58 



the spade, to add new fertilizing power to the soil, with- 

 out destroying it altogether. It is for this reason that 

 we should closely study the constituent qualities of the 

 soil, to know precisely what is absent, that is essential, 

 and what should be added to increase its fertility. In 

 truth, we should aim to attain at once the highest degree 

 of fertility of which the soil is capable. Manure on some 

 soils is unnecessary ; on others, indispensable. Soils 

 vary from great fertility to absolute barrenness ; and the 

 process of manuring is the artificial application of sub- 

 stances to soils, or their incorporation therewith, in 

 order to increase their productiveness. The application 

 of manures must be regulated accordingly, by a proper 

 knowledge of the soil which is to be fertilized. Chemi- 

 cal analysis has been the means of facilitating this 

 inquiry. Its success has been such, that the most 

 barren wilderness could be rendered fertile. The only 

 question necessary to be discussed, therefore, when such 

 a restoration is required, is the simple one of expense. 



There are two theories of manures — the humus and 

 the atmospheric ; the first being that of Saussure, the 

 last of Liebig. The humus theory regards "vegetable 

 matter of soil and manures as merely applying inorganic 

 matter, in a fluid form, to the roots of plants." The 

 atmospheric theory considers "nutriment to be furnished 

 to plants, and manurial action maintained, only by means 

 of substances which either originally possess, or have 

 eventually assumed an inorganic form." 



Whichever theory we assume, the practice is the 

 same. We must first discover the ingredients of a fer- 

 tile soil ; secondly, we must analyze the soil we have to 



