118 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan., 



The discussion of this subject will be of great use to us ; 

 and if intelligent men among us, working on ensilage, think 

 that they take out from their'pits something that is a great 

 deal better than they put in, that is a motive to study the 

 subject. 



Adjourned to 7 o'clock. 



EVENING SESSION. 



The meeting was called to order at 7 o'clock by Vice-Presi- 

 dent Hyde, who introduced as the lecturer, Mr. J. M. Hub- 

 bard of Middletown. 



COMMERCIAL FERTILIZERS— A FARMER'S VIEW OF 



• THE SUBJECT. 



BY J. M. HUBBARD OF MIDDLETOWN. 



A farmer's view of the subject of commercial fertilizers is sim- 

 ply any view, is it not, that a farmer may take of it ? You sus- 

 pect immediately that I desire to anticipate and forestall certain 

 criticisms upon the paper which it is my task to read before you 

 this evening. Well, you 'are perfectly right about it. If I can 

 establish the point that my title allows me to omit or include any- 

 thing I choose, to board the train of thought which this title 

 draws after it at any convenient station and leave when I think I 

 have gone far enough, it will afford me shelter from some criti- 

 cisms which might otherwise take effect seriously. You would 

 not expect me to go over the whole subject, to begin at the begin- 

 ning and try to exhaust it, or even to touch all of its points. That 

 would be too absurd, and besides I should leave nothing for you, 

 each of you to fill out for yourselves. I would not do this if it 

 were in my power. I have no wish to settle every question. 

 Indeed, I have very little expectation of being able to settle any. 

 But I do like to open questions and contribute my share toward 

 their settlement. What I bring you to-night is not an ordered 

 exposition of the subject, or of any part of it. Still less is it a 

 recipe warranted to cure if taken according to directions. I have 

 never felt any call to do work of that kind. I bring you simply 

 some thoughts upon the subject. I hope they may be found 

 somewhat pertinent, somewhat helpful, and in this hope I submit 

 them to your consideration. 



