194 THE CULTURE OF FARM CROPS. 



pose, or a sod of grass or clover. The decayed organic 

 matter of considerable bulk, and porous, and absorbent, 

 opens and loosens the soil ; makes it able to absorb and re- 

 tain moisture; admits the air with its enriching gases to it; 

 and by changing the color, warms it by the absorption of 

 the sun's rays. This is the result of the mechanical effects 

 only ; the chemical results are not now considered. And 

 these are seen to be so important in so many ways to the 

 growth of the crops, that the farmer desirous of procuring 

 from the fields, the largest possible product, will make ev- 

 ery exertion to increase the quantity of this bulky vegeta- 

 ble matter which he can turn to such valuable uses. 



There is no scarcity of this kind of matter. Straw; leaves; 

 coarse weeds which should always be free ffom seeds; 

 swamp muck; the wastes of woolen mills; charcoal waste; 

 sawdust; lime; refuse from breweries; soap factories; sugar 

 factories; tanneries; sweepings of streets; burned clay; and 

 the refuse of brick yards and lime kilns; as well as the ex- 

 crements from animals; and nightsoil; all these and any 

 other matters that can be turned to this purpose whether 

 they be rich in fertilizing matter or not, should be gathered 

 by the farmer for the mechanical improvement of the soil. 



Clay soil and sandy land are equally benefited ; the one 

 is opened and made loose and porous; the other is made 

 more compact; and both are made more absorbent and re- 

 tentive of moisture by this means. So that the farmer may 

 not stand upon the order of his performance, but do this 

 work how and when he can. If one season is preferable to 

 another it is the fall, when there is a large quantity of use- 

 ful materials that may be collected, and when leisure per- 

 mits the time to be given to the work. The preparation 

 of the composts may go on through the winter season as 

 -well as during the summer; but the best opportunities occur 

 in the fall. Many opportunities are missed for want of 

 thought or knowledge of the facts. Every village may 

 supply hundreds of loads of available materials, which, un- 

 used, are a costly burden to be got rid of. Every city is 

 overburdened with the most valuable waste matters; the 



