T522, 523] THE DUNG-PRODUCING SYSTEM. 251 



questioned. But when it conies to encumbering ourselves with millions of 

 living dung-manufactories, the question assumes a very different aspect. To 

 raise the feed and to attend the cattle, will occupy nearly, or quite, one-half of 

 the laboring force of the country; which will, therefore, likewise be occupied in 

 manufacturing dung, in order that the other half may be enabled to raise cotton — 

 provided, such a thing could be dono profitably under such circumstances. — 

 Nor could the me it thus raised avail us anything ; it would be a drug, for which 

 we could find no market that would pay us back the cost of raising. And over 

 and above all these inconvenience-;, we should only arrive at last at the same 

 point which we might have reached by a much less circuitous route (c. g., by 

 subsoiling and fallowing alone, according to the Tullian, or Lois Weedon system); 

 to-wit : utter exhaustion of our soil. 



522. While it is a matter of the last importance that we should avail ourselves 

 to the fullest extent, of such stable manure as a sound policy will enable us to 

 obtain as a collateral product : the doctrine of cattle-raising for the sake of manure 

 is based upon a fallacy ; and a consistent adherence to it will slowly, but 

 inevitably lead to bankruptcy of any agricultural commonwealth. It is true 

 that un ler this system, when combined with deep tillage and a suitable method 

 of rotation, land will endure longer than under any other wiricii does not replace 

 the nutritive ingredients annually abstracted from the soil It is admirablf 

 contrived to make the most of the finite stock of fertility which the land My 

 possess. But in this case, as in many others, the longer we allow ourselves t» 

 be deceived, the more difficult will it be to repair the dimige done. When at 

 last our children or grand-children arrive at the " end of the string" ; when our 

 land-s. incapable of further producing even feed for our cattle, shall doggedly 

 refuse to furnish us the every-day necessaries of life, unless in exchange for a 

 corresponding quantity of manure ; we shall find ourselves obliged either to 

 import the latter, or else, the necessaries of life themselves. Our native stock 

 of fertility being exhausted, we shall be entirely dependent upon this supply 

 from without, every irregularity or failure of which will be felt as a national 

 calamity. 



Thus, if at the present time, the supply of guano* to Europe were to fail for 

 a single season, the consequences would be most disastrous to whole countries, 

 which are unable to make their lands produce save by the action of that pow- 

 erful agent. In such a case, the deficiency in South American guano would 

 probably have to be supplied in the shape of corn and wheat, from the United 

 States. It is not necessary to be an expert in National Economy to perceive 

 how ruinous must be the consequences of such a state of things. 



523. The Lost Fertility. — It may be asked what has become of the inde- 

 structible matter which formed the original stock of fertility, now lost by 

 mismanagement ? The answer will readily suggest itself to every thinking 

 man, when he considers what is the ultimate destination of agricultural 

 products, viz : to serve as food and raiment to man. Whatsoever we feed to 

 our stock, is partly consumed by man as meat, milk, cheese, eggs, etc., partly 

 returns to the fields through the manure pile — diminished by the amount 

 contained in our food, each time it thus circulates. For, unfortunately, night- 

 soil, the most efficacious of manures, is thus far mostly regarded as a nuisance, 

 to get rid of which is a problem which has occupied much ingenuity and talent. 

 Our privies, and the sewers of our cities, are undeniably the channels through 

 which the fertility of our lands is either drained into the ocean, or else accu- 

 mulated in receptacles which, by common consent, are held as being among 



*Guano, on the continent of Europe, is generally combined, or used at the 

 same time with, other manures, which it renders more effectual, without pro- 

 ducing the exhaustive effects which are known to follow its exclusive use, in 

 this country. 



