14 TALKS ON MANURES, 



sui)|)ly of labor, and bired bclp is a luxury almost as costly as 

 artiliciai fertilizers. 



We bave beard superficial tbiukers object to agricultural papers 

 on tbe <j:round tbat tbey were urginj,^ farmers to inij-rove tbeir land 

 and i)roduce larger crops, " wliile," say tbey, " we are producing so 

 mucb already tliat it will not sell for as nuicb as it costs to produce 

 it." My plan of improved agriculture does n(»t necessjirily imply 

 tbe production of any more wbeat or of an}- more grain of any 

 kind that wc sell tban we raise at present. I would simply raise 

 it on fewer acres, and tbus lessen tbe expense for seed, cultivation, 

 harvesting, etc. I would raise 30 bushels of wiieat 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 wlieat 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 mj" own 

 farm I seldom summer-fall(nv, and never plow under clover. I 

 think T can enrich tbe farm nearly as much by feeding the clover 

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

 not take out more tban 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 mucb and no more grain to sdl, adds greatly 

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

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



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

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

 a fair share of good common sense, be need bave no doubt as to 

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



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

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

 though you had. 



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

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

 Be prompt, s^'stematic, cheerful, and enthusiastic. Go to bed early 

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

 better l)e in bed tban at the tavern or grocery. Let not friends, 

 even, keep you up late ; " manners is manners, but still your eltb'a 

 your cltb." 



"But what has this to do with good farming?" ]\lore tban 

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

 and must be followed as sucli. Science will help — help enormously 

 • — l)ut it will never enable us to dispense with industry. Chemistry 



