260 SOILS 



ing against the loss of any other farm product. For it must 

 be borne in mind that the manurial value of feeds like 

 bran, after it has passed through the cow, is worth $10.50 

 per ton ; of red clover, under the same conditions, ap- 

 proximately $7.30 per ton ; of linseed meal, $16.77 P er 

 ton ; and of cotton seed meal, $19.70 per ton. This bears 

 out the statement made elsewhere, that the fertilizing ele- 

 ments in manure are governed by the feeds that are fed 



A BALANCE WHEEL IN FARMING 



A grain crop makes swift work in ruining lands, but the dairy cow preserves 



them 



to the cow. Hence, rich feeds make rich manure : poor 

 feeds, poor manure and little product. 



Dairying is behind rich lands. Dairying sets in motion 

 the processes that make rich lands : that make plant food 

 available. Your land may contain an abundance of plant 

 food, but it may be unavailable as food. Dairying will 

 set the strings going: it will produce the food for plants 

 in a soluble way and in abundance. Suppose you are 

 served a cup of tea. You taste of it and find it is not 

 sweet; but you are told that sugar has been added and 

 you should stir the tea: it now becomes sweet. The 

 sugar, in this case, remained at the bottom of the cup 



