238 HOW TO GET A FARM, 



most energetic manure. A quantity equal to two 

 to four thousand crabs, when applied to the poorest 

 soils, may be relied on to produce 20 to 25 bushels 

 of wheat, though even 30 are by no means uncom 

 mon. This fertilizing power has long been known 

 among the farmers. 



As it was manifestly impossible to use up the 

 millions of crabs that came upon the beach, within 

 the few weeks that they remained upon it, a manu 

 factory of manure was established at Goshen, in 

 Cape May county, some nine years ago, by Messrs. 

 Ingham and Beesley. These gentlemen first dry the 

 crabs, then grind them into powder, and deodorise 

 the product by combining plaster and charcoal. The 

 manure thus produced they call cancerine, and is 

 Bold over a wide extent of country. The quantity 

 manufactured in 1863 was about 500 tons. It is 

 cheaper than guano, which contains about one-sixth 

 of ammonia, while this has been proved to contain 

 more than a fourth. On corn, potatoes, &c., this 

 manure produces very marked results, in all cases 

 beneficial. With these bountiful treasures of the 

 sea and land within reach of the people of this 

 portion of New Jersey, it can be the fault of none 

 but themselves if they should fail to convert their 

 admirable soil into one vast garden. 



When access to this long neglected portion of the 

 State was opened, in 1854, over the Camden and 

 Atlantic Railroad, nothing was more natural than 

 that the attention of enterprising men from other 

 quarters should be attracted towards it. To secure 

 this attention of the great outside public was a 



