Introduction 



All this knowledge is necessary to enable the 

 farmer to handle manures, and having it, he should 

 be able to estimate the exact results obtainable 

 instead of only waiting to see what will come of the 

 employment of haphazard methods. 



It is from lack of knowledge that many people 

 are obliged to resort to compound manures and 

 mixtures of all sorts, in which the unit of fertilising 

 matter is always sold at too high a price, a price often 

 comparable to that of the " Aqua Pompae " of 

 old apothecaries, or the alcohol in sedative waters. 



We shall say something on the subject of farm- 

 yard manure, its formation, its preservation, and 

 its employment, and we should like to call attention 

 to the enormous waste of it which takes place. 



We shall make allusion also to green manures, 

 without dwelling on them, however, in order not to 

 increase the size of the book. 



Not only farmers, but every one who possesses 

 land or even a garden ought to learn about manures, 

 especially, we think, teachers in country schools, both 

 male and female. 



We have intentionally put on one side everything 

 that is difficult in the subject, and everything that 

 could impede easy comprehension. The few unusual 

 terms employed will be explained in a way to make 

 them quite intelligible. 



It is the popularisation of the knowledge of 

 manures on which we are intent, convinced that 

 in this direction we can be of some service. 



