PLANT NUTRITION". 45 



position takes place in the soil, in what stage of decomposition is 

 that iiitfogcn most available ? I don't care where it decomposes, 

 onl3' to make it immediately available for plants you must decom- 

 pose it before it is put in the soil. If you do that there should 

 be some material applied that shall absorb the ammonia — as loam, 

 muck, sulphate of magnesia or sulphate of lime. 



Question. Is it better that this decomposition should take 

 place before it is put in the soil or that the manure should be 

 applied in a green state and the decomposition take place in the 

 soil ? 



Answkr. I suppose the gentleman wishes to start this ques- 

 tion — Which is best, a quick or a lasting manure ? I say a quick 

 one. No man can afford to use a lasting manu)'e if it is a high 

 priced one. Your plant cannot afford to wait — onr summers are 

 short. The better way for the plant is that the manure should be 

 decomposed before it is put in the soil, and then your plant gets 

 a quick growth. 



Question. What effect does the decomposition of manure in 

 the soil have on the soil itself? 



Answer. I am one of those who believe that when the Al- 

 mighty made this earth — ground up the rocks and made the soil 

 — that he made it with a capacity of being all converted into 

 plants, from the surface to the bed-rock. Of course it would take 

 some time to convert it all into plants. Now, then, the lime, 

 potash, phosphoric acid and the rest, must be developed. If you 

 put into the soil green manures, or anything of that nature, they 

 develop carbonic acid, and insoluble matter is gradually made 

 soluble. There are other changes, but this is the main one. 



Question. Does not potash alkali have a tendency to decom- 

 pose very rapidly ? 



Answer. The effect of wood ashes or potash in the soil is both 

 chemical and physical, and if it is put into the soil a round of 

 changes is started which moves on and on, and does not cease 

 for a long time. 



Hon. C. J. Oilman. It is very well known that the porgy 

 fishery is an element of wealth along the coast of Maine, and that 

 we have quite a large amount of what is called porgy-chum, I 

 would like to know of Prof. Stockbridge what is his experience or 

 knowledge as to the mode of applying that manure — whether 

 composted or in a raw condition. 



