THE EARTH'S BOUNTY 



In bulk, the cow and pig produce the best 

 supply, but, being poor in fertilizing constitu- 

 ents, are not so valuable, except in the fibrous 

 substances, which furnish humus in soil, and 

 make it capable of collecting oxygen, with- 

 out which roots smother and die. 



Having gained some insight into the fer- 

 tilizing qualities of manure, I was appalled 

 to read that the annual loss in America, 

 through incompetent handling, amounted to 

 $690,466,000, or, as Professor Roberts has 

 more personally explained it, a farmer keep- 

 ing 4 horses, 20 cows, 50 sheep, and 10 pigs 

 should have $250 worth of manure from 

 the seven winter months; and that the aver- 

 age loss on such a farm is rarely less than 

 $83. 



The latter figures being so appliable to our 

 farm, I delved into more statistics, to find out 

 the whys and wherefores of the perpetually 

 re-occurring terms fermentation, fire-fanging, 

 and leaching, to discover that fermentation is 

 a very complex process, dependent on temper- 



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