90 CHEMICAL MANURES. 



Composition of 1000 Parts of Dry Manure. 



Fundamental elements of vegetable production. 



EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. 



I have repeated several times, and do not hesitate to repeat again, 

 it is by experimental fields that I like to see agriculturists begin the 

 use of chemical fertilizers. First, an attempt upon a scale as reduced 

 as it was unfortunate could never take the proportions of a financial 

 mistake, and that is for me a consideration of very great importance ; 

 nothing impresses a practical man like the contrast these fields show 

 him ; in face of these contrasts, he instinctively feels that there is a 

 power until now unknown or misapplied. 



The reasons of the differences that these returns show are not at 

 first clear to him ; he hesitates ; but presently the light breaks, and 

 then it is almost with the conviction and fervor of religious senti- 

 ment that he speaks of the effects he observes, and of the great loss 

 of which they are at once the proof. You may judge by this letter : 



" The harvest of beets around me will be more than mediocre. I 

 alone am fortunate, and I am so by the application of your methods. 

 I bless you, and I gather with happiness the fruits of my immovable 

 faith in your ideas. I say, my immovable faith. I say it intentionally ; 

 for when it was seen that I was applying your methods, there was a 

 war made upon me, sometimes open, sometimes sullen, and always 

 implacable. 



" They sought to warn my tenants of me, telling them my success 

 was ephemeral that I was preparing bitter regrets for myself by 

 foolishly spending enormous sums, and that in the end I would waste 

 their land. 



" They did more. My experimental fields are admirable ; they 

 carry with them the most striking proof of the certainty of their 

 methods. That was not noticed by my enemies. They broke down 

 certain sign-posts for guiding the attention and examination of 

 visitors ; they overthrew others ; they went so far as to change them, 

 and to put, for example, the post indicating a mineral fertilizer in 

 the place of one for complete fertilizer; and then they repeated 

 everywhere that your fertilizers had no real value, and that these 

 experiments proved the contrary of your promises. Fortunately, 

 the fraud is perceived ; truth will assert itself, and I hope now that 

 the authors of this inexplicable misdeed will be made known." 



We will add that tlje author of this letter, who first began by one 

 experimental farm, to-day possesses ten of them, and has put 250 

 acres under the treatment of chemical fertilizers. 



You see by this example, to which I could add many others, I am 



