A COMPLETE MANURE. 



17 



So that the complete manure, contained, in this case, for these 

 four crops, 153 pounds of nitrogen, 176 pounds of phosphoric 

 acid, 176 pounds of potassa, and 176 pounds of lime : the nitro- 

 gen being in the state of nitrate of soda or of sal ammoniac ; 

 the phosphoric acid in the state of phosphate of lime ; the 

 potassa in the state of carbonate of potassa ; and the lime in a 

 caustic state. 



If, then, we shall have found, in this way, the key to the new 

 husbandry, science will have at last unlocked that secret arcana 

 which we have never yet been able to reach. All of us know 

 with what hope all intelligent farmers, in this country and in 

 Europe, turned to those scientific propositions issued by the 

 eminent chemists of Europe which seemed likely to lead to a 

 truly scientific and improved agriculture, whereby crops could 

 be increased, and the result made a sure one. After many 

 years, the results were found to be so uncertain in the way of 

 guidance, that intelligent farmers laid away their books, and 

 turned away from agricultural chemistry and the science of 

 agriculture as matters fit only for scholars to dispute about, 

 and went back to their practice. But if, as now seems likely, 

 we have found a truly scientific method, by the application of 

 which we can make certain the crops which we desire to raise, 

 we shall enter upon a new era, and the results must be 

 magnificent. 



The diversified industries of Massachusetts lead to great 

 wealth, but, after all, our prosperity really rests upon agricul- 

 ture, and I cannot but think that we are not doing all that we 

 might in the way of supplying ourselves with the leading arti- 

 cles of consumption, instead of buying from the West. There 

 3 



