132 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Under these circumstances, it will not appear strange that 

 I feel as if I could not support the office much longer. 



In presenting my views to your kind consideration, I oifer 

 my professional services, most cheerfully for the future. 



The Chairman. The subject of commercial fertilizers 

 has been opened by Prof. Goessmann in a very acceptable way, 

 and we sha 1 be happy to hear from any one who may wish to 

 speak upon the question. I would call on Dr. Loring to 

 continue the discussion. 



Dr. Loring, who was called to the platform, said : I have 

 not taken the platform, Mr. Chairman, with any purpose of 

 making a long speech ; I have simply come here to encourage 

 the meeting to follow out the discussion which has been so 

 aptly opened by Prof. Goessmann. I have listened with the 

 rest of you to the admirable, simple and attractive manner in 

 which he has presented the scientific investigations which he 

 has made into the value of chemical fertilizers when applied 

 to the soil for the purpose of raising crops. I have no doubt 

 the time is coming when the. farmer will 1)e enabled to supply 

 himself with condensed fertilizers in such form and with such 

 certainty, that he can, if he desires, escape the expensive and 

 troublesome mode in which he now provides himself through 

 the instrumentality of the animal kingdom. Is that assuming 

 too much, Professor? The Professor says it is not assuming 

 too much, and I assure you, gentlemen, that much as I am 

 attached to my animals, well as I like a good cow, religiously 

 as I believe in a good horse — -led on to that belief bj^ a gentle- 

 man whom I consider to be one of the best theologians of 

 this State — I still shall consider it a blessing to the fiirmer 

 when he can go to the Agricultural College, or to a reliable 

 chemist, or to an honest and faithful dealer, and provide him- 

 self with fertilizers in an economical form, as a substitute for 

 that which he now receives from his animals. I have no 

 doubt that what Prof. Goessmann has said with regard to 

 animal fertilizers, the excretions of horses and cattle, is all 

 true. There is not the least douljt that those excretions, 

 properly prepared, provide us with all the constituents that 

 we need for the fertilization o he soil. Nature has provided 

 these substances with the nitrogenous compounds and the 



