Soiling. 43 



out of the question. But there was no use going on 

 without manure. Here came the rub. How was I 

 to increase my stock when the few head I already 

 had were not more than half fed? 



My faith from the first was in barnyard manure, but 

 how to get it, that was the question. I drifted along 

 through the first winter into the next summer, when 

 presently I found the solution of the whole question 

 worked out on my own place for me, and in a way I 

 least expected. The answer to the problem was, 

 " Soiling. " I was forced into it against my will. I 

 at first fought desperately, but soiling came out 

 ahead, as will be seen in the next chapter. I give 

 this personal experience so that if the reader is one 

 who finds himself in a similar predicament (and I 

 know thousands of my fellow farmers are or are 

 very near it), they may take heart and find some re- 

 lief in the same direction, and, instead of rebelling 

 against the way in which fate seems to be leading 

 them, turn squarely about and go the way she 

 points. I give this experience also for the benefit 

 of the farmer whose faith is in barnyard manure in- 

 stead of in commercial fertilizer. He will see, as 

 perhaps no other can, how his fondest hopes may be 

 more than realized, i.e., how he can manufacture 

 five times as much barnyard manure as formerly 

 and keep the same amount of ground under cultiva- 

 tion for marketable crops. How he can always be 

 sure, beyond any doubt, that he is returning to the 

 soil yearly more plant food than he is taking from 

 it, which means an increased fertility of the soil; 



