MINERAL MANURES. 41 



want of inorganic and mineral manures, and I hope that all the 

 gentlemen present, not only of the Board, but the practical 

 agriculturists in the community, will give us their views freely 

 upon this important subject. The discussion is open for every 

 one. I see Mr. Foote, of Williamstown among the audience. I 

 remember that when I was in college, he used to go round and 

 gather up all the ashes he could find for his farm, and I hope he 

 will give us the results of his experience. 



AsAHEL Foote. I did not expect to be called on, in the 

 presence of these representatives of science, to lead in a dis- 

 cussion of this sort. I am very happy to see it announced in 

 one of our leading agricultural journals, that at this and subse- 

 quent sessions, an abundant opportunity will be afforded to 

 farmers to ask questions and elicit information upon the various 

 topics that are discussed. This is just as it should be. What 

 we farmers want, what we particularly need, is information — 

 light. I hope it is just what we feel that we want, for if we 

 want it we shall ask for it ; and I know of no surer method of 

 obtaining light, whether from the heavens above or the earth 

 beneath, than by asking for it. For the lighting of our dwell- 

 ings in these latter days, I know that we are indebted not wholly 

 nor chiefly to the flowing oil well, but mainly to the simple pro- 

 cess oi pumping, by which the illuminating fluid is brought to 

 the surface from its hidden depths below ; and for our mental 

 illumination, we Yankees are indebted not altogether to the 

 learned essay or to the flowing lecture, however instructive, but 

 largely to that inquisitive faculty, that pumping power, if I may 

 so call it, by which our Yankee nation is characterized. I hope 

 that during this and the succeeding sessions of the Board there 

 will not be wanting numbers of live Yankees who shall justify 

 their reputation in this regard by giving full scope to this, their 

 peculiar gift; especially as I cannot help "guessing" that these 

 embodiments of sciences, commissioned by the powers that be, 

 and sent out from the " hub " to all parts of the Commonwealth, 

 for the very purpose of enlightening our ignorance out here on 

 the rim, are just the wells we need to pump for our enlighten- 

 ment. 



You have been pleased to mention some of my operations in 

 farming, particularly with reference to the use of ashes as a 

 6 



