ON THE APPLICATION OF MANURES. 257 



means furnished by the system of management em- 

 ployed by them. 



" From first to last, they have been enabled to 

 live better, and far more independently, than those 

 who relied principally on the plough. The cause 

 of this is evident : milk, butter, cheese, wool, meat, 

 hides, and manure, are continually increasing. It is 

 true that but little manure could be obtained in the 

 beginning : that little, however, was spread, the pro- 

 duct was greatly increased, as was also the fertility 

 of the soil for a succeeding crop, and the grasses 

 following it. Where is plenty of good grasses and 

 hay, young cattle will grow as much or more in one 

 year than they do in two when kept on pasture fed 

 bare during summer, and on straw through the prin- 

 cipal part of the winter. 



"It is proper to remark, that, although many cir- 

 cumscribed farmers make considerable progress in 

 increasing their livestock, their laudable enterprise 

 is too often suddenly checked before they obtain 

 half the number of domesticated animals necessary 

 to the proper cultivation of their grounds. 



" This evil originates in the prevailing error, that 

 huge piles of stone and mortar, or of boards and 

 scantling, are the best means that can be pursued by 

 the cultivator to improve his farm. Hence it is that 

 we see, almost in every part of Pennsylvania where 

 it is possible to effect this mistaken improvement, 

 extensive barns and dwelling-houses standing on 

 farms where we do not observe half the quantity of 

 grass or number of caf tie necessary for the proper 

 cultivation of the surrounding soil." 



ON THE APPLICATION OF MANURES. 



Whether by the term manure be understood all 

 things commonly so called, or only putrescent sub- 

 stances, I have had but one opinion for a long time 

 in regard to thoir application, and this has been con- 

 firmed by all my subsequent experience, each year 



