HOW THE DEACON MAKES MANURE. 75 



principally of corn-stalks, straw, and water. 1 think you are wise 

 in not spending much time in piling and working over such 

 manure." 



The Deacon and I have a standing quarrel about manure. We 

 differ on all points. He is a good man, but not what we call a good 

 farmer. He cleared up his farm from the original forest, and he 

 has always been content to receive what his land would give him. 

 £f he gets good crops, well, if not, his expenses are moderate, and 

 he manages to make both ends meet. I tell him he could double 

 his crops, and quadruple his profits, by better farming — but though 

 he cannot disprove the facts, he is unwilling to make any change 

 in his system of farming. And so he continues to make just as 

 much manure as the crops he is obliged to feed out leave in his 

 yards, and no more. He does not, in fact, make any manure. He 

 takes what comes, and gets it on to his land with as little labor a.s 

 possible. 



It is no use arguing with such a man. And it certainly will not 

 do to contend that his method of managing manure is all wrong. 

 His error is in making such poor maimre. But with such poor 

 stuflF as he has in his yard, 1 believe he is right to get rid of it with 

 the least expense possible. 



I presume, too, that the Deacon is not altogether wrong in regard 

 to the good mechanical effects of manure on undrained and indif- 

 ferently cultivated land. I have no doubt that he bases his opinion 

 on experience. The good effects of such manure as he makes 

 must be largely due to its mechanical action — it can do little 

 towards supplying the more important and valuable elements of 

 plant-food. 



I commend the Deacon's system of managing manure to all such 

 as make a similar article. But I think there is a more excellent 

 way. Feed the stock better, make richer manure, and then it will 

 pay to bestow a little labor in taking care of it. 



