1846.] .Manures — their Application. 51 



turnings it generally gets completely broken clown and comminut- 

 ed. By mixing a small quantity of salt to the heap, I have no 

 doubt it would add greatly to its fertilizing properties. 



In this way I have added from one hundred, to one hundred and 

 fifty loads of good manure per year. 



I have used with good success, bone dust, horn shavings, bris- 

 tles, salt fish, and poudrette. They are all highly concentrated 

 manures, and are valuable for the immediate crop, but for after- 

 crops and enriching the soil durably, give me the compost heaps. 



I once had great faith in the use of gypsum, but after several 

 experiments with it, I became satisfied that it was of no benefit 

 on my soil; I have, therefore, abandoned its use altogether. 



The understanding holds the middle ground between the exter- 

 nal and internal worlds — that of sense and that of spirit. The 

 external senses, those of sight and feel, give the understanding 

 the materials of which it forms its judgments of material thinos 

 — while the reason is the sense which enlightens us of things be- 

 longing to the spirit, and those truths which are absolute and of 

 universal acceptance. By the understanding our relations, by 

 means of the senses, is preserved with material objects. In futu- 

 rity those senses may not exist, for reason may then open a direct 

 intercourse with spirit, and our understanding will be enlightened 

 and taught by means of this intercommunication with the spiritual 

 world. The senses may become extinguished; but reason will 

 maintain the eternity of mind, and become the sense by which 

 ' immediate intercourse is held with the Eternal — with the sfood — 

 the beautiful and virtuous. 



It is certain that every age possesses certain characteristics — 

 and if we would understand the causes which have controlled hu- 

 man affairs, we must study those characteristics. Those character- 

 istics will explain to us many events which appear as anomalies, 

 when considered only by themselves. 



