3°9 
c 
practical papers—Soils. 
\ 
were penetrating, that decaying roots of trees, partially rotted 
corn stalks and cobs, old bones and other refuse matter were in a 
• ft 
state of decomposition, the fine rootlets had completely en¬ 
veloped them, reaching their delicate fibres over and through 
them in search of the food needed for their growth and full ma¬ 
turity. It is as natural for the mouths of these plants to seek 
proper food, as for the animals whicli roam our forests to seek 
theirs, and he is not worthy of the name of farmer who does 
not so cultivate the soil as to make the abundant supply of food 
which nature furnishes available for his use, and return to it again, 
a portion, at least, of those elements which he has extracted by 
continual cropping. If nature, by her system of farming, contin¬ 
ually increases the fertility of the soil, cannot we keep up the con¬ 
dition as we find it? I say we can, and that it is our duty and 
true economy to do so. 
First, then, I would impress upon every farmer the importance 
of saving all the manure he can make upon the farm. Put it on 
the land in a suitable condition, if possible, so that it can be at 
once made to furnish food for the crop, but see that it goes upon 
the land even if in a crude and unprepared condition for plant 
food ; nature will in time break it down and reduce it, so that it 
will be compelled to give up its enriching properties. That ma¬ 
nure belongs to the farmer, that is a part of his bank account 
which, if allowed to escape, is just so much capital withdrawn, 
upon which no interest faill ever accrue. It is the debris of veg¬ 
etation, and contains all the essential constituents of vegetable 
9 
growth. If you have raised a crop of wheat or other product, 
return at once to the soil, or to the compost heap, that part unfit 
for use; and right here let me say, that every farmer should have 
a compost bed where all the refuse matter continually accumula¬ 
ting about stables, yards and out-buildings should be placed, and 
reduced to proper food for plants. It should be so constructed as 
to retain the liquids as well as solids, and may be very cheaply 
made by puddling with clay, or other proper material, making it 
impossible for those valuable properties to be washed away during 
heavy rains, to increase the fertility of the land below, or carried 
to the bottom of lakes and streams. That portion of the crop 
fed to stock after being assimilated and digested, should find its 
24 
