A LESSON TO OUR FARMERS. 133 



Our agricultural reports, showing the average 

 produce of an acre in the States, is quite a sorry 

 comment on our boasted system of agriculture. 

 What a waste of ill-requited labor ! What a 

 return on the capital invested ! It is calculated 

 that two-thirds of our population are engaged in 

 cultivating the soil, and that three-fourths of the 

 capital of the country is invested in farm lands, 

 and the stock and implements of husbandry. It 

 is of momentous national interest, that this vast 

 amount of labor and capital should be adequately 

 remunerated. How is this to be done? The 

 answer is plain : By an intelligent and economi- 

 cal system of manuring. 



The reason why our lands do not produce as 

 much as those of other countries, the following 

 facts will fully explain : Last year, England, 

 that does not contain a much larger area of cul- 

 tivated land than the State of Pennsylvania, im- 

 ported, of 



Peruvian Guano 150-000 tons 



Nitrate of Soda 33-216 " 



Bones and Bone Ash 73-231 " 



Phosphatic Guano 100-000 " 



Total 356-447 tons. 



In addition to the above, there were large 

 quantities of muriate of potash imported from 

 Germany. If to this we add the large amounts 

 of sulphate of ammonia produced at home, and 



