14 TALKS ON MANURES. 



supply of labor, and hired help is a luxury almost as costly as 

 artificial fertilizers. 



We have heard superficial thinkers object to agricultural papers 

 on the ground that they were urging farmers to improve their land 

 and produce larger crops, " while," say they, " we are producing so 

 much already that it will not sell for as much as it costs to produce 

 it." My plan of improved agriculture does not necessarily imply 

 the production of any more wheat or of any more grain of any 

 kind that we sell than we raise at present. I would simply raise 

 it on fewer acres, and thus lessen the expense for seed, cultivr.ti r., 

 harvesting, etc. I would raise 30 bushels of wheat per acre every 

 third year, instead of 10 bushels every year. 



If we summer-fallowed and plowed under clover in order to pro- 

 duce the 30 bushels of wheat once in three years, instead of 10 

 bushels every year, no more produce of any kind would be raised. 

 But my plan does not contemplate such a result. On my own 

 farm I seldom summer-fallow, and never plow under clover. I 

 think I can enrich the farm nearly as much by feeding the clover 

 to animals and returning the manure to the land. The animals do 

 not take out more than from five to ten per cent of the more valu- 

 able elements of plant-food from the clover. And so my plan, 

 while it produces as much and no more grain to sell, adds grcntlv 

 to the fertility of the land, and gives an increased production of 

 beef, mutton, wool, butter, cheese, and pork. 



" But what is a man to do who is poor and has poor land ? " If 

 he has good health, is industrious, economical, and is possessed of 

 a fair sharo of good common sense, he need have no doubt as to 

 being able to renovate his farm and improve his own fortune. 



Faith in good farming is the first requisite. If this is weak, it 

 will be strengthened by exercise. If you have not faith, act as 

 though you had. 



TTork hard, but do not be a drudge. A few hours' vigorous labor 

 will accomplish a great deal, and encourage you to continued effort. 

 Be prompt, systematic, cheerful, and enthusiastic, Go to bed early 

 and get up when you wake. But take sleep enough. A man had 

 better be in bed than at the tavern or grocery. Let not friends, 

 even, keep you up late ; u manners is manners v but s^ill your elth's 

 your elth." 



" But what has this to do with good farming ? " More than 

 chemistry and all the science of the schools. Agriculture is an art 

 and must be followed as such. Science will help help enormouslv 

 but it will never enable us to dispense with industry. Chemistry 



