which it hiis been in some instances, would render the earth 

 little better than an uninhabitable desert. The powers drawn 

 from the soil by the production of crops, shouUl be restored to 

 it by manures in some shape or other. The farmer whose hus- 

 bandry thus exhausts his land of its fertility ought not to be cal- 

 led a cultivator of the Earth, but a robber of the soil, a robber 

 of the public, and of future generations. This sort of robbery 

 has been ton thousand times more hurtful to the prosperity of 

 the community, than all the highway robberies committed in 

 New-England from its first settlement to the present time. 



A good farmer would not only endeavour to preserve the 

 original fertility of the soil, but to increase it, till it was car- 

 ried to the highest degree of which it is susceptible, consistent 

 with his interest and profits. It is a most important inquiry 

 by what means can a sufficient quantity of manure be obtained, 

 what kinds will be most beneficial in proportion to the ex- 

 pense, what are best adapted to the soil of his farm, and what 

 will be the most beneficial application of them ? Here the most 

 learned man and the most skiful fiirmer, will find ample occa- 

 sion for all the knowledge they have derived froai study and 

 practice, science and experience. 



Barn or stable manure is one of the best means of enriching 

 land where it can be procured in sufficient quantities; but accord- 

 ing to our present modes of farming this can seldom be done, 

 except in the vicinity of large towns, and even then, 1 doubt 

 whether farmers can afford the high prices for stable manure 

 at present demanded. It is not difficult for a man of fortune 

 who regards not the expense, to enrich bis land so as to pro- 

 duce great crops. But the question with farmers in general 

 is, and ought to be, how it may be profitably done. If the ex- 

 pense exceeds the product, it will not do for them. It is not 

 sufficient that the crops are large, but do they afford a net profit. 

 The true object of the farmer is to cultivate his land in such 

 a manner as will afford the largest profit, after deducting 

 rents, taxes, labour, and all expenses of cultivation. 



The manure from the barn I believe might be very much 

 increased, perhaps doubled or tripled, if the yard were cov- 



