194 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



way, I apprehend we may arrive at the same result. Prof. 

 Goessmann tells me that this material can be used on our 

 moist and wet pastures, in its gro ;nd state, sown as we 

 use plaster, at a cost of $13/0 a ton. Now, Ave know that 

 there is nothing in the greater part of this State that we are 

 so much wanting in as good pasi res. They are not only not 

 improving, but they are deteriorating, and a good many of us 

 who have mountain-pastu es find it impossible to bring them 

 up by ploughing and re-seeding, on account of their rocky 

 condition ; we must have some material by which we can keep 

 them up and support our cattle. If we can have these phos- 

 phates brought close to us, we can use them to great advan- 

 tage, because we cannot make more manure on our farms than 

 we need for our cultivated crops ; we cannot afford to put it 

 on our pastures. Therefoie, we can only improve our pas- 

 tures in the ordinary way, by letting sheep run over them, or 

 by throwing on occasionally a little plaster, or something that 

 is only beneficial for a time. 



Now, there is one practical application that the farmers in 

 the interior can make. Those living on the sea-shore, and 

 having market-gardens, and getting large prices for their 

 crops, can use fertilizers, no matter what they cost. They 

 can afford to pay $45 or $50 a ton, because of the returns 

 that are made in money immediately, while we who are rais- 

 ing ordinary farm-crops cannot afford it. As Mr. Harris 

 says, we can realize very easily that the money is going out, 

 as an actual fact, but that it will come back, in the shape of 

 collections, is very hypothetical. 



There is no doubt that the pig is one of the greatest makers 

 of manures that we have ; the only objection is, we must eat 

 him when we have him. I am not a very great admirer of 

 the pig. I think farmers eat too many pigs. We know that 

 our old friends, the Jews and Mohammedans, never ate pig. 

 One reason was, because pigs were used for sacrifice among 

 the idolatrous nations ; and for the same reason that the Jews 

 passed laws forbidding the cutting of the beard in certain 

 shapes, and the mingling of male and female apparel, they 

 condemned the pig. The Koran condemns him for the same 

 reason. But that does not prove that the pig is unhealthy. 

 He is good enough in his way, if you do not eat too much 



