H. TRACY'S ADDRESS. 377 



swer, by supplying it more abundantly with that which either 

 constitutes the food of plants, or is the means of converting the 

 ingredients already in the soil, into food. Vegetable life bears 

 some analogy to animal life. All plants, or nearly all, need air, 

 light and food. The food of plants is found in the various 

 kinds of manure applied to the soil. It is the office of agricul- 

 tural chemistry, to ascertain the qualities of soils, and of the 

 various manures, to determine what kind of manure in a given 

 soil, will furnish the best and most food for a particular kind of 

 grain or plant. " Though science can never supersede the use 

 of the dunghill, the plough, the spade and the hoe, yet it can 

 be one of their best guides." In rendering soil more produc- 

 tive by cultivation and the application of manures, some 

 knowledge of their properties seems indispensable. It is, how- 

 ever, the increase of the quantity of manure, that is more 

 especially needed. There can scarcely be a misapplication of 

 the common kinds of fertilizing substances, if they be but 

 brought in contact, and thoroughly incorporated with the soil. 

 The question may here arise, How may the quantity of ma- 

 nure be increased ? I answer, in many ways. In the first 

 place, very much may be saved that is now lost. The liquid 

 manure of the stable has probably a value nearly equal to the 

 solids, but this in many, very many cases, is lost for the want 

 of means whereby it may be saved and turned to good account. 

 Undoubtedly, the best method of accomplishing this, is by 

 means of a cellar underneath the stable or barn, where this 

 powerful agent may impart its fertilizing qualities to earth con- 

 veyed to the cellar for that purpose. A cellar underneath a 

 barn is valuable as a place where in winter, the farmer may 

 carry on, to the greatest advantage, the process of preparing a 

 large quantity of fertilizing matter to be applied to his fields in 

 the spring and summer. By overhauling the manure, and mix- 

 ing meadow muck or peat with it, injury is prevented, and its 

 value, as well as bulk, greatly increased. If I were a farmer, I 

 would no more do without a cellar under my barn, than I would 

 under my dwelling. As a facility for increasing both the quan- 

 tity and the value of manure, it is indispensable. The fertiliz- 

 ing power of that which is saved and manufactured under such 

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