62 ECONOMY OF FARMING. 



beasts and plants are adapted to a given case, what powers and means 

 their support requires, what the procuring them will cost, and what result 

 one may promise himself from the profits of the beasts and plants. 



[Thaer, Vol. I. p. 186, remarks: "It is a desirable object to be gained by the 

 farmer, to obtain for himself animal manure in sufficient quantity for the highest pro- 

 duction of vegetable substances in the cheapest manner possible, and with the least 

 possible sacrifice of marketable crops in the production. This may be effected : 



1. When he produces the greatest possible quantity of nutritious fodder on the least 

 . extent of his land. 



2. When he does this with the least outlay of work and money. 



3. When he obtains fodder on that portion of his land where there is the least in- 

 terruption in the cultivation of other fruits. 



4. When he so arranges the cultivation, and his choice of the means of fodder, that 

 by cultivation itself he puts in a fit state the field for the production of other fruits ; i. e. 

 that the labor expended may be for the advantage of the successive fruits. 



5. When by the fodder itself he produces the greatest quantity or value of animal 

 products. 



6. When he so keeps his cattle that the collected dung produced by them will be 

 the most suitable manure for his fields and fruits, and in the end be appUed in the best 

 mixture, locality, and fermentation. 



7. When he uses the manure obtained as quick as possible for the raising of 

 marketable products, or such as will furnish manure again, and as much as possible 

 hasten the progress on his farm from the earth into vegetables, from vegetables into 

 the bodies of animals, and from these again back to the earth. 



These objects may be obtained in the most perfect manner by a system of cultiva- 

 tion regarding, and as much as possible corresponding, to the situation of the farm." 

 — Tr.] 



1. HOW MUCH MANURE IS NEEDED, IN ORDER TO RETAIN A GIVEN AMOUNT OF FIELDS 



IN A FRUITFUL STATE? 



1. The greatness of the growth of plants, other things being equal, 

 stands in exact proportion to the amount of soluble substance found in the 

 soil, adapted to be the nutriment of plants. 



2. When the quantity of this substance which is taken away from the 

 soil by the harvest, is restored in like measure by manure, then the power 

 of the same remains as before ; and in an average of many years, though 

 the influence of extraordinary weather may alter it, we can obtain the same 

 harvest. If more is given back to it than is taken away from it, the rich- 

 ness of the soil, and its productive power will be increased ; but if more is 

 taken away than is given back, then the amount of its product is lessened 

 in the same proportion. 



3. It is therefore of great importance to ascertain the proportion of the 

 consumption of manure by different plants, according to the difference of 

 the soil and climate, in order always to carry out, at a suitable time, a 

 quantity of manure adapted to the field, that its capacity of production 

 may be kept in that degree which we consider best suited to its circum- 

 stances. 



4. A field requires more manure to yield the same product, if it is loose, 

 and too little strengthened by clay ; because it then not only needs the 

 humus for the nourishment of plants, but also for absorbing vaporous atmos- 

 pheric particles, and for a greater retentiveness of the moisture of rain ; 

 and the humus decomposes sooner in a loose soil, and is earlier evaporated, 

 before the roots of the plants can suck it in. 



[The theory of our Author, here, is evidently the old one ; and consequently, his 

 language needs some modification to make it conform to the more recentviewof Liebio, 



