166 
ereen weight, although larger in their dry weight, after what would 
ordinarily be called very heavy manuring. These facts are quite im 
accord with the general results of work at experimental farms, which, 
according to the South Carolina department of agriculture, have 
shown that increasing the amounts of the fertilizers beyond a certain 
point gives no corresponding increase in the amount of grain, and 
but few of the applications pay for their cost. There is abundant 
experimental proof that for any given soil there is a limit to the 
amount of profitable manuring. The process of improving the soil, 
like the process of fattening cattle, is comparatively gradual and 
requires time. The margin of profit in the application of manures 1s 
narrower than is generally supposed. It is equally important to 
attend to the selection of the seed, the thorough cultivation, and the 
natural fertilization that results from the cultivation of the Legu- 
nunose and the rotation of crops. 
