THE USE OF MANURES. 



S3 



Composition of Animal Exports from a Farm. 



By " fasted " is meant that the animals were killed 

 when their digestive organs were empty, or nearly 

 so. 



115. The rapidity of exhaustion will depend upon 

 the kind of products removed. Some writers assert 

 that the amount of plant-food in good soils is so 

 great, that practically they can not be exhausted, but 

 the experience of farmers proves the contrary. Good 

 crops of wheat have been grown on the same soil for 

 a number of years without manures, but careful ex- 

 periments show that there is a gradual falling off in 

 the yield. 



1 1 6. The fertilizers, or manures used for improv- 

 ing soils and restoring fertility, may be divided into 

 three kinds, vegetable, animal, and mineral. 



117. As every decaying plant contains all the 

 constituents necessary for the growth of a similar 

 plant, of course it furnishes a good fertilizer. Vege- 

 table substances, such as clover, pea-vines, etc., are 

 sometimes plowed in with great benefit to the soil. 

 They not only furnish material properly prepared as 



