THE BATTLE TO THE STRONG. 191 



that the farmer can positively and always place himself beyond 

 the reach of disasters, resulting from fungoid plants or destruc- 

 tive weather influences ; but I do say, that a good, vigorous, well- 

 fed stalk of wheat, corn or other grain, will bear up under and 

 resist adverse influences better than one that is half starved and 

 weakly. Tlie battle is in favor of the strong and against the 

 weak among plants, as well as among men and animals. 



I do not think it is necessary for me to repeat what I said in 

 an address delivered before the Massachusetts Board of Agricul- 

 ture at Salem, in 1868, respecting the importance of farmers 

 preparing their own fertilizers, or of securing them in some way 

 in a condition of integrity. After three years' further experience, 

 I have but little additional advice to give. I deeply regret, 

 however, that many perhaps well meaning but poorly informed 

 writers in our agricultural papers, and speakers at agricultural 

 meetings, should make statements and give expression to views 

 which tend directly to lead farmers astray, and to confuse and 

 perplex them upon the subject of fertilizers, greatly to their 

 detriment. There really seems to be no need for this. There 

 are those unquestionably who must write and talk continuously, 

 as this propensity with some often amounts to a disease ; but let 

 us open wide the gates, and drive them, if possible, from the 

 field of agriculture into that of politics, a field where gabblers 

 are harmless, as no one is expected to believe any statements 

 made. 



Unfortunately absurd and erroneous statements and strange 

 exhibitions of selfishness connected with agricultural matters 

 do not come from and are not alone confined to those who are 

 among the ignorant and the obscure ; we have had some sad 

 examples from the opposite class. It is only about a year since 

 that a gentleman intimately connected with the interests of 

 agriculture delivered and published an address upon special 

 fertilizers, in which he deliberately advises farmers to abstain 

 from any attempts to prepare their own superphosphate, 

 assuring them that they cannot successfully accomplish the 

 work. In another part of the same address, he informs them 

 that he himself is engaged in the manufacture of superplios- 

 phate upon a large scale, and the inference is, that farmers 

 should buy his honest products. As we looked through this 

 address, or advertising circular, we could not help exclaiming, 



