A G R I C U L T U R A L E C N O M Y . 57 



ncss of a former is becoming more closely approximated, than for- 

 merly, to that of a manufacturer. For whilst, formerly, our farming 

 arrangements were conducted in the manner which the quality of 

 manure produced on the farm itself prescribed, we are, now, free to 

 cultivate, as may seem most profitable, every plant which is suited 

 to the soil. Yea, still more ; we can produce, as it were, with a sin- 

 gle effort, fine harvests from worn out fields ; — we can in such a 

 case secure, in two or three years, the same results for which formerly 

 ten or twelve years were required." 



Every farmer should in addition to the animal excretions which he 

 possesses, be in the way of employing such artificial manure as he 

 can most readily and cheaply furnish himself with. The following, 

 by way of suggestion, is copied from an English farm journal. 

 Guano, Urate from the London poudrette manufactory. Bone-dust, 

 Superphosphate of lime, Humus, Rape-cake, Woolen-rags, Sulphate 

 and Muriate of ammonia. Saltpetre, Boast's mineral manure, Alkaline 

 manure. Soda, Soap-boilers' ashes. Gypsum, Chloride of lime, &c. 

 &c. Here the intelligent tiller of the soil has a fruitful theme for 

 reflection and experiment : to wit, to learn the effect of these several 

 manures upon his soils and how to supply them in producing his 

 various crops — so as to learn which, of all these varieties, with oth- 

 ers not named here, he shall, in the light of economy, procure. 



The great end to be reached by the use of manures, is such a 

 stimulation of the soil under cultivation, as to obtain from any given 

 area the greatest possible amount of produce, adapted to the feeding 

 of man and beast ; both being alike dependent for nutrition on the veg- 

 etable kingdom. The art of feeding animals, like that of plants, is but 

 poorly understood, even by the best agriculturists, at the present day. 

 "Knowledge derived from experience"' has been kept in the back ground 

 by prejudice and superstition — guides of a stumbling and perverse peo- 

 ple. There seems to be very little more known to-day on these sub- 

 jects, notwithstanding the boast of progress in these latter times, than 

 was known to Abraham, Job and Jacob. Yet it would seem that many 

 of these great problems that lie at the very foundation of agricultural 

 Economy, might be solved in one generation, and even in less time, by 

 experiment — just such as the most common farmer can make. The 

 speculations of the man of science in the laboratory can never do it, 

 else a Liebig would have attained unto it ore this. — The chemist has 

 done something, it is true, by way of analysis, but very little by way 

 of didactic teaching. Such knowledge as the farmer needs and must 

 have, in order to advance the art of agriculture and perfect its econo- 



