540 [Assembly 



plying manures. If we spread devastation over the eastern part 

 of this continent, and then migrate westward, we fall far short of 

 fulfilling our mission. Let us cultivate one acre carefully and 

 thoroughly, before we meddle with a second. 



Geo. E. Waring, jr., objected to Mr. Clapp's idea, for the rea- 

 son that he hoped to see the sewerage of the city (which would 

 be worth for manure over ^12,000 per day,) saved for agricullura 

 uses. 



Judge Meigs said that it had been decided in London that town 

 sewerage could not be availed of. 



Mr, Waring said that the Yankees would do it yet, and indeed 

 the meadows near Edinburgh have been brought from barrenness 

 to a state of the highest fertility by the use of sewerage. The 

 same is successfully adopted in Manchester, and I believe in vari- 

 ous other foreign towns. 



The subject of manures being then taken up, 



Geo. E. Waring made a reply to Dr. Waterbury, on the subject 

 of manures, according to a request made at the meeting at which 

 Dr. W. read a paper on these matters. He said that the position 

 of the Doctor, that " the present drainage and waste of fertilizing 

 substances w^as necessary," is entirely false. The washing away 

 of manurial substances is an evidence of prodigality and ignorance, 

 and should never be permitted by any people. Why, Mr. Chair- 

 man, the gentleman actually brings up, as an instance of the 

 ability of the soil to maintain its own character, the fact that 

 China supports a dense population without the imjiortation of 

 food ; but, sir, he seems to overlook the ftict that she also 

 avoids the exportation of any fertilizing matter, (except in minute 

 quantities in tea, &c.,) and that the waste of any animal excre- 

 ment is a crime; even the fseces of the people are so treated that 

 no part of their mineral constituents can be lost. Were not this 

 the case, sir, China would have been depopulated a thousand 

 years ago. They place there no dependence on the restoration 

 of mineral matter, and they are calumniated by the supposition of 

 improvidence. 



