ADAPTATION OF MANURES. , 17 



Now, then, for the application of this to the subject under 

 consideration. How shall we adapt the manure so as to 

 supply the wants of the plants to be grown ? In answer to 

 this, I would adopt the following method, as a general rule, 

 to be applied to all farm-crops. We have the wastes of the 

 farm, — the animal excrements from the stable, barnyard, 

 and pig-pens. As the first sources of supply, these are to 

 be applied to your land in good, liberal quantities, if you 

 desire large crops ; and this is not all that is necessary in 

 the way of manure to grow roots or vegetables with the best 

 success, as this application alone does not supply one of the 

 particular elements in such quantities as may be needed by 

 the plant : therefore let us add this particular element in 

 some form, which would usually be in a concentrated one. 



I will illustrate it in this way, — suppose the crop is to 

 be onions : give the land a liberal dressing of stable-manure. 

 That is not all. Chemists will tell you that onions want 

 more potash than is supplied by the manure. A long ex- 

 perience has convinced the growers of onions of the same 

 thing ; for they have found that a dressing of wood-ashes is 

 one of the best applications for this crop : therefore, if this is 

 true, we have to come to the conclusion that onions want a 

 larger suppty of potash than they will ordinarily receive from 

 barnyard-manure, and potash must be supplied in some form 

 to meet the wants of this crop. 



I have found the following a good practice on my farm ; 

 and I do not, after an experience of a few years, see any 

 good reason to change it : First to manure my land with a 

 dressing of stable-manure, and then to. add a quantity (such 

 as in my judgment would be sufficient) of one of the three 

 elements before named for the particular crop which I in- 

 tend to grow. Having provided the manure, prepare the 

 land further by a suitable ploughing, followed by thorough 

 pulverization of the soil, so as to reduce it to as fine tilth as 

 possible ; and by this very operation the manure which has 

 been applied becomes intimately mixed and subdivided. 



This is on the assumption that the manure is not to be 

 applied in the hill, but broadcast, which is, as a rule, the best. 



The land has been manured, ploughed, and harrowed, and 

 is nearly ready for the seed : if that is to be sown on a level 

 surface, it only wants smoothing as a finish ; if on ridges, 



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