15 



they now do, the importance of availing themselves of every 

 resource of productiveness and profit, within their reach. 



The soiling of animals, that is the keeping them in yards 

 or stables through the whole year, where, when attainable they 

 are fed upon green food daily gathered for their use, is an 

 abundant source of manure ; and to a certain extent, as in 

 many of our river towns where pasturage is difficult to be pro- 

 eured, might be practised to the great advantage both of the 

 stock and the owner. Few persons, who have made no ex- 

 periments and given no attention to the subject, have any pro- 

 per idea, to what advantage and extent, the produce of a sin- 

 gle acre properly cultivated may be applied. I shall make no 

 apology for speaking with so much directness on so homely a 

 subject as that, which we have now treated. It is nothing but 

 a silly affectation of delicacy, which turns with disdain from 

 any of the wonderful processes of nature however humble* 

 The most splendid bouquet, which ever poured out its delicious 

 perfumes on the unsullied bosom of youthful innocence and 

 beauty, is the luxuriant offspring of the manure heap ; and the 

 cultivated, well-disciplined, and devout mind will contemplate 

 with grateful delight that mysterious operation of divine provi- 

 dence, that signal display of an unsearchable wisdom and 

 goodness, by which every thing in nature becomes subservi- 

 ent to some valuable end ; and the most offensive substances 

 are converted into objects and forms of beauty, utility, luxury,, 

 and delicious indulgence. 



The use of mineral manures, such as lime and gypsum r 

 ought to claim much more attention than it has done. The 

 theory of their operation is still among the numberless secrets 

 of nature, into which human sagacity attempts in vain to pene- 

 trate, and before which man's boasted wisdom stands utterly 

 confounded ;. but their practical, beneficial, and astonishing re- 

 sults are no longer matter of question. Lime, in any quantity 

 in which we might be glad to apply it, is too expensive a ma- 

 nure to be freely used among us ; but no manure can ber 

 cheaper than gypsum ; and its effects are very extraordinary. 



