1894.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 33. 245 



and thus economical production of the various farm and 

 garden crops strongly advise the change from an indifferent 

 system of manuring to a more rational one in every branch 

 of agriculture and horticulture. 



The steadily increasing consumption of agricultural chem- 

 icals and of commercial manurial compounds, for the })urpose 

 of supplementing our home resources of manurial matter, is 

 a gratifying endorsement of the good service which syste- 

 matic, scientific, experimental investigation into the causes of 

 a successful production of remunerative crops have rendered 

 to practical agriculture and horticulture. 



Much has thus far been accomplished, considering the 

 short period of time since our views regarding these points 

 have changed ; yet much more work is still necessary to 

 secure a reasonably adequate control of the subject under 

 discussion. To promote these interests it seems to be 

 desirable that agricultural chemists render themselves more 

 familiar with the best current modes of a successful horti- 

 cultural practice, and that horticulturists make themselves 

 familiar with the more recent results of the scientific in- 

 vestigations made in their interests by giving them a fair 

 and careful trial in the practical pursuit of their business. 



Every attempt at a rational and remunerative system of 

 cultivation should begin with an inquiry into the location 

 of the lands and the general condition of soil and climate, 

 to ascertain the special fitness of each for the contemplated 

 industry ; and, in case the lands have already been under 

 cultivation for years, their past history with regard to the 

 system of cultivation carried on, as well as the character of 

 the crops raised, ought to be consulted before any particu- 

 lar course of operation is decided upon. Inquiries in these 

 directions cannot fail to give us some valuable insio;ht into 

 the character and extent of existing and available circum- 

 stances regarding plant food and the possibilities of success. 



A due consideration of the character and amount of the 

 existing available plant food of the soil, and some definite 

 information in regard to the composition of the plant we 

 propose to cultivate, ought to guide us in the selection of 

 the kind and the quantity of the manurial substance. As 

 plants require at different stages of growth different quanti- 



