119 



ness. Probably in a majority of cases the farmer does not in- 

 tend to make an experiment to be reported, when he enters 

 upon it, but after its completion, knowing it to be of value to 

 himself, he thinks it will be to others, and he then narrates the 

 details from recollection. The value of many of the state- 

 ments concerning crops raised and oll'eredfor premium, is ma- 

 terially lessened by the evident fact that they are estimates of 

 cost made up after the crop is raised, rather than statements 

 of details kept during the progress of its culture and growth. 

 It is likely that in the item of labor there is generally more 

 time actually laid out in the cultivation of a crop than ap- 

 pears in the statement, for the reason that the cost is esti- 

 mated, and this because the farmer does not in the beginning 

 expect to report his experiment. The great merit in the 

 statements herewith submitted is, that the details of the ex- 

 periments are given with unusual clearness and accuracy, 

 and show what the crops actually did cost. Mr. Appleton 

 kept his account of labor with a care we seldom see equalled 

 in like cases. The three experiments seem to show that the 

 Stockbridge fertilizer, and perhaps Darling's compound, are 

 worth quite as much for a year as an equal value in animal 

 manure. We know that when the latter is applied to 

 the land, an important part remains for future crops. All, 

 or nearly all commercial fertilizers heretofore in general use, 

 have failed in this particular, and in most cases their constant 

 and exclusive use has resulted in exhaustion of the land. 

 Whether this is true of the Stockbridsre and Darlins; com- 

 pounds, is a point that can only be settled by protracted 

 trial, and this we conceive to be a point on which our farmers 

 earnestly desire more light. We hope the gentlemen who 

 have given us the results of their experiments this year, as 

 well as others who have made similar trials, will continue 

 their experiments for the purpose of showing Avhether these 

 newly introduced fertilizers can be profitably used, and the 

 fertility of the soil kept undiminished, without the use of 



other manures. 



Jos. S. Howe, for the Committee. 



