232 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



The privet, thougli not an evergreen, makes a very beautiful 

 hedge. It does not grow large, and if tastefully trimmed is 

 truly ornamental. ' Its blossoms and its berries give it a charm- 

 ing appearance, and it holds its leaves till the near approach of 

 Avinter. Avery P. Slade. 



The Essay led to some discussion, after which it was accepted. 



THIRD DAY. 



The Board met at 10 o'clock, Mr. King, of Barnstable, in the 

 chair. 



Mr. Thompson presented a Report as delegate to the, Middle- 

 sex Society. 



Mr. Smith presented the following Report, upon 



MANURE AND ITS APPLICATION. 



Manure, Webster says, " is anything which fertilizes land or 

 furnishes food for plants." With this definition the subject 

 under consideration takes a broad meaning, and may be applied 

 not only to the productions of the barnyard, but to what are 

 called special manures, (some of them,) and also to those mate- 

 rials, either vegetable or mineral, whicli are used either directly 

 or indirectly for manurial purposes, such as muck, marl, clay, 

 plaster of Paris or gypsum, salt, lime, gas lime, ashes, and veg- 

 etable matter in the form of green crops ploughed in. Thorough 

 cultivation, drainage and irrigation will be allowed to be classed 

 under this head also. 



It will be a waste of words and of time at the present day to 

 say one word in regard to the importance of making and saving 

 manure. " Without good manure successful farming is impos- 

 sible." 



The farmers of New England do not build their barns over a 

 stream of water, or practise moving their buildings to rid them- 

 selves of the manure accumulations. But there are practices 

 in some (too many,) localities in which the loss is very great, if 

 not as great, as in those above mentioned ; one of wliich is that 

 of driving tlie stock to the brook or spring to water, wliereby 

 the animals are exposed to the storms, and very much manure 

 is lost. 



