one grain to each cubic foot to the depth of 12 inches, we
must apply about four tons. If we have the manure in large
lumps, does not the least consideration show us that a large
part of the soil must be left unmanured, even though we
apply a very large quantity, a quantity too costly, frequently,
ever to be employed ?

Manure only can act in supporting the plant when it comes
in contact with and can be taken up by its roots. How im-
portant is it, then, to have it thoroughly distributed, which
is impossible except it be in the finest possible state of di-
vision. This should be looked to when large quantities of
cheap manures are applied, more especially, then, when costly
manures are used in small quantities. When, for instance,
we apply two hundred pounds of guano, if it be not beaten
up very fine, and then most carefully applied, a large part of
the crop will receive no nutriment, while some will have too
much, and although the appearance of the crop may be sat-
isfactory, still there will be much less of it produced than if
the manures were evenly applied. The above observa-
tions apply to compost, stable manure, and more strongly to
lime, but with much greater force to guano, bone-dust and
other expensive manures used in small quantities.

The great effects produced by bones in a state of solution
are due to their thorough distribution in the soil; and we
find that liquid manures, though containing but a small pro-
portion of the necessary elements, yet, nevertheless, act with
great intensity; this intensity of action is due to their form
and to the fact that though every part of the soil may receive
but a small portion, yet no part of it is left unsupplied.

Sir Gilbert Blane caused experiments to be made with flax
water, which although containing a small portion of inor-
ganic matter, yet acted very powerfully, a fact due to the
complete solution of all the substances in it, so that when
they were applied to land every part of the soil was supplied
with some portion of it.

The mode of the application of manures is not sufficiently
attended to in this country, though sometimes it is as import-
ant almost as the article used. Whatever this may be, the
full measure of benefit from it cannot be obtained unless it
be equally distributed, and this cannot be effected unless it
be in the finest possible state of division.

Labor is nowhere so profitably employed as when in re-
ducing manures, before using them, to the finest powder.

In another sense, manures are such substances as may be
applied to soils in order to meet certain deficiencies that may
either originally occur in soils in consequence of a defective

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