378 SELECTIONS FROM ADDRESSES. 



a shelter, is greater than that which is leached by the rains of 

 winter. The compost heap may be increased in bulk and 

 value, during the summer, by receiving the suds from the 

 wash-room, weeds from the road-side, and soil from places 

 where it is not needed, and from which it may well be spared. 



There are few farms, probably, in the county, upon which 

 or near which there is not a deposit of meadow muck or peat, 

 ,a material that may at small expense, be converted into an 

 figent of great fertilizing power. The swine kept by the far- 

 mer, may be made to earn their living at the same time that 

 they improve their condition, if he will give them an abun- 

 dance of peat or muck to work over. It is business which 

 they like. In these and other ways, which I cannot now men- 

 tion, the quantity of excellent manure may be greatly increas- 

 ed. And this, thoroughly incorporated with the soil, will in- 

 crease its productiveness. 



The soil may also be enriched by ploughing in green crops. 

 .This has been practised to a considerable extent in some places, 

 ,:and with very beneficial results. 



The next thing to be noticed, is the application of manure 

 to the soil. This opens a wide field of discussion, but I do 

 not intend to enter it, save to make two remarks. One is, that 

 the manure should be applied to a less quantity of land than 

 what has been customary, though the quantity of land must be 

 determined by the quantity of manure to be applied. It should 

 be an axiom with the farmer to cultivate no more land than 

 can be manured well. It is a common observation, (and I have 

 no doubt of its truth,) that too much land is tilled, in propor- 

 tion to the means of enriching it. Every crop, to a certain ex- 

 tent, irnpoverishes the soil. The land may serve as well for a 

 different crop the following year, but not for the same. If the 

 soil be enriched, more must be returned or added to it, than is 

 taken from it. Bu^ if less be added, it is evident that in time 

 the soil would be exhausted and become worthless. I remem- 

 ber to have heard, a few years since, of a farmer in one of 

 the southern towns in this county, whose plan of operation 

 was, to purchase a farm in a high state of cultivation, with 

 good buildings and fences thereon, and then get all he could 



