DIGGING HOLES. 33 



absorbing materials, in which should be thrown all 

 the bones and spoiled meat, the carcases of fowls and 

 animals, all the old fish and meat brine, the night- 

 soil from the privies, and the liquid manure from the 

 stables. Even the coal-ashes should be preserved for 

 the small per-cent of alkaline salts they contain ; and 

 to the whole, iron should be added in some shape, 

 either as cinders from the blacksmith's shop or the 

 foundry. 



All this mass is efi*ectually deprived of offensive 

 smell, by covering with a fresh supply of muck, when- 

 ever an escape of nitrogenous matters is perceived. 

 The effect of such a compost, applied to fruit-trees, 

 is almost startling, in the rapidity and hardiness of 

 growth it induces, and in the luscious and highly- 

 colored fruit a soil so fertilized will bring forth. 



As the dark and loathsome mass swells in its pro- 

 portions, the cultivator (who knows it is but the 

 ungraceful form which covers a beautiful soul) sees 

 gorgeous flowers and fruits emerging with colors no 

 mortal hand could bestow. 



DIGGING HOLES. 



K the soil has been trenched or deeply plowed, the 

 digging of holes for trees is a work of comparatively 

 small labor, and they need be made but little larger 

 than sufficient to accommodate the roots without 

 bending or crowding. When, however, the soil has 

 not been thus deeply prepared, the holes should be 

 dug as deep and as large as the most generous views 

 of the planter Avould dictate, taking care, only, that 

 they shall not be a less width than twice the diameter 



2* 



