FERTILIZATION. 139 



the increased facilities for its transportation on the hoof as 

 well as in the carcass. The time is not far distant when we 

 may again look for a heavy profit in fattening steers with the 

 surplus corn of the West and the cotton-seed of the South, 

 and add to the fertility of our lands in doing so. And 

 where can there be a more fitting place for the development 

 of a healthy growth, — for flesh and for fat , — than in the in- 

 vigorating air and by the pure waters of Massachusetts. And 

 while we maintain our rank among the manufacturers of the 

 world, and have an ever-growing home market, we need 

 have no fear of overdoing this branch of our husbandry. 



So, while the farmers of the great West are customers for 

 the fabrics and wares of Massachusetts, let us in exchange 

 take their corn and their steers, and by cheap transpor- 

 tation lines turn to our advantage what had seemingly been 

 our great disadvantage, and in the comparative leisure of 

 the winter months do the feeding and the fattening within 

 our own barns, — thus not only furnish food for the workers 

 and the artisans in all our varied industries, but at the same 

 time, in the very cheapest manner possible, increase the fer- 

 tility of our ftirras. 



(Mr. John B. Moore of Concord, in the Chair.) 



The Chairman. Gentlemen, you will remember that the 

 discussion upon Mr. Pierce's paper was stopped this morn- 

 ing to make way for something else, with the suggestion that 

 it could be renewed this afternoon in connection with this 

 matter to which we have just listened. I hope there will be 

 a discussion on this paper and a continuation of that which 

 was broken oflT this morning. I suppose Mr. Pierce is in 

 the room, and here is Mr. Cushman ready to answer any 

 questions which you choose to ask him upon his lecture. 



Mr. Ware. I have listened to both of these papers with 

 a great deal of interest, and they are profitable, both of 

 them. The commercial fertilizers that have been spread 

 abroad over the State, over New England, and over the 

 whole country these last few years, have excited a great deal 

 of interest in the use of those articles and in the discussion 

 of them, and many farmers have come to the conclusion that 



