PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS' CLUB. 147 



pounds of tobacco stems in a barrel of water, and after soaking 

 some time, I add ten pounds of soft soap; with this I thoroughly 

 syringe the young plants. I have been successful with this remedy. 

 The barrel can be filled up several times; I afterwards sprinkle 

 slaked lirae over the ground. 



The True way to use Spent Tan Bark. 

 Mr, S. Edwards Todd.— If wet tan bark be spread in a stable 

 or yard for the purpose of absorbing the liquid portions of manure, 

 it will take up but a very little of it, because it is already so full 

 of water that there is not room for any liquid manure. Therefore 

 unless it is nearly dry before it is spread in the stable or yard it 

 may as well be spread directly on the soil, and thus save handling 

 over once or twice. Spent tan bark ought always to be deposited 

 in an open shed, where it will dry out before it is needed in the 

 stable or piggery. Dry tan bark will absorb a great quantity of 

 liquid manure, which will rectify the acidity of the bark, and at 

 the same time hasten its decomposition as soon as it has beea 

 mingled with the soil. Dry tan bark will also make excellent 

 bedding for any kind of animals ; and, it will retain what it has 

 absorbed, much better than any kind of straw. When it is used 

 for bedding, a few bushels should l)e spread on the floor beneath 

 the animal, and as soon as it is well saturated with liquid manure 

 it should be removed, and a fresh supply placed beneath them. 

 If tan bark be used for littering sheep, it should be covered with 

 damp straw, to prevent its gettmg into their wool. Dry tan bark 

 is valuable in a piggery, as it will increase the bulk of swine 

 manure, and thus make the manure go further when it is mingled 

 with the soil, or when used as a top dressing for grain, or grass, 

 which is very desirable, and important also in distributing 

 manure that is as concentrated as are the drippings of fattening 

 swine. The manure that is made when spent tan bark is used will 

 be a very excellent fertilizer to apply to the soil when it is being 

 prepared for a crop of roots of any kind, as it supplies the plants 

 with an abundance of those salts which are essential for promoting 

 their luxuriant growth. What has been said of spent tan ])ark is 

 equally true of sawdust, turning shavings, and short shavings of 

 planing mills, and they should all be used in the same manner ; 

 but, if they be wet, they cannot absorb liquid manure. 



The regular subject of the day, " Spring Planting," was then 

 taken up. 



