SHEEP MANURE. 189 



is produced by the land of New England, and return it again, 

 under this law of compensation, to the soil, wo can save these 

 products that are brought here from the West and consumed ia 

 New England. If we can save that, and return it to the soil, 

 we sliall go on continually improving the soil by cultivation. It 

 is often said that this is a hard, rugged and unproductive soil; 

 but if we bear in mind this law of compensation, and return to 

 the soil all we can of what is produced here, and also all we can 

 of what is brought here from sections outside of New England, 

 I think the farming of New England can be greatly improved 

 beyond what it is at the present time. 



This is an idea which should go forth, and which should 

 engross the thoughts of the farming community upon this 

 subject. We all know that we cannot take from the soil with- 

 out returning to it something to supply the place of that which 

 we take away in the crops ; and if we will give our attention to 

 the ideas that have been thrown out by the chairman of this 

 meeting, and see to it that we save what can be saved, and 

 return it to the soil, we shall do much towards promoting the 

 interests of agriculture in our communities. 



Mr. Smith. I am very glad to see so much readiness on the 

 part of those who have spoken upon this very important ques- 

 tion. It is broad enough to give occasion for an interesting 

 discussion, for it may take in all sorts of manures — the excre- 

 ments of our stock, the guanos, phosphates, and artificial 

 manures of all kinds. Now, if we agree in regard to tlie differ- 

 ent kinds of manure, I am afraid we shall disagree upon the 

 modes of their application, for we are confined by the subject to 

 no particular description of manure, but it may include 

 everything. 



It has been suggested by the essay before us, which is a very 

 valuable one, as we shall all agree, that the strength of manure 

 depends a great deal upon the food of the stock. That is an 

 important consideration. I am often asked the question — 

 " Which do you make the most manure from, your sheep or 

 your cattle ? " My answer is this : if you feed light food to 

 different animals, you will have the same kind, the same 

 amount, and the same strength of manure, provided you save 

 it all. One great advantage in keeping sheep is, that we are 

 more apt to save the urine, the liquids as well as the solids. 



