115 



which manures are manufactured, collected and used. Since 

 the extravagant nitrogen theory of Liebig has exploded, we 

 may be sure that the substantial manures of our farm yards 

 have all the value, which we have been in the habit of attach- 

 ing to them. And we cannot be too attentive to all the pro- 

 cesses of composting and of decomposition, by which green 

 manure is passed safely through the work of putrefaction, and 

 rendered useful to the growing plant. If we will protect the 

 manure of our farm yards, from the wasting influences of sun 

 and rain, we may assure ourselves that we have all that is 

 necessary for the best cultivation of our crops. It furnishes 

 the best pabulum for our corn crop, and is unequalled in the 

 power which it possesses of rendering land peculiarly adapted 

 to the growing of grass. Let every farmer, then, have a cellar 

 or a manure shed, and he may become independent of all arti- 

 ficial stimulants, and may derive from his farm, all those ele- 

 ments which he requires for the best cultivation of land, 



CONCLUSION. 



We have submitted these views to the Society, with the 

 hope that they may do something towards stimulating agricul" 

 tural investigation, rather than with the idea that they would 

 throw new light on questions that have been so often discussed 

 before. " Line upon line, precept upon precept ; here a little 

 and there a little," is a maxim most important to him who 

 deals with the theory and practice of agriculture. We have 

 omitted much that might properly be referred to, for the want 

 of time and space. How much might be said of drainage, 

 and ploughing, and sowing, and planting, which we have not 

 . said ! If we have, however, but opened the first page of the 

 book, and have induced farmers to investigate still further for 

 themselves, we shall have done a good work. If we have 

 done anything to rouse the interest of the community in the 

 business of practical agriculture, we shall have done all that can 

 be expected cf a report of this nature. We are fully impress- 

 ed by the agricultural capabilities of the county, and by the ef 



