130 NOETII-CAKOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 



+ 



in a commercial point of view. But the real advantages of 

 their employment is still very great, for the profits of fishing 

 theror may be added those of agriculture, which is probably 

 neglected on account of the natural sterility of the lands upon 

 thysounds and rivers. In many places vegetable matter may 

 'obtained with which to form in part the compost heap, a 

 stance which is well adapted to preserve the ammonia 

 fnd other vegetable matters. 



5$ 98. Concluding remarks upon fertilizers. Husbandry in 

 none of its branches can be conducted successfully in the ab- 

 sence of fertilizers. This remark is applicable only to those 

 soils which have been under cultivation long enough to ex- 

 hibit indications of incipient exhaustion. There can be no 

 question respecting the necessity of supplying the waste of 

 soils consequent upon cultivation, and there is no branch of 

 agriculture which does not demand a constant supply of ma- 

 nures; and hence the great importance of creating enough 

 from the immediate premises of the establishment. While it 

 is better to purchase fertilizers than to proceed in the cultiva- 

 tion of the great staples without them, yet when the expen- 

 diture has to be made in cash, it is better to make composts, 

 save the excrements of animals, under cover, procure leaves 

 and all kind of offal, which being placed in a condition where 

 their volatile matters may be absorbed, than to expend ready 

 cash for those which, in the end, are no better than those 

 made at home. To obtain the basis for the construction of 

 compost heaps, the mud, and swamp bottoms, salt marsh- 

 mud, w T hen it has had time for discharging its saline 

 matter, the dirt under buildings, which is always rich in nitro- 

 genous matters, and many other sources may be found and 

 used. In the eastern counties, those places in particular, 

 which lie upon the sounds and rivers where fishing establish- 

 ments are accessible, must furnish an important source of 

 manures. The offals of fish should be composted with dirt, 

 leaves, plaster, or fine charcoal, to deprive it of its odor and 

 retain the ammonia. But one of the most valuable resources 

 will be found in the decaying wood of forests, swamps and 

 bottoms, which should be burned when there is no wind, and 



