62 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



in very small quantities, and in the opinion of some scientific 

 men, in sufficient quantities for profitable growth, if all the 

 other conditions are present. We believe, however, that no 

 man can afford to allow the elements of ammonia produced on 

 his own farm to run to waste, certainly not if he can afford 

 to purchase guano for its ammonia. 



A few words on the best means of furnishing these different 

 substances to the soil, and we leave the subject. All carbon- 

 aceous matters produced upon the farm should eventually find 

 their way into the soil. Those which are not used as food for 

 animals, should be applied to the soil through the medium of 

 the compost heap, or directly, in order to promote their decay. 

 All which have gone through the process of digestion should 

 be carefully saved without loss, until applied to the land. To 

 do this effectually, it must be kept under cover until applied, 

 as every rain dissolves out more or less of its immediately 

 available portions. To prevent it from heating, which liberates 

 ammonia, and if carried far enough burns it up by " fire 

 fanging," it may be worked over and trodden by swine, or it 

 may be kept moist by throwing upon it frequently a sufficient 

 quantity of water, or its own liquid drainage. The best method, 

 in the opinion of the committee, is, to receive it in a water- 

 tight receptacle underneath the animals, where it is submerged 

 in tlie liquid evacuations, to which water may be added if 

 necessary. In this condition it does not undergo decomposition 

 to any extent, but remains without loss until wanted for use. 



This latter method is also the preferable one for saving the 

 ammoniacal portions of the manure, as to retain them other- 

 wise, we are obliged to mix them with some absorbent. This is 

 a somewhat expensive and not very effective mode, but is much 

 better than none. 



If then, by any plan, we have saved all the carbonaceous 

 manure, which is quite possible, together with a very large 

 portion of the ammoniacal, which is also possible, as both of 

 them are to be found in the evacuations, we lack only the 

 inorganic matters necessary to grow crops. These wo must 

 seek for principally in ashes and bones. Every spoonful of 

 wood ashes made on the premises, and every bone from tlie 

 table, or otherwise available, and all carcasses of animals dying, 

 or other animal refuse, should be scrupulously saved. If this 



