244 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER, 



JAW, 31, 184'!', 



THIRD AGRICULTURAL MEETING AT 

 THE STATE HOUSE OF FARMERS AND 

 OTHKRS INTERESTED IS AGRICUL- 

 TURE, Ja.v. 23. 



On account of the unfavorable stale of the 

 weather, the meeting was not fully attended, al- 

 though there was a very respectable number pres- 

 ent. A very intcrestinsr discussion took place, in 

 which a number of gpntlomen participated. The 

 President and Vice Presidents being all absent, 

 with the exception of Hon. .Morrill Allen, of Pem- 

 broke, Mr Allen called the meeting to order, and 

 then proceeded to make some remarks on the sub- 

 ject assigned for discussion, viz. " Application of 

 Manures." 



He said, the subject of manure which was dis- 

 cussed at our last meeting, stands prominent and 

 even first among those that should employ the at- 

 tention of farmers. Next in importance to seeking | 

 extended knowledge of the countless substances 1 

 which may be applied as manure, is that knowl- j 

 edge which qualifies us to make the most judicious 

 and useful application of the various articles we 

 spread over our fields. 



There are many and contradictory opinkins con- 

 cerning the proper time and manner of applying 

 the manure of barn-yards to soils. This is used 

 to some extent by every farmer, and to this my re- 

 marks shall be chiefly confined. The leading 

 questions on which variant opinions arise, are, 

 should it be used in its long or unfermented state, 

 or should, it be decomposed before it goes to the 

 field ? — should it be spread on the surface and 

 there left, or plowed under the soil .' — what sea- 

 son in the year should fields be manured ? 



Now, on these questions theorists and doctors 

 differ widely ; and we certainly shall not expect in 

 this discussion, to come to any unquestionable con- 

 clusions. Perhaps we can pursue no course more 

 likely to impart light and guidance, than in a free 

 disclosure of our personal practices and the results 

 that have followed. 



The work of cultivation was commenced by me 

 before much had been written in this country on 

 the subject of aoriculture. My early guides were 



strength. Much of the enriching qualities of un- 

 mixed barn manure, would, no doubt, pass into the 

 atmosphere, if spread on the surface. And proba- 

 bly theorists have reference to this when they 

 speak in so strong language against surface manur- 

 ing. 



Compost manure, when proper materials are 

 used, and in suitable proportions, we think will 

 draw more fructifying gases from the atmosphere 

 than will be discharged into it. But, if farmers 

 will use unmixed manure, let them plow it under 

 the soil. We feel, confident, however, that very 

 little should be used in this way. 



The proper seasons for manuring fields, cannot 

 be fixed by any rules which all farmers would find 

 it practicable to observe. My practice has been 

 to manure nt all seasons, when it could be done 

 without injury to the soil or the growing crop. It 

 will no doubt be most effective when applied near 

 the lime of vegetation. 



1 With the various extracts in the form of salts, 

 I have made few exi)erinients, and those have been 

 applications to the surface. A different course 

 may in simie cases be preferable — if so, we hope 

 to hear it recommended in the progress of this dis- 

 cussion. 



The order of nature, all farmers must observe, 

 is to lodge the food which is to nourish future 

 plants near the surface. Art is seldom successful 

 when its grasp is extended beyond established 

 laws. 



Mr Breck then read the following communica- 

 tion from the Hon. John Welles, on the subject of 

 salt as a manure : 



Boston, Jnn. 2M, 1844. 



Mr Breck — Dear Sir — As I find that nt the 

 second meeting of farmers at the State House, 

 some regret was expressed by several agricultu- 

 rists that the article of salt had not been more par- 

 ticularly introduced, and having many years since 

 gone through several experiments on this subject, 

 at your request I place the results thereof at your 

 disposition. 



In the various efforts to which I have had resort 

 for the improvement of soil, and the increase of 



application made at the rate of 5 bushels to tJi 

 acre, gave a bright green surface, and an inci-ase 

 fertility to the spot on which it was strewed. 



Induced by what has preceded, I measured off 

 portion of pasture land, and strewed on the su 

 face at the rale of 4 bushels to the acre — tlie re 

 suit was evidently favorable : the gross was of 

 deeper green, and the feed was preferred by th 

 cattle. 



I have pursued the subject in the variety 

 modes as herein detailed, to give some proof of th 

 utility of salt when carefully applied, and of 

 power when otherwise used. To show this in th 

 latter case, and as it may be as desirable to olhei 

 as to me, I would add, that there were on m 

 ground, set out more than half a century since fi 

 ornament and fashion's sake, several score of tl 

 tree called the Lombardy Poplar. These 

 great exliausters of the soil, and it became desiri 

 ble, from their extensive roots and suckers, to 

 rid of them. For this purpose, I had recourse i 

 the power of the article of which we treat. I ci 

 down the trees, making a hollow in the top of tl 

 stump : to this an augur was applied, and a ho 

 bored to the depth of from 4 to fi inches: 2 or 

 quarts of salt was put on the stump, and so cffei 

 tual was it that no sucker ever appeared. Theol 

 ject was thus fully effected. 



