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in the highest state of cultivation, without in any way exhausting it, and with only one 

 kind of manure. 



The Japanese system which, it will be seen, is much assisted by the climate, prevents 

 the manure from lying idle for any length of time. There is no doubt the row system, 

 whether applied to fruit, garden or field culture, is the proper course to pursue for all 

 kinds of cultivation, and where this plan is followed the soil should be made mellow, and 

 turned several times with the digging-fork during the growing season of the crops. 



It will be seen by the above remarks that the application of manure alone, although 

 a very important factor in the growth of plants, is not the only thing required in raising 

 a perfect crop. The aerating and mechanical manipulation of the soil, so that the rootlets 

 may be pi'mitted to pass easily through the soft earth in search of the vital forces of 

 nature, are quite as essential as plant food. The conditions described cannot, under the 

 present system of ploughing, harrowing, and cultivating, be attained in any degrge of 

 perfection, as the soil requires to be acted upon in a rotary instead of a longitudinal way 

 to give the required seed-bed an after treatment, and I believe that when steam cultiva- 

 tion, which is in the near future, is employed, it will revolutionize the working of soil in 

 quite as great a degree as the spinning jenney, and the sewing machine have changed 

 the old methods of making and working up fabrics. A time also must certainly come 

 when some convenient and easy method will enable the more civilized nations to secure 

 and employ effectually the forces of nature, which at present seem to waste, rendering 

 our livers and streams impure and unhealthy. When that day arrives, a balance will be 

 found in the laws of supply and demand for the requirements of land which will have the 

 efiect of making our globe a much larger and more fitting sustaining power for the human 

 race than has ever been dreamed of by Malthus, or any of the old world philosophers. 

 The economic application of steam to agriculture will give largely increased crops at a 

 minimum outlay, as the expense of horse-flesh, horse-feed, and men to attend and care for 

 them, is like fences, a tax on agriculture which few, who have not looked into the matter, 

 would care to contemplate. Without being much of a prophet, I venture to predict, that 

 though the present century has not many years to run, it is altogether probable its crown- 

 ing and greatest invention will be the application of steam to husbandry. 



Mr. Arnold — I would like Mr. Bucke to tell us which are the best manures that 

 are manufactured in the country. 



Mr. Bucke. — Well, I say that superphosphates are good for strawberries. 



Mr. Beadle. — I spent about thirty dollars for a ton of supei-phosphates made in 

 Guelph, and I tried it on a great variety of thj.ngs — carrots, onions, strawberries and 

 corn, and I thought it was of about as much value as so much sand. It was not 

 worth the labour of putting it on. A neighbour of mine tried some that was made in 

 Boston (Bradley's Superphosphate), and I must say that where he applied it, it seemed to 

 have stimulated everything he put it on to a most magnificent growth. Why there was 

 this discrepancy between the phosphate manufactured in Guelph and the phosphate 

 made in Boston I cannot tell. His strawberry crop, where he applied Bradley's super- 

 phosphate, was certainly very fine, but no better than I have seen produced by the use of 

 common barnyard manure mixed with bone dust. I believe if we would take ground bone 

 and make our own superphosphate out of that we would save a good deal of money which 

 we now pay for gypsum and sand which are put in to make up weight. I believe we are 

 humbugged most egregiously by these patent manure makers. I was told by a member 

 of this association that we could make our own superphosphate if we would put bones in 

 a barrel and cover them with plaster of Paris or ashes and then wet them thoroughly with 

 potash. By that means you will get the bones soft so that they will mix up with any- 

 thing that is added to them. I have never tried the experiment yet, in the way which 

 Mr. Gilchrist (that is the gentleman's name) mentioned, and I give it to the society to- 

 day in order that members may try it. I think we can grow more and larger fruit by 

 the use of superphosphate than we do now. 



