223 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



one per cent, of their total value. One instance occurs to us, 

 where the waste from the manure heap has for years literally 

 " run violently down a steep place and perished in the waters;" 

 in another, the drain from the farm-yard passes into a pond by 

 the roadside, of several rods in extent, coloring it for more than 

 half the year to a dye much deeper than is agreeable to the sight 

 of the passer-by. We mention these cases not because they are 

 rare, for on the contrary they are so common as to attract no 

 special attention. 



Althougli the experience of the committee does not justify 

 the conclusions of some, who think that the liquid manure from 

 a stock of cattle is equal in value to the solid, yet we deem it 

 very important that we impress upon the minds of farmers the 

 necessity of providing appliances, whereby this portion may be 

 saved and judiciously applied. We think it would be an eco- 

 nomical outlay upon most farms to construct a tank, or cistern, 

 to collect the drainage from tiie cattle-stalls and barnyard, and 

 to apply it either to the compost heap or on grass lands. 



We believe that mismanagement in the saving and application 

 of manures may be pointed out in other respects, but we forbear 

 particularizing deficiencies patent to every one. The committee 

 have not sought to present striking facts or new theories, but 

 trust that even a common-place report will not have been in 

 vain. The simply calling attention to a subject is often the most 

 effectual way to induce improvements therein, even though the 

 particular way specified is open to objections. A few years 

 since an agent of the once famed Bommer came into an agricul- 

 tural community in this county, and succeeded in sponging 

 from its members from fifty to seventy-five dollars. Superficial 

 observers thought tliat^ the most " rural" of all districts in the 

 State, and cited this affair as complete proof thereof; but 

 the result has proved that seldom if ever has an investment been 

 made that returned larger dividends. We noticed afterwards 

 teams drawing muck oftener than ever before. Large heaps of 

 compost rose in fair proportions where the like was never seen 

 before, and we believe that Bommer may justly claim to have 

 been the cause of much of the prosperity which has since char- 

 acterized this village, and proudly, too, if ethical writers could 

 but prove that the end always justifies the means. 



Li conclusion, we would advise the farmers of Essex who 



