266 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



"U'inter, and then using time for the spring crops, but being as 

 you know a novice in farming, would prefer getting the opinion 

 of some one more experienced than myself in such matters. I 

 have a large quantity of ashes, having a steam sawmill on the 

 place, and would like to know whether they would be of any 

 advantage mixed with the mud, as chemistry informs me that 

 alkalies bring into play humus and other organic acids in decayed 

 vegetable matter, and I am sure there is much of such matter 

 mix'Hl with the mud spoken of. Another thing I would like to 

 know, and it is, whether the sawdust can be used as a manure. 

 I tried some mixed with stable manure on my potatoes, and do 

 not see that there is any difierence between them and the pure 

 manured ones. My soil is a sandy loam, with subsoil of clay. It 

 is what is called 'white oak soil.' Timber; pine, oak and chestnut." 

 Mr. Solon Kobinson. — This sample is valueless as manure, at least 

 so nearly so that it would not pay for hauling half a mile. It is 

 apparently nine-tenths sand. The fibres which hold it together 

 seem to be those of soft marsh-grass, which is almost entirely 

 worthless as manure. The black mud spoken of may be a dif- 

 ferent material, and really valuaijle. It would be much improved 

 if composted with stal)le manure or any kind of animal matter, 

 such as might be easily procured in Baltimore. It should be 

 worked over several times and exposed to the atmosphere a 3'ear 

 before using. I would not reconunencl mixing ashes with it, 

 because they are more valuable applied alone. The sawdust may 

 be composted with the mud. It is of very little value for manure, 

 when used in its natural condition. 



Tree Planting. 



Dr. Peck exhibited acorns lately gathered from the surface 

 where they had fallen among the leaves and had had begun to 

 vegetate. The failures which have occurred in planting acorns 

 have frequently arisen from burying them too deep. They need 

 only a slight covering of leaves or leaf-mold. As they are so 

 easily grown, Dr. Peck urged eveiybody who owned laud to pay 

 more attention to tree-planting. If children were taught how 

 easily they can grow trees, they would be encouraged to plant the 

 seeds, and thus make up a deficiency in timber which in many parts 

 of the country l:)egins to be seriously felt. Care is not needed to 

 protect the young trees for one year only. In the first year, if 

 bitten or broken off, the serm dies. 



