464 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



The expense of applying fifteen loads of liquid by cart : 



Three men half a day, $1 50 



Water-cart and two horses half a day, 1 50 



One man two days removing poaching, 2 00 



$5 00 



This illustrates the question as to the expense of distribution. 



It has been proved that by mismanagement of solid manures, 

 whether from farms or towns, by tlieir retention for long periods 

 on the surface, by the evaporation of their most fertilising por- 

 tions, and by bad management of them in the ground, as much 

 as two-thirds, and frequently more, of their fertilising qualities 

 are lost, and that the loss of the liquid manures is generally total. 

 In all such cases, where the manure of the stable and of the cattle 

 sheds is seen exposed in the open barn yard to the weather, and 

 where the washings from it by the rain, together with the urine 

 of the farm, are permitted to run off into the ditches, it may be 

 safely declared that the loss of production, from such abominable 

 management, or the sacrifice of the gain derivable from an 

 improved application of the manures, is at least equal to the 

 average rental of the land. 



All countries in which liquid manures are collected with care 

 have acknowledged, their utility, and I was struck with the gene- 

 ral beauty of the meadows and other crops where these manures 

 were used in England, and by the luxuriance of the meadows in 

 Germany, Switzerland, and particularly in the Cantons of Zurich, 

 Argovie, and Berne. You cannot be surprised at the results 

 which experience have given in this respect if you will only 

 reflect : 



1. That manures begin to serve as food for plants only when 

 by successive operations they are almost entirely dissolved in 

 water. 



2. That animal liquids, such as urine, the contents of drains 

 and stables, and sewers of houses, contain a very- large amount of 

 nutritive matters and stimulating principles. 



Two methods of using liquid manures are to be distinguished? 

 either they are distributed on lands already covered with vegeta- 



