The Canadian Horticulturist. 105 



organic matter and nitrogen ; most of them contain the elements of fertihty, 

 viz. : nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash, but are inferior to swamp muck in 

 organic matter and nitrogen. They need to be supplemented with stronger 

 manures. 



He says in his last report : — These muds have been largely used in the 

 Maritime Provinces as a fertilizer, and good results as a rule have followed the 

 first applications. It has been the experience of many, however, that the bene- 

 ficial effects are not lasting, and that after a few years there is but little response 

 from a repeated dressing when applied as the sole manure. This is not to be 

 wondered at, since these muds are not complete fertilizers and cannot furnish 

 all the plant food in the proportions required by farm crops. To a certain 

 extent they supply the elements of fertility and also act on many soils as stimu- 

 lants, but they must not be considered as concentrated manures, nor should 

 they be used exclusively. As far as possible, they should be supplemented with 

 more assimilable and stronger manures. Barnyard manure, superphosphate and 

 wood ashes are probably the easiest to obtain and the cheapest for use with 

 these muds. 



Coal Ashes as a Fertilizer. 



613* Sir, — Do coal ashes possess any fertilizing properties at all, or are they worth- 

 less for fruit trees ? E. E. McNutt, Truro, N. S. 



Coal ashes possess some value as a fertilizer, but it is very little. Their 

 chief benefit is mechanical. When applied to the surface of the ground, they 

 are an excellent mulch, and when worked in they render the heavy soils looser 

 in texture, and, consequently, more porous to the beneficial action of the air. 

 On light soils they have no value whatever except as a mulch. 



Paris Green and Stock. 



614* Sir, — Would it be injurious pasturing in an orchard where Bordeaux mixture 

 and Paris green combined were used for spraying ? 



A. E. Sherkinqton, WcUkerton. 



Formerly, in the application of these poisons, we had grave fears that the 

 grass underneath the trees would be rendered poisonous to stock feeding upon 

 it, and we carefully shut out all animals from the orchard until some heavy rains 

 had washed the grass clean. Litterly, however, we have come to the conclusion 



the amount of poison which reaches the grass is so infinitesimal in quantity 

 could have no injurious effects upon the stock which is feeding upon it. 

 Our horses have had free range of our orchards during the spraying season for 

 the last two years, and no injurious effects have been apparent. We would be 

 glad to hear from our correspondents whether any one has has a contrary 

 experience. 



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