28 T R A X S A C T I X S . 



undiscovered gold in tlie mine. There is more wealth of this kind, 

 in the subsoil of our farms, than in all the mines of California. 



The educated fanner v.ill put his subsoil plow into this mine of 

 wealth, and give the roots of plants a chance to draw up its treasures 

 and wave them, in the golden harvests. And the result of this me- 

 chanical disturbing of the soil, will not onlj' give new pasture ground 

 for the roots of plants, but v.ill put the soil itself in a better condition 

 to faster vegetation. The soil is loosened, and the air tirculates 

 freeh% to the depth to which it has been disturbed. The air circu- 

 lates there, charged with more or less of moistui-e, and moisture is 

 also drawn up, by capillary attraction, from the earth beneath; so 

 that the evils of summer' drought are, in a great measure, guarded 

 against. So, also, the excessive rains of spring, and the summer 

 showers, do not flood tlie crops, and destroy them. A more abun- 

 dant harvest is secured, and larger returns to the farmer's pocket. 

 The scientific cultivator will increase the depth of his acres, just as 

 he reduces their breadth, and grows rich by the operation. 



He will economise in manures. He will make more of them, and 

 of much better quality. The most valuable, and volatile part of 

 them, that have been hitherto stolen away, by the sun, and the rain, 

 will be retained, in his compost heap, by the free use of plaster of 

 Paris, burnt clay, charcoal dust, or other carbonaceous matters. The 

 muck and peat swamps, those rich mines of the farm, will be laid 

 under contribution, to furnish the stables, the pens, and the yards, 

 Avith suitable retainers of the gases, and salts of the animal excretia. 

 There is no more wholesale waste, about our farming, than in the 

 manure heap. Almost every one might double this, in quantity, 

 without at all reducing its quality ; while many might increase it 

 ten fold. No farmer should be satisfied, or feel that he is cultivating 

 his lands to the best advantage, until he makes his fifty half cords of 

 manure, for every horse, cow or ox upon his farm. This is done by 

 some who cultivate the soil, and could be done to good advantage, 

 by every farmer, who has the necessary divisors upon his own prem- 

 ises. This would, in due time, furnish every acre of the fiirm, with 

 abuudant food for crops, and would be continually enriching the 

 land, while it snriched the owner. Now many a farmer spends less 

 than a fortnight in the preparation of manures, and his only manu- 

 factory is an open yard, giving free play to the sun, winds, and rain, 

 and, perhaps, having a drain upon the lower side, to conduct its 

 washings into the street, or the neighboring pond. With such a 



