate made in the State of Maine that is worth all we 

 pay for it. I believe it, because I have tried it, and tried it care- 

 fully. 



Now, use that superphosphate. Not as a base ; I would not do 



that, because I believe barn-yard manure is the base ; our friend 

 here is right about that ; but as a means of increasing the amount 

 of barn-yard manure. Use your superphosphate to increase your 

 crop of hay, your crop of corn, your crop of turnips, or anything 

 else, so that you may be able to keep more stock on your farm, 

 more hogs in your stye, more hens about your poultry yard, and 

 thus increase your supply of mauure. As a means to this end, 

 this superphosphate is worth all you pay for it. 



Don't let us discard the barn-yard manure. Let us hold to it 

 and make the most of it. Don't let us discard commercial 

 manures, because a good many of us have been cheated by dis- 

 honest manufacturers. Let us go where we know men are honest, 

 and buy the article and use it as a manure. I suppose there is no 

 better way to increase the fertility of our farms or the amount of 

 our crops, than by the application of some of these fertilizers. 

 Grow clover as a fertilizer, or as adding to the amount of forage. 



