HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN MENHADEN. 207 



"Mr. H. T. Smith, of Macliias, has perhaps made a larger use offish- 

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

 vicinity. Ilia usual practice is to obtain the scrap (generally herring 

 scrap) in the fall, and apply it in the spring. When grass laud is in fair 

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

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

 apply it directly to the land as it comes from the press, but it is often 

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

 Mr. Smith has plowed under seven hundred pounds to the acre, from 

 which he has 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 had rather have one ton of fish scrap than one ton of super- 

 phos[)hate. If barrelled as soon as it comes from the press (he is speak- 

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

 before being pressed), it has 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 the earth.'" 



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

 in a private letter, his experience in the use of fish scrap as a fertilizer: 

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

 but I 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 tb 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 the acre. It was 

 harrowed and rolled in the fVill, and the following spring, about the 

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

 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 the same proportions as that used for barley. It did first-rate. 

 This fall (1874) I shall use more, which I shall compost and lay over 

 until another 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 the best time of the year to apply it as a top-dressing for grass lands j 

 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. When in barrels 

 it costs $15 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 



