HOMCEOPATHY IN AGRICULTURE. 193 



But to resume our theme. "We are applying 1,000 pounds 

 of concentrated fertilizer, or 200 pounds of actual plant food, 

 to an acre of corn. An acre of land contains 43,560 square 

 feet. If we take the average depth of agricultural soil to be 

 12 inches, then the acre contains 43,560 cubic feet of soil, 

 through which this 1,000 pounds of fertilizer or 200 pounds 

 of plant food is distributed. In short, it gives to each 

 cubic foot of soil 160 grains of mixed fertilizer, or 32 grains 

 of actual plant food. A cubic foot of arable soil, according 

 to the 1)est authorities, weighs from 80 to 90 pounds. Tak- 

 ing it at 80 pounds, an acre of soil weighs in round numbers 

 3,500,000 pounds, or 1,750 tons, and therefore we have 

 only 2 grains of mixed fertilizer to each pound of soil, or 

 two-fifths of a grain of actual plant food. 



But let us put it in a more practical light. An acre of 

 land planted to corn, with the rows and hills 3^-|-3 feet 

 apart, contains in round numbers 4,000 hills. Allowing 5 

 stalks to each hill, we have 20,000 stalks to the acre. 

 Applying 1,000 pounds, it gives to each hill of corn one- 

 quarter of a pound of fertilizer, or 350 grains of actual plant 

 food, and to each stalk only 70 grains of actual plant food, 

 which is equal to j\q of a pound. 



Is this not applying plant food in homoeopathic doses? 

 And yet 1,000 pounds to the acre of concentrated fertilizer 

 such as I have described is a very liberal quantity for most 

 crops. When I witness the growth of the corn crop, and 

 think of the infinitesimal quantity of applied nourishment 

 allotted to each stalk, — so little to produce so much, — it 

 seems to me one of the miracles of nature, even more won- 

 derful than the miracles of Scripture, some of which modern 

 science claims to have explained. 



But wonderful as this may seem, yet instances can be cited 

 where smaller quantities of fertilizer are applied with equally 

 astonishing results. Let us take, for example, an acre of 

 grass land to which 100 pounds of nitrate of soda has been 

 applied, and this quantity put on in the spring will frequently 

 produce marked results, the grass taking on a very dark 

 green color ; and if the roots are vigorous, the weight of hay 

 at harvest will be considerably increased. One hundred 

 pounds of nitrate of soda contains in round numbers 15 



