SECRETARY'S REPORT. 37 



their barns, and manure heaps, as it arrests and fixes the ammonia, 

 and consequently increases the value of the manure. 



Plowing in green crops, such as clover, buckwheat, &c., is rec- 

 ommended as being a very eflectual method of improving exhausted 

 land. A very intelligent and observing man, in addressing the 

 Hampden East Agricultural Society of Massachusetts, on the Laws 

 of Vegetation, says, ' I know of no so obvious and valuable means 

 of fertilizing worn out or naturally barren land, as the turning in of 

 green crops.' This statement is corroborated by the experience of 

 many, not only in Massachusetts, but in our own State. 



It is a fact that Mother Earth, like any other bank, will cease to 

 discount when her resources fail. By continually taking from our 

 land the crops which it produces, and supplying nothing in return 

 therefor, the organic elements of the soil become exhausted, and 

 the deficiency must be supplied before it will again become fertile. 

 In many instances, plowing in green crops is perhaps the most 

 available and economical method that can be resorted to to supply 

 the deficiency. 



Another method of renovating exhausted lands which we would 

 not fail to* introduce to the favorable notice of the agricultural com- 

 munity is the keeping of sheep. And in relation to that we would 

 direct their attention to Mr. Goodale's Reports of 185Y and 1859, 

 where the advantag-es of sheep husbandry with regard to the reno- 

 vation of the soil are very clearly set forth ; as are also its advan- 

 tages pecuniarily. 



We would also refer them to the report of 1857 for an able 

 treatise upon this very subject of restoring fertility to partially ex- 

 hausted lands. 



Having thrown out these suggestions, and without presuming 

 to prescribe any one particular course to be followed in all cases, 

 we submit the subject to the careful consideration of those having 

 exhausted lands, hoping that they may be profited thereby, and be 

 induced to make use of the means best adapted to their circum- 

 stances, and cause, ' the waste places to rejoice, and the desert to , 

 bud and blossom as the rose.' " 



Daniel Lancaster, Geo. A. Rogers. 



Mr. Anderson inquired if it was a fact that superphosphate of 

 lime expended all its virtues immediately. 



The Secretary replied that the substance sold in our markets 

 under this name was of very unequal composition and quality. Super- 

 phosphate of lime, pure and simple, was readily soluble, and would 



