MANURES. 33 



resources for furnishing- marine manures. We have all along our 

 coast a large amount of material which was formerly thought of 

 no value for manure except in the immediate neighborhood where 

 it was found. We have in Casco Bay and various other bays and 

 inlets, a vast amount of muscle mud, which is exceedingly valu- 

 able, but from its great weight can be carried to no great distance. 

 Sea-weed in its green state does not differ very much in manurial 

 value from fresh cattle excrements. You would be surprised in 

 looking over analyses of sea-weed, to find how nearly its compo- 

 sition corresponds with that of fresh manure. I suggested, at the 

 time to which the gentleman refers, nine years ago, the possibility 

 of preparing sea-weed by dr3ang and grinding, and I am happy to 

 be able now to say that I have learned, within a few days, that we 

 have upon the coast a factory which is -turning out a considerable 

 amount every day, which is sent abroad, as I am told, under a 

 contract. It is said to have been found to be very useful in the 

 cultivation of flax ; and I know no reason why it should not be as 

 good here as it is abroad. I hope the day will come when all these 

 resources will be utilized, and when we shall economize all the 

 manurial elements to be found in the State. 



Sea-weed contains from seventy-five to eighty-five per cent, of 

 water. That water can mostly be driven off, and when it is driven 

 off it is a valuable and somewhat concentrated manure. If taken 

 from the rocks, piled up at once on the ground, in a short time it 

 heats and ferments, but it is used largely in composts, in which it 

 sets up an active fermentation, which causes all the other matter 

 to decay rapidly, and makes the compost rich and effective. Dried 

 and ground sea-weed has. been used to some extent in the interior, 

 and I am told with exceedingly diverse results. Some say they* 

 perceive very little effect from it, while others tell marvellous 

 stories about its efficacy. The explanation is to be found in the 

 fact, that we know very little as yet where .it will do the most 

 good. I am very much in hope, that when that is utilized as it 

 may be, it will not be all carried out of the State. 



In regard to this matter of fish, I wish to say one thing further,, 

 and that is, that we have an enormous amount on the coast, and 

 I suppose nine-tenths of it is sent away, and goes to fertilize the 

 States of the South and the West— more particularly those of the 

 South; so that a large portion of the manurial value of all that fish 

 refuse is lost to the farmers of this State. You will find, as I have 

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