MANURES. 21 



the end of the season ; and those who consider the expense 

 of hot stable-dung, for this purpose, should recollect that the 

 value of it after the heat is gone, and the dung rotted, is as 

 great as it was while hot and in order for the beds. 



Pigs-dung. — The coarsest and least valuable dung is that 

 of Pigs, which should be well decomposed before using, 

 although it is more often taken from the sty to the ground, 

 and dug in raw. The best mode of applying this strong and 

 offensive dressing is to throw it to a heap, and then spread it 

 out half-a-foot thick, and throw over it a layer of peat-earth, 

 road-sand, or common soil, as thick as it can be afforded, — 

 say three inches. Wlien the sties and pig-yard are again 

 cleaned out, throw another layer of pig-dung, and on that 

 another layer of soil, so repeating this every time, and 

 leaving the heap as long as possible, for the more it is rotted 

 the better. The whole heap then becomes an excellent 

 compost, or dressing, for any ground. 



Droppings of Animals from the road are collected by 

 children in many parts of the country, and may be had 

 cheajD. The value of this, as a fertihzer, is unquestionable, 

 and a heap of it is a great acquisition. The cleaner it is pre- 

 served the better. It forms excellent top-dressings for many 

 things. 



KiGHT-soiL is a most remarkable manure, although httle 

 used until of late years in England, compared with its appli- 

 cation in other countries. This should, however, be as care- 

 fully used as guano ; for, if apphed in too large a quantity, 

 and unmixed, it is dangerous. 



Soot is highly valuable. It is not only nutritious, but 

 very destructive to many kinds of vermin. This is generally 

 apphed by sowing on the surface, and letting it wash in with 

 the rain. "Wood-ashes, also, should be applied m the same 

 way. These two are excellent torments, if not exterminators, 

 of the numerous tribes of bots, or grubs, that so damage a crop, 

 and especially obnoxious to the grub which causes clubbing 

 in the cabbage tribe. 



Bones should be collected by all available means, and 

 broken well before use ; nothing does more good to land. 

 They should be bruised with a hammer into small pieces. 

 They may be mixed with any compost, but should be pretty 

 evenly distributed ; because whatever comes in contact with 

 them will show the superiority of growth in a very short 



