farmers' miscellany. 



313 



a good opinion may commonly be formed of the man, by the con- 

 dition of his farm-yard. Those countries which have excelled in 

 agriculture, have always been those which have used the greatest 

 diligence in the collection of every thing which could act as a 



manure. 



2. Aside from the farm-yard may be found much that, rightly 

 managed, will add greatly to the fertility of the soil ; but all ought 

 to be gathered in there. The contents of the piggery— of the 

 3oultry-house— night soil— the waste of the house, and all the 

 ^eeds of the farm, if added to the general stock, would swell the 

 mount considerably. Thoroughly scientific farming, may suggest 

 he application of particular manures to certain crops ; but the 

 imount of knowledge we now have on this subject, and the 

 oethod of farming in this country, preclude this for the present. 

 Ne must be content to supply food to different plants, from the 

 ommon stock of manure, till we understand more of the particu- 

 ir wants of each. 



I We may mention, in this connection, the vast bodies of marl 

 nd of peat, which exist in every neighborhood, and on almost 

 ;very farm. In these is to be found a source of fertility almost 

 iiexhaustible ; and yet it is wonderful how few are aware of their 

 alue. We stated, in a previous article, the composition of plants, 

 nd from that it will be evident, that whatever has once helped to 

 institute the body of a plant when living, is capable, after death, 

 f being resolved again into that form in which it may be again 

 dfen up by a new plant, in the shape of food. All animal bodies 

 re derived from the same source, and are capable of the same 

 lange. Whatever, therefore, on the farm, has ever been once a 

 )mponent part of a plant or an animal, should be carefully pre- 

 ;rved and prepared, to be applied to the soil, to increase its fer- 

 lity. The annual waste of these substances, in every neighbor- 

 i3od, is enormous, and indeed, upon every farm that is not con- 

 'icted upon principles of economy. We are led, then, directly to 

 le consideration of the preparation and management of the ma- 

 ire on the farm. 



The idea has been advanced in years past by writers, in speak- 



g of the distinction between plants and animals, that one point 



j difference is to be found in the form in which they receive 



eir food. Animals require food of a highly organized form, 



YQL. 1. NO. II, I 



