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What then are the resources of the farmer for manure ?— * 

 We answer — the barn yard, the stable, the privy, waste animal 

 and vegetable material, whether grown upon the land or in the 

 sea, all of which should be husbanded with the utmost care, 

 their volume and power multiplied by composting with peat, 

 loam, and in some cases sand. As much poudrette can be 

 made from a single load of night soil by composting it with 

 meadow mud or muck, as can be purchased for twenty-five 

 or thirty dollars ; and of as good quality. Sea manure, con- 

 sisting of kelp and the various sea mosses, or rock weed 

 when mixed with an equal quantity of muck, will make a com- 

 post equal in quality with the best stable manure. The farmer 

 having secured as great a quantity of these materials as pos- 

 sible, has yet anothei' resource, unlimited in extent, easy of 

 access, and with the materials already at hand, may increase 

 the fertilizing capacity of his manures immensely. 



Chemistry informs us that plants are enabled to absorb large 

 portions of three of the four organic elements which constitute 

 them, through their leaves, viz.. Carbon, Oxygenand Hydro- 

 gen, while the fourth Nitrogen, though constituting four fifths, 

 of the surrounding atmosphere is not thus absorbed, as has 

 been proved by careful experiment ; but must be supplied 

 through their roots. According to the estimate of a careful 

 chemist, three fifths of the value of barn-yard manure is the 

 Nitrogen that it contains. Now the question arises, how can 

 the farmer within his own means, draw from the never failing 

 fountain that nature has so generously provided, and appropri- 

 ate to the growth of his crops. It is well known that nitre or 

 saltpetre is manufactured by composting animal and vegetable 

 manures with loam, meadow muck and other earthy substances. 

 In short, a good thorough compost heap, well worked, will ac- 

 cumulate nitric acid from the atmosphere in proportion as it is 

 worked over and exposed to it. France has in time of war 

 manufactured two thousand tons of saltpetre annually in this 

 way. Why not make the same effort to promote the peaceful 

 art of Agriculture? An economical, and it is believed a suc> 



