No. 144.] 477 



more or less by physical properties, such for instance, as attrac- 

 tion for moisture, color, disintegration, porosity and chemical 

 constituents. All soils must contain the earthy phosphates and 

 alkalies necessary to constitute a plant; if ihese are absent, no 

 growth can possibly take place. An empirical system of farm- 

 ing has applied precisely the same enriching substances to all 

 varieties of plants ; this is wrong, for one species of plant will 

 grow luxuriantly in a dry arid soil, destitute of any enriching 

 substance, for instance, the cactus ; another requires a great deal 

 of moisture; another still, the potato, for example, finds moisture 

 to a grciit extent unnecessary at the commencement of its growth, 

 but indispensable after the blossom sets. It will not do then to 

 administer the same manures, and quantity of water to all plants. 

 In fact, without the analysis of plants, and the earth, we shall 

 continue to farm in the dark, which is inexcusable when we have 

 such men among us as James J. Mapes, George E. Waring, jr., H. 

 C. Vail, Thomas Antisell, and others. 



Another mode of enriching the ground is, by green manuring, 

 or, in other words, plowing in green crops, while in a growing 

 state, which contains a large percentage of water, say sixty; this 

 hastens decomposition, causes immediate mixture with the soil, 

 and adds nitrogen to the organic substances, contained in it, besides 

 producing sundry chemical combinations, advantageous to the 

 growth of plants. Some farmers permit the green vegetable mat- 

 ters to decay on the surface of the soil; this is wrong, from the 

 fact, that they quickly resolve themselves into carbonic acid gas, 

 and escape into the atmosphere; whereas, if covered, this process 

 proceeds slowly, and the growing plant receives the entire benefit 

 not only of the gaseous matter, but the saline compound also, and 

 the organic and inorganic substances are properly diffused through 

 the earth. The following are the principal advantages to be ob- 

 tained by green manuring : 



1st. Turning under green vegetables, grasses, &c,, in the ground 

 on which they have grown, may always be pursued advanta- 

 geousl}^, where other manures cannot readily be procured j when 

 these become decomposed, the growing erops through the medium 

 of their roots, assimilate them in their growth, and retain them in 



