ON MANURES. 87 



ON MANURES. 



We wish often to invite the attention of our farmers 

 to this subject, that they may reflect upon it, and sug- 

 gest improvements on our plans. We belong not to 

 that class of farmers who think we can make no farther 

 advances in the science ; neither would we be classed 

 with that great farmer spoken of by Sir Walter Scott, 

 who had made such wonderful improvements on his 

 estate, and pulverized it so much, that it all slipped 

 through his fingers. 



The man who thinks he has arrived at perfection in 

 farming, will be no more likely to make improvements 

 therein, than he who fancies that his own morals and 

 religious creed are the purest the world has seen. He 

 is surely an unprofitable Christian \vho makes no 

 advances in piety ; and he is no commendable farmer 

 who refuses to attempt improvements. 



While chemists are investigating the causes of 

 sterility of certain soils, and suggesting the proper 

 remedies, let us, who are practically engaged in the 

 labors of the field, contribute our mite of theory, and 

 prove it by actual experiments. 



We sincerely believe that, by a proper management 

 of our common manures, we might avail ourselves of 

 double the profit we now deri\'e from them, without 

 any additional expense. In the common mode of 

 wintering cattle, the liquid portion of the manure is 

 usually lost : people rarely attempt to save that portion, 

 which is quite as valuable as all the residue. We 

 would give thrice as much for the manure made by a 

 horse that shall stand on his own litter through the 

 winter, or summer, as we would for that Avhich is daily 

 thrown out into a heap beside the barn, to freeze 

 through in the coldest weather, and to heat and turn 

 white as soon as warm weather approaches. 



Pull away, then, at once your stable floors, all who 



