HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN MENHADEN. 207 



" Mr. H. T. Smith, of Macbias, bas perbaps made a larger use of fisb- 

 scrap, as a fertilizer, iu different ways, tban any farmer in that place or 

 Aicinity. His usual practice is to obtain tbe scrap (generally berring 

 scrap) iu the fall, and apply it in tbe spring. When grass land is in fair 

 condition be uses about one-fourth of a ton per acre, and never more 

 than one and one-fonrth ton per acre. It is, of course, less expensive to 

 apply it directly to tbe land as it comes from the ])ress, but it is often 

 composted, using three parts of earth to one of scrap. For grain, 

 Mr. Su)itb bas plowed under seven hundred pounds to tbe acre, from 

 which he bas grown very heavy crops of barley, oats, and wheat. Mr. 

 Smith says : ' I have paid $80 per ton for superphosphate, and if given 

 my choice bad rather have one ton of fish scrap tban one ton of super- 

 phosphate. If barrelled as soon as it comes from tbe press (be is speak- 

 ing of herring scrap, which, it will be remembered, is treated with salt 

 before being pressed), it bas no unpleasant odor, and is not offensive to 

 handle. There is nothing equal to it for the land. It is as valuable as 

 night-soil, and is good for grass, grains, corn, garden crops, anything 

 that grows out of tbe earth.'" 



" Capt. Jason Collins, of the steamer 'Star of the East,' thus relates, 

 in a private letter, his experience in tbe use of tish scrap as a fertilizer: 

 ' My experience in tbe use of fish chum does not reach over many years, 

 but 1 have applied it to barley and on grass. The amount used per acre for 

 barley was 1,500 pounds, which was mixed with two parts loam to one of 

 chum. This was spread on and harrowed in. In the fall of 1873, I had 

 five acres plowed up, on which I put 2,000 pounds to tbe acre. It was 

 harrowed and rolled iu tbe fall, and the following spring, about the 

 last of March, I think, it was sown to grass-seed alone. Tbe grass 

 was cut the last of August, and it was very heavy. I have also used 

 it for turnips and potatoes, and it has done well for each crop. In tbe 

 fall of 1873 I also had chum spread on some six acres of grass land, as 

 a top dressing, at the rate of three-fourths of a ton per acre, mixed with 

 loam in tbe same proportions as that used for barley. It did first-rate. 

 This fall (1871) I shall use more, which I shall compost and lay over 

 until anolher fall, as in that form it will be better about handling. From 

 all 1 can learn, and from my own experience, I am satisfied that late fall 

 is tbe best time of tbe year to apply it as a top-dressing for grass lands; 

 and the amount should be from three-fourths of a ton to a ton per acre. 

 It is best if used as a compost, as I have stated. For hoed crops it must 

 be used very carefully, and should in all cases be thoroughly composted. 

 In regard to its price, it cost me $12 per ton green, in bulk, and have 

 had it brought from Boothbay to Gardiner in lighters. AYhen in barrels 

 it costs 815 per ton, but it is cheap at that price, and I shall buy no 

 other fertilizer until I find something better for less money. At $12 per 

 ton it is cheaper than it is to haul stable-manure, even if the manure is 

 given to you. Perhaps I have not used it long enough to speak of its 

 effects upon the land, but during my experience with it I have witnessed 



