16 TRANSACTIONS. 



Fathers to the comparatively barren shores of New England. 

 Had they found an easy and naturally fertile soil here, New 

 England character, in which we so much glory, would never 

 have been developed. It needed a soil, capable, by cultiva- 

 tion, of yielding a good return, but not affording even subsis- 

 tence without untiring industry and skill. We ought, there- 

 fore, to be thankful for the comparative barrenness of our soil, 

 and, instead of envying others their naturally richer fields, we 

 ought to ba stimulated to make ours as rich as possible by cul- 

 tivation ; and then, we shall have, what is very seldom acquired 

 in regions that yield almost a spontaneous growth, and what 

 is worth infinitely more than natural fertility ; I mean industri- 

 ous and sober habits ; well informed minds ; energy of char- 

 acter; and a good conscience. And this, with me, is one of 

 the strongest arguments for doing all we can, to sustain agri- 

 cultural societies ; since they are accomplishing this work in a 

 most energetic and efficient manner. 



Perhaps science has not thrown more light upon any part of 

 agriculture, than upon that of the nature and operation of ma- 

 nures. It is but a few years since there was a darkness that 

 might be felt upon this subject. But now, we know the com- 

 position and specific action of most substances called manures. 

 They may be divided into two classes ; the first, embracing 

 the various salts useful upon land ; and the other, consisting 

 of vegetable or animal matter mixed with salts. The salts are 

 such as common salt nitre, phosphate of lime, or bone ashes, 

 limestone, marl, nitrate of lime, potash, soda, &,c. &.c. These, 

 in their pure state, do not afl'ord much nutriment to plants ; but 

 they act upon the nutriment, and prepare it for the organs of 

 the plant, by rendering it soluble and decomposing it. The 

 common manures, or a large part of them, are converted, when 

 mixed with the soil, into what is called geine, or humus. But 

 this is not in a proper state to be taken up by the roots, until 

 acted upon by other substances, when it becomes soluble, or 

 produces carbonic acid. Common manures usually contain 

 more or less of the salts ; but, being most of them soluble, they 

 are carried away by rains ; and hence the value of new sup- 



