40 ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN’S ASSOCIATION. 
experiments, do not try upon too large a scale, begin 
small. It is bard to say we know; it takes a long time 
prove or disprove many things. One person m Englan 
had experimented thirty-six times on w ea . e s 
measure and weigh, accurately. In testing fertilizers, g 
strips of land are best, so as to get as much variety of s 
and climate as possible. Manure means manual, or work¬ 
ing ; i. e., working the soils. All plants derive ess of their 
sustenance from the soil than from the air. All that goes 
up must come down. Ten or twelve things makes up the 
plant; so with animals. Chemical manures are good; it 
is mostly furnished from air, water, etc. Ashes cou no 
in this country be supplied in sufficiently large quantities 
to be practicable. Barn-yard manure must be the main 
stand-by for the western farmer; it contains all the prop, 
erties which plant life demands or needs. It is true that it 
loses somewhat of ammonia, but to no serious exten . 
The soil goes on making itself; even poor soils if allowed, 
to remain idle a few years; it will enrich itself so that it 
becomes new again. 
John Keating was called for, but not having prepared 
a paper, would not speak. 
Israel Boies had experimented with chemicals on a 
small lot formerly used as a nursery; used phosphates; 
put it on poor land in furrow, and planted top of it; also 
tried ten loads of barn-yard manure on same land; the 
phosphate produced corn one foot higher; could see effects 
of it on land for several years; was satisfied that all well 
rotted manure on grass land would yield double any other 
manure. 
E. H. Seward had used many kinds of fertilizers; salt 
gave as good results with him as any. 
Dr. Slade wanted to know the relative difference 
between fresh and well rotted manure; one was concen- 
