40 QUARTERLY JOURNAL, 



riments should be carefully made in regard to the use of manures 

 in reference to the points we have been considering, as well a 

 others, and especially the economical employment of them. Ther 

 is no doubt a great waste in the way in which manures are conn 

 monly applied. Spread over the whole surface and then plough© 

 in, especially if not partially fermented, their action is not confine 

 as it might be to the crop only, and what benefit is derived froi 

 them is "slow and weak. They do not furnish sufficient foodi 

 produce a vigorous growth at any one time. Their efficacy is di 

 fused, small as it is, through the whole growth of the crop, and i 

 best a precarious support is afforded through the whole period. 



Our soils after a course of tillage, become impoverished. Mu 

 we expend large quantities of manure upon them to keep them up 

 Or may we not compel the soil annually to produce all it will, ti 

 it becomes exhausted and then by the proper application of pr. 

 per manures to the crop itself, still force a poor soil to bring fon 

 rich harvests '? The example of China speaks loudly in favor.; 

 this— a nation living within itself and separated from all others 

 increasing to an almost incredible extent— employing implemer 

 the most rude— destitute almost of cattle and horses— and pr 

 forming all their labor with their own hands— yet patiently cdl 

 vating their soil and stimulating it to productiveness, they ha 

 forced it to yield a support to a population of three hundred m 

 lions. And this they have done by adapting their manures to \ 

 wants of plants. 



GUANO. 



Guano has acquired a celebrity among the leading agriculturi^ 

 in England and this country truly surprising, when it is consider 

 that its introduction is so very recent. For although a speciic 

 was analyzed so early as 1804 or 5, by Sir H. Davy, and reco 

 mended by him as a manure, yet it was not until 1840 that att. 

 tion was directed to it by the excellent publications of Lieb 

 During that year a small quantity was brought to England, _w 

 which experiments were made testing its qualities as a fertilizi 

 agent. So beneficial did it prove, and so sanguine were the - 

 pectations in relation to its becoming an article of considera 



