Year: 1876

1


ammonia that would 60 to waste if the plas-
ter was not applied. He had applied plaster
to wheat, and II produced a very beneficial
effect, both on that crop and on the clover
that followed the wheat. 1t holds the am
monia Of the manure and from the rain that
falls.


Prof Seely said that we should preserve
our liquid manure. This could be done only
by properly constructed barns The barn
of Col j. b. Mead Of Randolph was so con-
structed he would cite 1t aS good example
Of what good barn should be. Hay, grain
and stock all under one roof,


DR. L. Bond Of Cornwall stated that Mr.
Robbins OF Cornwall had so constructed his
barns as to conduct his liquid manure to
cstern, and then mix 1t with muck as an
absorbent this had been used with super
phosphate on corn with a difference 10 favor
Of the mixture over the supcrphosphate
He had observed great benefit derived from
the use of muck in the garden Of Mr. June
of this town. Mr. Sumner thought the muck
used by Mr. June was exceptionally good,
and his own practical experience had proved
that muck was good as au absorbent, but Of
itself was of little value.


s. B. June, member Of the club, said
Bradleys superphosphate was a humbug;
that Prof Collier had aunalyzed it, aud
proved it not to be worth half what it is sold
for


Col Hamilton testified to the good and
profitable effect Of plaster upon many differ.
cut soils and crops.


Prof Seely explained the effect Of carbonic
acid gas. He would say that muck was so
different in its elements that il would be i'm
possible to determine whether it would he
beneficial or not until he knew how the muck
in question was constituted. Sometimes it
was exceedingly valuable sometimes it was
valuable only as an absorbent, while some
kinds were positively injurious.


A. Chapman stated in reply to Mr. June
that the later samples of Bradley's super
phosphate anayzed by Prof Collier had
proved it to be worth more than that which
had been anal wed two or three years ago.


Mr. Priugle stated that the improvement
had been due to the published work of Prot
Collier in determining the value of tho differ
ent fertilizers sent into the state for sale
This had been one of the good works that
the board of agriculture had been able to
effect.


Col Merit gave his experience in the
use OF different fertilizers, and sand on clay
ground as a top-dressing, with a result in
favor of the sand


Mr. Sprague thought the subject of ma
nures and their application laid at the foun-
dation Of all success in farming. lie had
tried plaster aud found it failure, while
some Of his near neighbors had found great
benefit from it, lie thought while some
would receive benefit from superphosphatc,
they weuld receive more benefit from the
money laiG out for sheds or buildings to save
manure in perfect and proper condition.
He had for ten years raised all the wheat he
had used, by liberal manuring. He had
raised thirty-fve bushels Of wheat per acre
many of the years. This subject Of manures
was very important one.


Mr. III. A. Sumner, a member of the club,
then read paper upon allow to Handle the
Soil"


There was q harmony between scientific
aud practical agriculture. The eyes dis.
cover, but the feet bring US to the goal.
Successful tillng of the soil must have its
base in science, practice, knowledge and
labor; one cannot say TO the other, | have
no need of thee. Brains and hard hands
must be united Science discovers theories


labor works them out. A large class will
object to this, and cite in proof the large
class Of farmers who have achieved moder.
ate success without scientific knowledge aud


the opposition class who with science and


knowledge have failed but this was owing to


the superior industry, tact and practical


acquaintance with their business of the for
mer class, and the want of them in the latter
In pioneer life these qualities were essential
to success, but the rapdity with which the
; strength of the virgin soil had been ex.
hausted showed couciusvey the want oI
, scientific knowledge to prevent this exhaus'
tion. Early husbandry had its tolls aud
3 hardships but it had its compensations il
the physical constitutions to endure and
t enjoy them, and crowuing glory in the
: families Of athletic boys aud robust, healthy
girls that formed the circles around the old
8 Kitchen fireplace The school houses to-day
4 hold ten to twenty pale.faoed children OIL


the same ground where school houses for
merly held from fifty to eighty the feeble
Q soil may be strengthened, but no homeo
{ pathic prescription will check this fearful
r rctrograde Can the board of agriculture
y bring any remedy for this ieebleness 10 the
n farm houses aud school houses.


}. Our fathers handled the soil by continued
o cropping, until it has become feeble aud un
!. fruitful il was our task to so handle it a
s to restore it to its original strength and fer
# tility. THIS was no easy task. To pay tn
c debts incurred by the purchase of the farm
q the lands were exhausted aud to repay tn
u debt due the land for this by the proceed


from them is difficult task and how shou
d this be done? The comprehensive answe


was, unite scientific with practical agricul
T. ture. This scientific knowledge might b
J. gained in various ways. The gatherin
!, together this knowledge from the expereno


of practical men, and simplifying them b
IS scientists, made this comparatively easy
What it had taken years OF hard labor an


wearing thought to learn and gather coul
D, now be learned in few hours. Farmer
rs clubs were also useful as educators. Agr
le cultural libraries should always be part {
u their means Of education. Intelligent Ct
ID largcment of men was more valuable tina
ID the accumulation of wealth. A two-stor
A house was a meagre show compared to
r two-story man. The last means Of acquiru
of agricultural knowledge he should mentiO
Is was the board OF agriculture whether the
ly were greatest in the catalogue their worI


would testify. Improvement that did n,
~ come in contact with long practiced error W,
at readily received, but not so if il came
ID opposition to long praeticed error and CO.
be ceit, This conceited class wanted no he
va from science the more liberal class glad


availed themselves of its assistance III
ty scientific work Of creation, nature, was


great teacher. She taught how to hand
in the soil by minute pulverization to make
Ite fertile, but we could not use the great Al