518 PLYMOUTH SOCIETY. 



tage compared with the other ; nor did they appear to have 

 any advantage compared with those on the other parts of the 

 field. 



I might add to these details, but it would be unnecessary to 

 do so. I will, however, merely state further, that, from several 

 experiments made in drilling corn and cob-meal with the seed, 

 at planting (a handful to the hill) on soils where compost had 

 been previously spread, I have been unable to perceive from it 

 any favorable influence whatever. Had the meal, in the cases 

 referred to, been previously subjected to the putrefactive pro- 

 cess, the results would probably have been different. 



Farmers need not be told that corn will produce meat, of 

 this they are well aware ; but the fact that the converse of the 

 proposition is true, seems to have been overlooked by them, or, 

 for the most part, practically disregarded. In the view of en- 

 lightened theory, the composts which we generally employ to 

 promote the growth of corn are proportionably deficient in cer- 

 tain substances, namely, potash, magnesia, phosphorus, and 

 available nitrogen ; or in other words, in the elements of bread 

 and meat. And facts are not wanting which seem to confirm 

 the suggestions of theory on this subject. Let us, then, en- 

 deavor to remedy this defect. And that we may stand the 

 better chance of succeeding in this, and in placing ourselves in 

 a condition to be able, when desirable so to do, to supply, as 

 far as practicable, in a state adapted for assimilation, all the 

 nourishment necessary to perfect the growth of this noble 

 plant, let us husband and make the most of all our resources, 

 and look for efficient means of success to what the seed and 

 the cob (to say nothing of the residue thereof) are fitted to sup- 

 ply ; and also to what may be derived from the human biped 

 as well as from the brute quadruped. 



From what has now been said concerning composts for 

 Indian corn, may easily be inferred, without further taxing 

 your patience, the principles which should govern practise with 

 reference to the mode of preparing appropriate manurefs for 

 other plants differing from it in their nature and habits. The 

 ash of the potato, according to the analysis of the celebrated 

 M. Boussingault, contains — the tubers, a fraction over 51, and 

 the haulm or tops, a fraction over 44, per cent, of potash. This 

 fact suggests the importance of a liberal use of that mineral, 



