EDITOR'S PREFACE. 



subsoil are absorbed, and in the form of manure are trans- 

 ferred to the arable surface soil. But if this process con- 

 tinues, and the corn and cattle are still sold, and no re- 

 placement from without is made of the lost mineral matters, 

 the time will arrive, sooner or later, when the subsoil be- 

 comes exhausted, and the surface soil having no longer a 

 reservoir from which to draw supplies by means of fodder 

 plants, is also unable to bear remunerative crops. This 

 natural progress of the system of farm-yard manuring is 

 fully discussed in chapter fifth. The reader must not sup- 

 pose that the condemnation passed on the system of farm- 

 yard manuring is meant to apply to farm-yard manure itself. 

 The latter is the type of a valuable manure which cannot 

 be replaced in every respect by any artificial mixtures in 

 use. The remarks of the author only apply to the falla- 

 cious hopes entertained of keeping up permanently the 

 fertility of the soil by manure obtained by the system of 

 rotation, whilst we continue still to sell the corn raised by 

 such manure without bringing back to the soil any portion 

 of the mineral matter sold with the corn and cattle. 



The excrements of man contain all the mineral matter 

 not only of the corn, but also of the cattle sold from the 

 land. Could we restore these excrements to the soil, a per- 

 fect circulation of the conditions of life for plants and ani- 

 mals would be established, and our fields would be retained 

 in a permanent state of fertility. This problem has been 

 solved by the Chinese and Japanese. Chinese rural life, as 

 it is described by travellers, as well as the report of the 

 Japanese system of husbandry given in Appendix G. by 

 Dr. Maron, would scarcely lead us to wish for the improve- 

 ment of agriculture upon the plan of these Orientals ! The 

 requirements of modern civilization would not permit the 

 purchase of manuring matter, however valuable, at the cost 

 of all domestic comfort. The sewers must, we fear, still 

 receive what would be offensive to our English senses. 



