THE SECRETARY'S PORTFOLIO. 431 



contrary, I have alwa3'S noticed very good effects from the use of long manures, 

 and advise piling manure only when no ground is prepared to receive it. But 

 this i)eriod covers a considerable portion of the year and much of it must be 

 piled. If left thus iu warm weather without attention, fresh manure invariably 

 fire-fangs — burns up — and loses nearly all its virtues, till it is worth little more 

 than so much chaff. To avoid this, after several days of hauling manure wo 

 give it a good drenching with water, and cover with a half inch of soil to help 

 retain the moisture, and to fix all the escaping ammonia. When wanted it is 

 usually short and finely rotted. 



lien manure, when mixed with enough soil to work fine, has special fitness 

 for the onion crop, as it can be applied to the sarfacc where wanted, has no 

 weed seeds, and is exceedingly valuable, being little less than guano. 



Leached ashes have an especial value on sandy soils, and produce most effect 

 upon onions, potatoes, corn, and the root crops. Their valno is lasting, and 

 the effect of a liberal application will be noticed for years, and if not to be 

 hauled more than three miles their use is profitable. 



Uuleached ashes have a most marked effect when applied broadcast over 

 onions partly grown — in fact it is one of the most valuable special manures for 

 this crop, and is worth for this purpose twice the amount paid by soap-makers. 

 For all garden crops they are valuable ; potatoes, turnips, beets, and peas, 

 deriving most benefit next to onions. 



Lime is of most value on rich old soils, its effect being to unlock and release 

 fertility already in the soil, but inactive or insoluble. Hence upon poor soils it 

 may sometimes do more harm than good, but used upon rich old garden soils 

 its use occasionally will produce astonishing results. 



Super-phosphate of lime produces a very quick effect, and besides the fertil- 

 ity it adds to a soil, the rapid development it aids in plant life enables the roots 

 to lay hold of much food they would not otherwise. In the garden it is of 

 especial value to hasten growth while plants are still small and unable yet to 

 reach coarser manures, and also to touch up and bring forward any portion of 

 crops which seem to need f nrther help. While depending chiefly on stable and 

 green manures, we always find profitable use for more or less super-phosphate. 



In the garden land plaster is exceedingly variable in its effects. Some of the 

 most marked benefits from its use have been noticed upon vines during a 

 drought. If applied over the surface of the hill and vines during a drought 

 so severe that the leaves droop at midday, they will in a couple of days show 

 no signs of drooping, but exhibit unusual vigor. AVhile in this section we some- 

 times use it without any perceptible effect, in Michigan it tells wonderfully 

 upon clover and generally upon other crops. 



Brewers' spent hops are, in some places, so abundant as to be an important 

 fertilizer, generally one load being equal to two of stable manure. But I have 

 found them most valuable, when well rotted, for raking into the surface of seed 

 beds in which are raised cabbage, celery, and other garden plants, since it retains 

 moisture, keeps the surface loose and light, and in every way favorable for the 

 successful growth of plants. In like manner it is excellent for any plot 

 where you wish a most vigorous growth, — those vegetables for the fair, you 

 know, — sii'.ce it furnishes abundant fertility, while it keeps the soil in the best 

 condition for growth. 



