396 JASSEMBL-? 



be. It has been spoken of more lately by certain eminent che- 

 mists of Europe, recommending it in preference to certain other 

 manures, such as guano, phosphate of lime, &c., — not that these 

 were not good when pure, but they liad been much adulterated, 

 and the farmers highly cheated and imposed upon in buying 

 them, that rather than be subject to this, the farmers had better 

 use the valuable farm-yard manure, in wMch they could not be 

 very easily clieated j that this was more or less the case with 

 most chemical compounds prepared by chemists and druggists as 

 manure for the farmers. Or if the latter will buy and use these, 

 torget them of persons they can confide in, or have them analyzed 

 by competent chemists before buying them. A great outcry had 

 been raised in Europe against the exposition of the fraud com- 

 mitted on farmers in selling them adulterated, worthless manures. 

 It spoiled the trade of the importers, and nearly broke it up. The 

 shoe pinched, and they cried out. Thus many of the rogues 

 were discovered from their sensitiveness and consciousness of 

 guilt, upon being publicly charged with it. The honest and able 

 portion of the profession and others were not to be deterred from 

 their purpose, but persevered until they made the danger gene- 

 rally known. We hope the example will be followed here by 

 our honorable members of the profession and others, and if any 

 similar fraud should be practiced in manures, it wull be fearlessly 

 exposed, no matter w-hose toes may be pinched, or whose interest 

 injured by the explosion. 



The Chairman thought the plan adopted by the Institute, of 

 improvement in agriculture by means of its Farmers*' Club, is an 

 excellent one, and ought to extend to every country, and that it 

 would also do great service to other classes, if they, like farmers, 

 should hold clubs, and at hours and places convenient to all. 

 As to the doctrine of sub-soiling, it is not yet well understood. 

 When the subsoil is brought up, and exposed to wind and wea- 

 ther, it takes two or three years to make it good. This deep 

 ploughing has other great benefits, by destroying insects. Our 

 practical farmers ought to come to these meetings. Let science 

 and practice here unite in one of the very best causes — that of 

 agriculture. 



