SECOND CROP PLOUGHED UNDER. 215 



really cannot see any difference in regard to the products of 

 tliose different lots thus far. 



As I have said, I begin to plough immediately after haying, 

 taking my wettest and lowest land first, and applying whatever 

 manure I have got ; tlien I tal^e lands ,a little liigher, turn them 

 over, and apply the manure. I wait until the second crop has 

 started on my high lands, and then plough that under. That I 

 believe to be a very great advantage indeed, and the committee 

 who visited my farm said that they had never seen in any one- 

 field of sixty acres so much second crop as there was in the 

 field which I presented in competition with the farms in my 

 county. 



By pursuing this system, I have succeeded not only in making 

 my farming better, but I believe I have made it profitable, for I 

 have to rely upon that entirely. But there has been one ques- 

 tion raised here which it seems to me is a very important 

 one. I have pursued this system for eleven years, but that is 

 only a sliort time. The question is, can the same course be con- 

 tinued for generations ? I believe that my fathers, in carrying 

 on the farm as they did, supplied that land constantly with one 

 kind of manure — that made from cattle. It may be that in 

 supplying that, they have not furnished to the land something 

 wiiich I have furnished in the manures which I have applied, 

 and in consequence of that, the application of these special 

 manures has been successful. I am confident that very many 

 farms can be made profitable by the adoption of this system. I 

 mean to continue this system as long as I find it profitable ; but 

 if, after I have turned these lands over three or four times and 

 continiied this same system, 1 find that it is not for my interest, 

 of course I shall abandon it. 



There is a great deal I should like to say, but I have seen the 

 eagerness with which you farmers have asked questions, and I 

 will not longer trespass upon your time. It is possible I may 

 engage in the debate this afternoon, but at any rate, I return to 

 you, gentlemen, my thanks for the kindness with which you 

 have listened to me. 



Mr. Ball. I would like to press the question a little further 

 which was considered a few moments ago. I think there is no 

 question but what Dr. Nichols has stated the fact in regard to 

 these fertilizers, but if the doctor has any data from which he 



