26 MR. proctor's address. 



made by the cattle on a farm is wasted ? Look to the 

 common structure of barns, where the manure is thrown 

 out to the sides, exposed to the sun and rain for half 

 the year ; — or to the yards where the cows pass their 

 nights in summer ; and compare the products of these 

 barns, or these yards, at the end of the year, with re- 

 ceptacles for the manure properly regulated, and I doubt 

 whether there will remain half the quantity. Take into 

 view further the increase that may be made by placing 

 the cattle iri position to preserve the liquids that are 

 about every stall, by the aid of which mingled with earth 

 may be made the best of manure, and it will not be too 

 much to say that our farmers generally lose two thirds 

 of the materials they have at command for enriching 

 their lands. How many of them not satisfied with the 

 losses thus accruing take special care to draw their ma- 

 nure to the fields when made, and to lay it in a position 

 that will etrectually scatter a large proportion of the vir- 

 tue that remains ? Or when they come to use it, spread 

 it upon the surface and thus lose its fertilizing powers ? 

 Again and again has it been demonstrated, when ma- 

 nure is applied to land, its tendency is to ascend and not 

 to descend. An examination of the sub-soils on lands 

 that have long been under a state of high cultivation 

 proves this. It is therefore indispensable in the appli- 

 cation of manure to the best advantage, that it should 

 be mingled with and covered by the earth. Care also 

 should be taken that it be properly pulverized or sub- 

 divided, so that when mingled with the soil, the union 

 be as perfect as possible. Recent experiments of Pro- 

 fessor Liebeg, show that ammonia, or the power to 

 produce this, is the principal fertilizing ingredient in 

 manure. As much care, therefore, should be taken of 

 this in the field, as in the smelling bottle at church. 



Clay, sand, and lime, are the principal ingredients in 

 most of our soils. A due admixture and propoition of 

 these is essential to successful cultivation. It was the 

 remark of Mr. Fessenden, that " clay without sand, or 

 " sand without clay, and both of these without lime, are 

 *' like a stool intended for a tripod, with but one or two 



