142 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



fertilizers with reference to what they have learned by expe- 

 rience to be their real needs ; it may be potash in one case, 

 phosphoric acid in another or nitrogenous compounds in 

 another. These men have by observation discovered what 

 tire the applications which return profit, and at present they 

 are not troubling themselves about complete manures or any 

 other theoretical considerations. Those farmers who do not 

 know the needs of their soil, and take no pains to learn 

 them, — for they certainly may learn them in a very prac- 

 tical way, — are paying the penalt}^ of ignorance. 



I think that perhaps it is due to you, after this somewhat 

 rambling address, that I shall lay before you what I regard 

 as the best agricultural creed ^\ ith reference to soil man- 

 ao'ement that can be formulated in the lioht of existing 

 knowledge : — 



1. Thorough tillage, with efficient machinery, to be given 

 if possible when the moisture conditions of the soil admit 

 of satisfactory pulverization. 



2. Frequent surface tillage at times of scanty rainfall, in 

 order to conserve the supply of soil moisture. 



3. A sufficiently rapid rotation of crops to insure good 

 soil texture, to allow the necessarj^ frequency of applying 

 fertilizing material, and as a main result to secure a paying 

 stand of crops. 



4. The introduction into the soil at frequent intervals of 

 an amount of organic matter necessary to proper soil texture 

 and water-holding power, either by application of farm 

 manures, by plowing under soiling crops or by the rotting 

 of the turf. 



5. The scrupulous saving of all the excrement of farm 

 annuals, both solid and liquid. 



6. The purchase of plant food with due reference to the 

 needs of the farm and to the system of farm management 

 prevailing. 



7. The maintenance in the soil of those conditions of 

 drainage and aeration \vhicli })romote the growth of desirable 

 soil organisms, and the introduction into the soil, when 

 necessary, of such organisms as are essential to the growth 

 of particular plants. 



