Reports of Committees. 



care. They use the most approved and efficient implements of husbandry, 

 their houses, barns and out-buildings are neat and in trim, there is a place 

 lor every thing and everything in its place, and in some instances, the high- 

 way even in their immediate precinct, is in keeping with the rest, which is 

 what we like to see, and by all means would encourage and recommend. The 

 effect is pleasing to the eye, and makes a favorable impression upon the 

 traveller, who, as he passes along and takes a glance at the surroundings 

 and sees those sure evidences of thrift and enterprise forms at once, a fav- 

 orable opinion of the character and reputation of the owner, as a farmer. 

 We would say to thosc'haphazard, blind-chance farmers, who usually com- 

 plain of hard times and short crops, who seldom read, experiment, take 

 council or learn from the experience of others, and condemn book tanning 

 in unqualified terms, "go thou and do likewise." It is the kind of farming 

 that pays. The man who plants and sows upon slovenly prepared and ira- 

 proverished soil, subsequently half tilled, and then relies on Providence and 

 the moon to give him a crop, must expect, and deserves to fail. Provi- 

 dence helps those that help themselves. He furnishes the elements, but man 

 is the agent through whose instrumentality they are converted into mate- 

 rial, which serves him for food, comfort and convenience. Plants must have 

 food adapted to their nature, and insufficient quantities, or like a half 

 starved ox or cow, they mete us little profit. How is a man expected to 

 know the different properties of various soils, the organic elements that 

 enter into and build up the vegetable world, their nature and adaptation, 

 if he will not try to inform himself by study, observation, practice and ex 

 perience ? It is to the scientific and practical men that we are indebted for 

 the many improvements made, and theories developed in the art of farming, 

 such as introducing artificial fertilizers adapted to soils deficient in certain 

 properties, underdraining where required, irrigating where practicable, sub- 

 soiling where expedient, &c, &c. To properly prepare and till the ground ; 

 to know in what properties it is deficient and what fertilizers to apply, what 

 time, and in what quantity to produce a certain crop, lies the great secret 

 of success in farming. How much is allowed to run to waste or neglected, 

 about the premises of almost every farmer, which, if properly husbanded 

 and treated, would be of great value as fertilezers ! Such as soap-suds, 

 sink-drippings, accumulations of the cess-pool, old bones, scrapings of the 

 gutters, even soot, hair and feathers, &c, are saved in some countries, all of 

 which are ricli in those elements which constitute plant food. The most 

 disgusting and loathsome substances, which naturally accumulate about our 

 dwellings and out-houses, might be made a source of profit, which, if left 

 exposed to rot and decay, with nothing to absorb those deleterious gasses 

 they emit, such a sulphuretted hydrogen and ammonia, contaminate the air, 

 breeding disease and causing in some instances, no doubt, premature death. 

 Bui let them be husbanded and judiciously applied to the soil, and nature, 

 in her great laboratory, will silently distill those noxious elements, mingle 

 and combine them into the most palatable food or tempting fruits that come 

 to our tables. The various nil rates and phosphates must be incorporated 



