242 REVIEWS REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF PATENTS. 



occasion, but leave it afterwards more prostrate than before. The skilful 



and wise cultivator so graduates the growth and disposition of his products as not 

 to draw from the soil what is not in some manner fully restored to it. No system 

 of agriculture has been discovered for accomplishing this purpose effectually, but 

 the simple and natural one cf rearing a large proportion of domestic animals, 

 sufficient to consume most of the products of the farm upon its surface." 



The principle above enunciated, viz., the making farms self-sus- 

 taining as regards manures, is doubtless a sound one, but it should ad- 

 mit of modifications to meet the wants of varying conditions and cir- 

 cumstances. In the neighborhood of large populations, the farmer 

 often finds it to his advantage to dispose of his hay, straw, &c., and 

 purchase manure in their stead. Barnyard manure containing all the 

 ingredients necessary to the growth and maturity of plants is always 

 more or less certain in its action ; the only objection of a practical 

 nature is that it is too bulky to transport to long distances, whereas 

 artificial manures are more concentrated, and can be widely and cheaply 

 applied, so far as the expense of transport is concerned, to the more 

 remote parts of the country. As a general rule, in a country like 

 this, those manures, which usually contain only a portion of the con- 

 stituents of plants, should be principally employed on defective or 

 worn-out soils, with a view not only to the increase of grain, but more 

 especially to that of the grasses, the chief source from which domestic 

 animals derive their sustenance, and the sure way of promoting per- 

 ijianent fertility. 



It would appear from a number of facts embodied in the Report, 

 that the recent introduction of the Chinese yam into the United 

 States has not been attended by any very encouraging degree of suc- 

 cess, and that its economic value is still debateable. And vdth regard 

 to^the Chinese sugar-cane, although the results of experimentalists are 

 by no means uniform, varying of course according to differences of 

 soil, climate, culture, &c., yet upon the whole there is sufficient evi- 

 dence to conclude that its utility is hardly doubtful. If in the nor- 

 thern portion of the States it should ultimately be found not adapted 

 to the production of sugar, as would seem to be the case from the 

 little experience we have of it in Canada, there appears no reason to 

 doubt but that it vsdll, at least, prove a valuable forage crop. We find 

 from experiment that it can be cut for such purpose twice during the 

 season, and that it is relished by horses, cattle, and pigs. We are also 

 inclined to think that it may prove an accession to our cultivated 

 crops, from the amount of syrup which it yields, and the Report con- 

 tains several facts in confirmation of this view. 



