I 



FARMING WITH GREEN MANURES, 



CHAPTER I 



NITROGEN, PHOSPHORIC ACID, AND POTASH. 



Study the profound works of Professor Johnson, 

 " How Crops Grow," and " How Crops Feed." 



Read with close attention the broad and practical 

 wisdom of Joseph Harris, in his "Walks and Talks 

 on the Farm." 



Devote long hours of patient thought, to the thirty 

 years of untiring experiments of Lawes and Gilbert, 

 and you will be perfectly convinced, that Nitrogen is 

 the most precious, the most important, and the most 

 costly element which the farmer needs to produce a 

 heavy paying crop. 



And next to this in value is Phosphoric Acid, and 

 then Potash. 



Other minerals and elements are required, but they 

 generally exist in the soil, in sufficient quantity, or 

 can be added to it, at much less expense. 



Then comes the great question, from all civilized 

 countries: How shall we obtain Nitrogen? Must 

 we buy it in Nitrate of Soda in Sulphate of Ammo- 

 nia, or in Guano, at 30 cents a pound? Certainly 

 not, unless we cannot obtain it in any cheaper form. 



Four-fifths of the atmosphere is Nitrogen. Does 

 not nature convert a portion of this every day into 



