204 



TRANSPLANTING ON THE PRAIRIE SOD, &c. 



loses much of its virtue in the atmosphere. 

 But when buried beneath the surface, it 

 becomes incorporated with the soil, and its 

 good effects last several seasons. 



The common rate of manuring farm 

 lands is 300 lbs. of guano to the acre. But 

 when old gardens are to be manured, or 

 worn out orchards or fruit-yards renovated, 

 we find 600 lbs. a better dressing. We 

 would recommend its use at any time be- 

 tween the present moment and the frosts 

 of winter. It should be spread evenly over 

 the surface, and immediately turned at least 

 three inches below it. 



At the present price of guano, it is cer- 

 tainly the cheapest of all manures to be 

 bought in the market ; and as it is un- 

 deniably richer in all the elements neces- 

 sary for most crops than any other single 

 substance, it deserves to have a more tho- 

 rough trial at the hands of the American 

 public. We commend it anew to all those 

 who have once failed, and beg them to 



try it once more, using it in the au- 

 tumn. 



The large proportion of phosphate of lime 

 which exists in Peruvian guano, makes it 

 very valuable for fruit-growers ; and a good 

 dressing of guano — so that it visibly covers 

 the surface under each tree — dug under 

 during the month of November, will cer- 

 tainly give a most thrifty and healthy start 

 to the next season's growth, as well as 

 prepare the tree for the highest state of 

 productiveness. The concentrated form of 

 guano, saving, as it does, so much labor in 

 carriage and spreading over the soil, is no 

 small recommendation in its favor to those 

 whose finances admonish them to practice 

 economy of means and time. 



We might enlarge upon manures, so as 

 to occupy volumes. But it will suffice for 

 the present, if we have drawn the atten- 

 tion of our readers to the fact, that food 

 must be supplied, and that the present is 

 the time to set about it. 



TRANSPLANTING ON THE UNBROKEN PRAIRIE SOD, &c. 

 BY J. R. HAMMOND, SHANDY HALL, MO. 



Dear Sir — Indebted as I am for all my 

 success in farming to agricultural and hor- 

 ticultural publications, and being willing 

 to reciprocate the obligations I am under 

 to others, as much as lies in my power, I 

 have concluded to send you a statement of 

 my experience in arboriculture in the west- 

 ern wilds, which you are at liberty to dis- 

 pose of as you may think best. 



My business is that of farming ; but 

 having purchased a farm in the open prairie 

 less than two years ago, with little more 

 than a dozen trees on 240 acres, (leaving 

 out a little clump of crab apple bushes,) 

 and as there are now firowimr on the same 



place, exclusive of an orchard of 200 fruit 

 trees, about 5000 locust and forest trees, 

 all thrifty and luxuriant, every one of 

 which has passed through my own hands, 

 and having been successful beyond my ut- 

 most expectations, — not losing exceeding 

 one per cent, in all that I have transplanted, 

 it may not be amiss to note down, for the 

 benefit of beginners, my modus operandi. 



About 90 acres of the land had been 

 broken up and put in cultivation ; but im- 

 mediately around the house was a smooth 

 and unbroken prairie. This, having been 

 neither grazed, mowed nor burned for seve- 

 ral years, was covered with a very thick 



