CHEMICAL, MANURES. 41 



In 1867 the returns from beets oscillated between 48,844 and 

 62,160 pounds of roots the acre, but with 35,520 pounds of manure 

 the returns did not exceed 31,111 pounds. 



Shall we speak of the sugar-cane? In 1867 M. de Zebrun ob- 

 tained at Guadaloupe : 



Canes Stripped of Leaves. 



Chemical fertilizer 75,316 Ibs. the acre. 



Manure 55,428 Ibs. 



Land without fertilizer 23,617 Ibs. 



You know, gentlemen, that practice has proved there is a real 

 advantage in varying crops with manures. But returns are thus 

 obtained otherwise than by always cultivating the same plant. Does 

 the alternation of crops with the chemical fertilizer offer the same 

 advantage? We reply without hesitation, Yes. In these new con- 

 ditions the chemical fertilizers preserve their superiority. Wheat, 

 succeeding peas, produced 66 bushels ; after the beet, 49 ; after wheat, 

 47. 



The chemical manures act in all points like manure : from this re- 

 sults a new proof that, despite their want of resemblance, the chemi- 

 cal fertilizers and the manure owe their effects to the same cause, and 

 that there is an entire community of nature between them. 



We have now arrived at, if possible, a more important point of 

 consideration than the preceding. 



The source of profit in agriculture depends particularly on the 

 manuring, and unfortunately, when one produces his own manure, he 

 is not master of as much manure as he would wish. 



The quantity of manure disposed of in rural culture depends oil 

 its organization, the number of animals raised, or rather fed there 

 consequently on the surface devoted to the meadow and finally the 

 rolling capital possessed. A great deal of time, discernment and 

 prudence is necessary in changing a culture ; for everything depends 

 on it on an estate where the production of the cereals and of manure 

 is the main object. 



With the chemical fertilizer, on the contrary, agriculture acquires 

 an almost absolute liberty of action ; the quantity of the fertilizer 

 can be regulated at will. It is only limited by the amount of capital. 



By the use of chemical fertilizers one may, in a measure, by to- 

 morrow evening, change a doubtful culture to the order of the 

 highest, and consequently obtain a large instead of a mediocre profit. 



You understand, gentlemen, that here is the knot of all future 

 questions in agriculture ; I therefore insist on taking things at the 

 beginning. 



I say that the profit from agriculture depends on the quantity of 

 fertilizers given to the land. So dependent is it on this that without 

 fertilizers the harvest is weak and the profit nothing, the whole end- 

 ing in a loss. With abundant manuring the returns are increased 

 and the profit certain, for the excess of expense is but the half or 

 the third of the price of the excess of harvest. 



