SECRETARY'S REPORT. 11 



manure would be of comparatively little use, and even in a wet 

 one there is much loss of ammonia and other gases, in conse- 

 quence of its near approach to the surface, and partial exposure. 



The last mode to be noticed, and one to which public atten- 

 tion has but lately been directed, is, what is termed the surface 

 application of manures. Solitary experiments performed here 

 and there, have seemed to point to this as being worthy of 

 examination. The Hon. Charles B. Calvert, of Maryland, after 

 a series of experiments conducted for the purpose of ascertain- 

 ing the best method, now applies his stable manures upon the 

 surface. The arguments for and against this practice have 

 been mainly considered in connection with the previous methods, 

 but in answer to the arguments against tills plan, it is advocated 

 that no appreciable amount of ammonia, or other valuable con- 

 stituents of the manure are lost. This view gains importance 

 from the conclusions arrived at by Dr. Voelcker before men- 

 tioned, who asserts that it is only during fermentation that free 

 ammonia is formed, and the effect of spreading manure is to sus- 

 pend the fermentation, and of course the evolution of ammonia. 

 He remarks, that, " in the case of clay soils, I have no hesita- 

 tion to say the manure may be spread even six months before 

 it is ploughed in, without losing any appreciable quantity of 

 manuring matters." These, however, are but deductions from 

 the analysis of manures, and may or may not be borne out by 

 experiment. It is also claimed by the advocates of this process, 

 that the effect of the manure as a mulch, when applied upon 

 the surface, will more than outweigh any supposed loss of val- 

 uable constituents in consequence of exposure. 



Looking at this mass of conflicting practice and opinion, we 

 endeavored to institute such an experiment as would, if exten- 

 sively tried, put it in our power to make some deductions, 

 showing at least in what direction the truth was to be found. 

 After having carefully weighed the whole subject, we determined 

 upon the form which follows. 



Sir: — The Massachusetts State Board of Agriculture desire infor- 

 mation upon the subject of the proper depth of applying manures, and 

 submit the following : — 



One of the greatest obstacles in the way of agricultural progress is 

 the difficulty of obtaining reliable facts and statistics as a basis upon 

 which to establish principles and construct theories. As a general rule 



