CHEMICAL MANURES. 105 



Now, you will object that I could have had analogous if not 

 superior results with manure. Certainly, the thing would be possible 

 with time and much manure. But where to get the manure ? When 

 with the chemical fertilizer I will have produced much straw, roots, 

 forage, and consequently much stock, I would doubtless be able to do 

 without it. But if I attempt, under the conditions where I am 

 placed, to obtain this straw, roots and forage by the usual methods 

 of culture, you would condemn me for an indefinite length of time, 

 and perhaps for ever, to unremunerative harvests ; that is to say, to 

 renewed sacrifices of money, and no compensation. 



But you will say, These 37 bushels of wheat, and this great 

 superiority over the ancient methods, are due to ancient forces in the 

 soil. This earth you will waste, thus diminishing your property if 

 not in extent, at least in intrinsic value. 



Concerning myself, I am insensible to the objection. Is it because 

 I have furnished the earth with more azote, phosphate of lime and 

 lime than the harvest drew from it ? Is it that now when I expect 

 remunerative harvests from it, and will free it from the weeds which 

 devour it, and the bad water which it retains in excess, is it because 

 now, thanks to the labors of M. George Ville, I know its language, 

 and can always question it as to preferences and wants ? Is it be- 

 cause I can now find out in what it is lacking and what it has in 

 abundance ? And from this am I not able to give it at my will, so 

 to speak, those elements of fertility of which it is deprived ? 



But if well founded, I would not notice the objection. An excess 

 of products to the value of $15, kept up for several years only, would 

 be sufficient to cover the whole value of the soil itself. And if the 

 soil were incapable of producing wheat or rye, I could still, after 

 recovering from it its price, put it to the use I designed before know- 

 ing the laws of vegetation revealed by M. Ville, which was to make 

 it a wood or a pasture. But, gentlemen, I am relieved of all uneasi- 

 ness, not only by the theoretic teachings of M. Ville, but also by the. 

 results obtained by him at Vincennes. 



I have not limited my experiments to the culture of rye, oats and 

 wheat. I have also employed the chemical fertilizers on artichokes, 

 Irish potatoes and radishes that is, on plants whose elements are 

 destined to return almost wholly to the soil which has produced 

 them. But these crops are still in the ground, and it would be prem- 

 ature to speak of them. DE MATHAREL. 



I particularly call the attention of the reader to this Report, be- 

 cause, the returns having been small, the operation still being profitable, 

 we may consider the conclusions of the author as the least favorable 

 expression of the advantages attending the use of chemical fertilizers : 



REPORT MADE TO THE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF ANGOU- 



LEME, BY M. BOURZAC, RECTOR OF THE COLLEGE. 

 According to the desire expressed to me last year by our honorable 

 president, M. Gellibert de Scguins, I have experimented with the fer- 



