SECRETARY'S REPORT. 83 



its growth. But all plants require a certain amount of moist- 

 ure, in order to enable them to arrive at their perfect develop- 

 ment. Some soils have the ability to retain moisture enough 

 to supply this want, and some retain an excess, even in times 

 of drought. There is a constant evaporation or exhalation 

 from the surface in dry weather, and when the surface becomes 

 dry this exhalation arises from the lower strata, ascending 

 through those above, and so passing off from the surface ; and 

 there can be no doubt that this upward movement of moisture 

 from the subsoil is of great service in the vegetable economy, 

 and affords another strong reason for a frequent stirring of the 

 surface in dry weather, since this process greatly promotes the 

 upward tendency of the moisture of the lower strata. 



It must be evident from what has been said that draining is 

 not so necessary here as in England, or in any country with a 

 moist climate. This remark is general, however, and does not 

 apply to our low, swampy lands, over which the fogs are often 

 seen to linger, and on which the water is allowed to stand and 

 stagnate, but only to such as dry early in spring, so as to 

 admit of being worked over soon after the snow disappears. 



This brief notice of the climate in which we live may serve 

 to excite our interest in the subject, and a desire to pursue it 

 further ; and when it is considered that upon its climate depend 

 both the animal and vegetable productions of a country, and 

 that upon these depends the population of that country, the 

 importance of agricultural meteorology, as a branch of the 

 farmer's knowledge, will be apparent to all. 



Some account has already been given of the results of ex- 

 periments with guano ; but the great difference of opinion 

 among farmers upon this subject, and the great importance of 

 arriving at correct conclusions in relation to it, seem to make 

 a somewhat more extended discussion of the qualities of this 

 manure not inappropriate in this connection. 



The history of guano is already well known, and I need not 

 dwell upon it. It is found in immense quantities, the accumu- 

 lations of centuries, often two hundred feet in depth. Its vir- 

 tues are condensed into the smallest bulk. The best guano 

 comes from islands where it never rains ; but the very heavy 



