PRFFACn 



Tlir use of tome focm of fertilt«cr it becoming more 

 and mure a mark uf modern A|;rtculturc Thuugh mAuy 

 farmert, and among them some of uur best, still pre 

 fe&« to Kom all artificial manures and pin their f.iith 

 on the dung made by ihcir il»<k, ihcy none the less 

 arc buying the elements of fertility— nitrogen, ph<»s- 

 p' (I (Mitash — in the cake^ aud i»thcr fcc<ling 



tlw;:.. :..cy bring from stifnc outside source and con- 

 sume on their farma^ It is the continual introduction 

 of plant food from outride which distinguishes modem 

 intensi\*e methods of cultivation from ** M farming. 

 Prior to a periocl which roughly » with the 



foundation of the Royal Agricultural Society of Kng- 

 land in 1 838, the farmer, living on the inherent capital 

 of the soil, wMs forced into a conser\*ative system of 

 cultivation, mhich by restoring in the dung the greater 

 part of what had been taken from the soil by the crops, 

 would reduce the losses from his land to a [xjint where 

 they would be more or Ic^s balanced by the natural re- 

 cuperative processes at work in the soil. In consequence 

 the level • tion was low, and it was the discovery 



and intrL,' :. .. of artificial fertilisers and feetling 



stuffs — nitrate of soda, guano, the phosphates, cotton 

 cake, maize, etc. — which enabled the British farmer to 

 raise his output per acre by at least 50 (*cr cent, 

 duriti;^ the reign of the late Queea It is true that all 