1 have thus given in detail what my course hi 

 been in the use of salt. A respect for those gei 

 tiemen who have expressed a desire to have tl 

 value of this article discussed, has endangered ii 

 in the trial of your patience. But if the course 

 have pursued shall afford any occasion for improvi 

 ment or amusement, it will gratify one who hi 

 ever taken great pleasure in agricultural pursuit 

 I am, with great respect. 



Yours, truly, 



JOHN WELLES. 

 P. S. It may be observed, as somewhat incidei 

 tal to this subject, that the use of marine manures : 

 which salt greatly abound, such as rock-wee 

 sea-weed, &c. &c., are in general the great mati 

 rial for the cow-yard and hog-sty, are in great us 

 and demand near the tide-waters. But as in the 



chiefly indications of nature and the texture of : production, the application of salt has been often I '^"'"P"'""'" '""'='"''" '^ ""eluded, I had carrie 



' recurred to. In England, it has been long in prac 1 "!> '" ^''^ ^"""^ P''"^'' °'" experiment and plowc 

 tice to add it to the compost heap, to the extent of i '" •"; "re'uHy mverted under the sod, as now prat 

 10 to 1.5 bushels to the acre. With us, the quan- 



soils on "Inch operations were made. Those in- 

 dications led me to apply almost all the manure 

 made to the surface. My soils are generally 

 moist and compact; the productiim of English hay 

 was the leading object, and it was thought surface 

 manuring would prove most effective. This course 

 was pursued many years with satisfactory success, 

 and without any doubts of tlie practice being found- 

 ed in genuine philosophy. But soon after agricul- 

 tural writers began to multiply, the practice of sur- 

 face manuring was censured in strong terms. The 

 first writer noticed, as subjecting me to tlie charge 

 of " manuring the atmosphere," I think was the 

 elder Quincy. (This phrase is usfd with great 

 respect, and for the obvious reason that both the 

 (iuincys ore Presidents.) Tiie deep thought to 

 which 1 knew that venerable gentleman to be ac- 

 customed, brought me to a pause and renewed in- 

 quiry, and some different experiments were made 



tity has varied, owing with some to considerations 

 of their distance from tide-water. 



Being desirous of ascertaining its value for ag- 

 ricultural use, I began and continued for several 

 years, a series of experiments in order to test its 

 utility, at a position 12 to 15 miles distant from 

 tide waters. First, by the application of about 1 

 bushel of salt to a buck-load of manure, for mix- 

 ture in the compost heap, and an increased diffu- 

 sion by its being plowed into the soil. I found 

 the result highly beneficial, and have long contin- 

 ued the practice. 



As this nearly coincided with the English mode, 

 1 did not risk the crop by any greater application. 

 It then occurred to me as desirable in the pursuit 

 of the experiment, to ascertain the effect produced 



Other authoritative names were yearly added to by salt when applied broadcast, or carefully strew- 



the denunciators of surface manuring. After sev- 

 eral experiments, I determined to pursue the for- 

 mer course, and manure on the surface. This 

 was believed to be best on my farm. All my ma- 

 nure for mowing land is composted. It is an ob- 

 ject to increase the quantity, even at expens* o( 



ed on the surface of the soil or grass sward, 



I took a well adapted situation, and measured 

 off a number of square rods, and began at tlie rate 

 of 40 bushels to the acre. This, with 30, 20, and 

 15 bushels, entirely destroyed the vegetation. 10 

 bu.'-hels produced nearly tlie same effect, but the 



ticed, a load or two of seaweed. This was in a 

 open pasture, and I found the result particularll 

 beneficial. 



Mr Allen remarking that the subject was con' 

 paratively new, called upon any one present I 

 communicate any information upon the subject. 



Mr Stone, of Beverly, stated that he had no pe 

 sonal experience in the use of salt as a manure 

 but had observed its effects upon the land of 

 neighbor. This neighbor invited him to look at 

 piece of grass which he had, and upon entcrin 

 the field, was asked if he saw any thing peculiar! 

 different in the appearance of the grass in on 

 part of the lot from that in another portion of i 

 He answered, he did ; that in one part of the fiel 

 the grass was much greener and more luxuriai 

 than in the other. Tlie owner requested him t 

 e-iicfs what had caused the difference — (a privileg 

 all Vankees have) — but in this instance he coul 

 only sri'f^s, "'ithout arriving at the cause; where 

 upon he was informed that he had plowed an 

 sowed all the land equally alike, and the cultiv; 

 tion the same with regard to many things ; but th 

 peculiar luxuriance of one part was occasioned b 



