182 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



land becomes sour, and will be nearly valueless, unless drained 

 and exposed to the proper action of air and heat ; and if 

 exposed to excessive, heat or dryness, the fertilizing substances 

 will not properly act upon each other, as a certain amount of 

 moisture is always necessary for the preparation of the food for 

 the plant. The frequent stirring of the soil, in good situations, 

 is also necessary to quicken the action of the fertilizers it 

 contains. This is so important in its effects, that some of the 

 early writers regarded it as the sole means of increasing the 

 fertility of the soil. 



Keeping these general statements in mind, we can more 

 readily appreciate the importance of increasing the fertility of, 

 or replenishing the soil with nutritive matter. And in con- 

 sidering this subject I shall first refer to those manures which 

 are more commonly used, and better known to our agriculturists, 

 having a view to the permanent improvement of the land rather 

 than to the greatest immediate effect of fertilizers. 



In other countries, and in some portions of our own, devoted 

 principally to gardening, the crop cultivated annually is looked 

 to for a remuneration. But with us, the land is cultivated 

 principally with a view to improve it for the subsequent crops 

 of grass, and our farmers look more to the length of time it can 

 be kept in grass without cultivation, than to the crop which is 

 the immediate result of it. 



All the ordinary or barnyard manures, contain matter which 

 is convertible into mould, and mineral substances. Those 

 which liave a larger portion of the latter are more forcing or 

 stimulant in their operation, and some in tlieir putrefaction and 

 decay afford more nitrogen in the combination known as am- 

 monia, than others. This is very important to the growth of a 

 plant. It is particularly stimulating to vegetation. Compara- 

 tively speaking, the solid excrements of all herbiverous animals 

 are rich in mould-forming substances. The urine is richer 

 in mineral substances and nitrogen, and consequently, more 

 stimulating. Together, they furnish the most complete manure 

 for plants, as they combine all the substances both organic and 

 inorganic, which are necessary for the perfection of a plant and 

 its seed. The excrements of domestic animals are relatively 

 lasting in their effects in the order below stated, cow manure 



