202 THE PRINCIPLES OF AGRICULTURE 



2. The Animal in Its Relation to the Soil 



338. The first great resource for the improve- 

 ment of the texture and richness of the soil is 

 herbage (108-111) ; the second is farm manures. 

 When stock is pastured, practically all the ma- 

 nure is returned to the farm ; but when it is 

 housed, much of the manure is commonly lost 

 through the carelessness of the farmer (120, 

 120a) . 



339. The greater the proportion of stock to 

 crop, the more fertile the farm should be ; for if 

 the farmer must buy feed, the manure is gain, 

 so far as the farm is concerned. In general 

 mixed husbandry, stock is necessary in order to 

 maintain fertility, as well as for its direct value ; 

 but in intensive (Ilia) and specialty- farming 

 (4a) manures may be bought. 



3. The Animal in Its Relation to the Crop 



340. There is not sufficient market for all the 

 crops which the land can raise. Therefore, some 

 of the crop may be fed to the animal and sold 

 as meat, or butter, or eggs. 



341. There is an important secondary gain in 

 this feeding-out of the crop, for part of the crop 

 is returned to the land in the manure. Some 



