136 EXPERIMENTS ON MANURES. 



been extended to a much greater length than I anticipated at 

 its commencement, but had it been more brief, many facts and 

 statements would have been omitted, which I have deemed 

 important. 



There is a reluctance among most farmers to write a report 

 of their farming operations, for the reason that they know not 

 where to begin, or where to end. I must confess that I have 

 felt a difficulty of this kind to some extent, and I would res- 

 pectfully suggest that a system of questions on farming be pre- 

 pared similar in character to those of the New York State Ag- 

 ricultural Society, for the benefit of persons hereafter applying 

 for the Society's premium. 



EXPERI3IENTS ON MANURES. 



The Committee on Experiments on Manures, Report, that 

 no application has been made for the premiums offered. This 

 is to be regretted, inasmuch as the subject has a direct and in- 

 separable interest on a well conducted system of husbandry. 



Great diversity of opinion has been entertained by farmers 

 respecting the best method of applying manure to the growing 

 crops. While some have directed to spread on the surface, 

 and then turn under to the bottom of a deep furrow, that 

 evaporation may not readily carry off its more volatile particles, 

 others, on the contrary, insist that it should be spread on the 

 surface, and thoroughly incorporated with the soil, by repeat- 

 ed harrowing. So far as our experience goes, the latter mode 

 is preferable. The salts of animal manures buried deep in the 

 soil, have a tendency to settle in the sub-soil, below the reach 

 of the roots of plants, which, if admixed near the surface, 

 give immediate aid to vegetation. 



If evaporation of manure near the surface be more abun- 

 dant, do not the absorbant vessels of the leaf, drink in the 

 gaseous fluid with the greatest avidity ? Is not evaporation 

 then, one of the most efficacious means of rapidly advancing 

 the growing crop ? 



