The Canadian Horticulturist. 241 



Leaves, potash 14 



Fruit, .. 8i 



Total 22i 



Leaves, phosphoric acid 7 



Fruit, ..• .. li 



Total 8* 



If the fertilizers which are taken from the soil could be replaced in their 

 original position and evenly distributed just where the exhaustion has taken 

 place, the original fertility of the orchard could be maintained by this small 

 annual addition. But as this is practically impossible, the returns should be 

 much more liberal. 



COMPARATIVE VALUE OF MANURES. 



Animal manure varies in value from several causes. It depends somewhat 

 on the animal from which it is obtained ; next, on the character of the food with 

 which the animal is supplied, and more on the care given to the proper mixing 

 of the liquid with the solid ingredients, and to the proper handling of the 

 material. The soHd excreta of sheep stands highest in value, giving per ton of 

 2,000 lbs. nitrogen, 12 lbs. phosphoric acid, and 6 lbs. of potash. Swine give a 

 manure nearly equal in proportion of nitrogen and phosphoric acid, with about 

 10 lbs. of potash per ton. A ton of the solid portion of horse manure contains 

 about 10 lbs. of nitrogen, 7 lbs. of phosphoric acid and 6 lbs. of potash, and 

 the same quantity of cow manure 6 lbs. of nitrogen, 5 lbs. of phosphoric acid 

 and 2 lbs. of potash. The liquid constituents of the manures of ttie horse and 

 cow stand much higher in regard to some ingredients, and contain in each ton 

 from the horse 24 lbs. nitrogen, and 30 lbs. of alkalies largely potash, and from 

 the cow 16 lbs. nitrogen and 28 lbs. of alkalies. Hence the statement given by 

 Storrs may be regarded as fairly reliable, that 15 tons of good half rotted stable 

 manure will supply to an acre of land about 150 lbs. of potash and 140 lbs. of 

 phosphoric acid. The nitrogen in this quantity of manure would probably 

 average from 200 to 250 lbs. One such dressing every five years, with the 

 occasional plowing under of a crop of clover or peas to furnish additional 

 nitrogen, should fully supply the waste which the constant cropping with apples 

 would cause. If barnyard manure cannot be had, the waste of nitrogen may be 

 entirely returned by the more frequent plowing under of crops of clover or peas, 

 or the nitrogen may in part be supplied more directly and promptly by giving 

 the orchard a dressing of 200 lbs. of nitrate of soda to the acre, which quantity 

 will at once supply about 31 lbs. of nitrogen per acre in a form immediately 

 available. The potash taken from the soil may be returned to it by an occa- 

 sional dressing of unleached wood ashes, which contains from 6 to 8 lbs. of 

 potash in every 100 lbs. Unleached wood ashes also contain about 2 lbs. of 

 phosphoric acid in each 100 lbs. 



