MANUEES. 37 



Garden refuse, such as cabbaf^'^e leaves and the 

 like, are best dug- into the soil, for they create Humus» 

 which, as I have shown, is so necessary to all land. 

 Leaf mould and burnt ash can be dug in deeply or 

 forked into the surface of the soil, and there is no 

 better material to be found anywhere than these two 

 for improving- the rose bed. House manures, such as 

 nig-ht soil and the cesspool, require very careful use, 

 for both should be dug in, and also they are very 

 strong and lasting in their effects. The best way to 

 treat night soil is to sift some good garden soil and 

 stack it in a heap, then get a few turfs or bricks, pre- 

 ferably the former, and build a square of four walls ; 

 throw in your night soil as this is procured, and each 

 time cover it with a little of the sifted soil; let this 

 stand the twelve months, and then at the fall dig it 

 into the land. 



In utilising the products of the cesspool, if your 

 trees are not planted too close draw out a shallow 

 trench between the rows and pour in the liquid, cover- 

 ing up the trench with soil after a liberal application 

 to ensure the solids being placed under the soil. I 

 have never found the products of the cesspool too 

 strong for established trees when administered in this 

 way ; but if there is any danger, an extra bucket or 

 two of water to the liquid will settle all doubts. May 

 and early June are the best months for applying such 

 liquids, and more than one application can be given 

 before the trench is filled in. Fish manure and bone- 

 meal are best dug in at the fall, and in the case of the 

 former this should only be used for established trees. 

 The middle of June should see all natural manures 

 under ground and " everything in the garden lovely." 



The tub with its bags of soot and sheep manure 

 will be visited, and many a canful will be given to our 

 growing trees in diluted form. Evening is the best 

 time to apply our goods and then forget them for the 

 day, only living to enjoy the operation of our hands 

 and to revel in the rewards of a fruitful soil. 



