18 AMERICAN HUSBANDRY. 



and other vegetable matters), may be transformed 

 into farm produce ; but the rich earth of swamps, 

 ditches, and waters, the leaves of the forest, urine, 

 soapsuds, &c., are all convertible to a like use. He 

 that will not feed his crops with manure, should not 

 complain if his crops fail to feed him with bread. 



As the grain, roots, and forage destined to feed 

 the family and the farm stock require the best care 

 of the husbandman to prevent waste and injury, so 

 does the manure which is destined to feed his crops. 

 Fermentation, if suffered to exhaust its powers upon 

 it, materially lessens its value ; the wind and the suu 

 dissipate its virtues, and the rains leach it and waste 

 its fertilizing powers. The same care given to the 

 food of vegetables which should be given to the food 

 of animals, will be richly recompensed in the in- 

 creased product of the harvest. 



Lime, marl, gypsum, and ashes are all beneficial- 

 ly applied to increase fertility under certain circum- 

 stances, which it is unnecessary for us here to par- 

 ticularize. Stiff clays are also benefited by the ap- 

 plication of sand ; light sands are improved by the 

 admixture of clay ; while both clay and sand are im- 

 proved by the addition of marl or other calcareous 

 substances. 



If we contrast the common with the improved 

 practice in regard to the management of dung, we 

 shall readily see that the difference in preserving the 

 fertility of the soil is incalculably great : enough to 

 induce poverty in one case, and to enrich the propri- 

 etor in the other. Even the best class of our farm- 

 srs, who are deemed judicious managers, seldom 

 avail themselves of half the resources of fertility 

 which their farms or neighbourhoods afford ; not 

 half that are put in successful requisition by the far- 

 mers of Great Britain and Flanders. Besides, what 

 manure they do make is in general badly husbanded. 

 They suffer the gaseous portions to waste in the air, 

 instead of being absorbed by and enriching the soil, 



