144 



STALL-MANURE AND STRAW. 



ground for chemical confidence ought to be laid by- 

 practical men, even at the very commencement, to 

 touch upon a theme of such uncertain issues. Now, 

 however, when chemistry has gained sympathy from 

 many agriculturists, and numerous results of various 

 character derived from practical experience are ex- 

 tant, which show that the improvement of poor land 

 may be effected in other modes, and indeed with 

 greater advantage, than by buying straw, — nay, 

 more, that fields are to be preserved in full vigor 

 even without straw, — an opinion deviating from 

 traditionary belief will not straightway be considered 

 heresy, but the reasons advanced in its support will 

 at least be subjected to trial before it is entirely 

 thrust aside. 



Since all manures act only through the elements 

 of which they are composed, the preliminary ques- 

 tion in an attempt to estimate the manuring value 

 to which straw can lay claim will therefore be. What 

 constituents does it contain ? To this the chemical 

 analysis of the best-known kinds of straw gives the 

 following reply. 



In 1,000 pounds of perfectly dry straw we find : — 



