The Application of the Manure of tlic Farm. 
335 
Beans are generally sown upon land which has received a 
dressing of farmyard-dung. It is customary to spread the dung 
over the land, which being ploughed in, the seed is either 
drilled or dibbled. This crop luxuriates, under the influence of 
manure, to a far greater degree than other corn-bearing plants 
which we cultivate, and hence the regularity of the practice of 
using manure for it. In applying dung to a corn-crop there is 
frequently a danger of producing straw rather than corn ; but 
with the bean this is very seldom the case. If the quality of the 
land is such that the dung produces haulm (or straw) to such an 
extent that the pods die off instead of fdling with corn, we may 
find a simple remedy at hand by cutting off the tops of the beans 
with a large reaping-hook. The growth of tlie stalk being thus 
checked, the energies of the plant are at once directed to the pro- 
duction of seed, the blossoms cease to die off from want of 
nourishment and the pods are gradually developed. The position 
of the seed-pods in the bean gives it this advantage over other 
corn-crops. 
Wheat, Barley, Oats. — The use of dung for these crops on 
stiff soils is by no means extensively carried out, although there 
are some neighbourhoods in which it is general. There is scarcely 
any practice which is apparently more contradictory. The em- 
ployment of dung upon some soils insures the production of a 
good crop of corn, but upon other land it would with equal cer- 
tainty destroy all our hopes of a satisfactory yield. When we 
are dealing with a rich clay, it is seldom that we can venture 
upon applying dung for corn, as it would cause a large growth 
of straw to the prejudice of the yield of grain. Other soils of a 
lower standard of fertility receive the manure with manifest 
advantage. We cannot, however, explain the differences observed 
by any comparative degrees of fertility which the soils may- 
possess ; and with our limited scientific knowledge upon the 
subject it is not desirable to speculate upon the controlling cause. 
Practically, we know that one farmer does not fear for his crop 
of corn, provided he can get straw enough ; whilst on other land 
a good crop of corn may be confidently looked for, provided 
we do not get too much straw. It will be sufficient for distin- 
guishing those soils upon which manure may be advantageously 
used if we say that, where the growth of the straw has to be 
encouraged, the application of dung may be practised ; but on 
the other hand, when the soil is predisposed to yield a rank 
growth of straw, its use is seldom if ever safe. It is more than 
probable that by judiciously prepared artificial manures we shall, 
ere long, be able to supply our corn-cro])s with the nourishment 
required for the production of grain, without that danger of an 
