HOW TO FERTILIZE. 93 



nure, two pailfuls of stable manure to one barrel of water ; 

 let it stand twenty-four hours before using. When the vat 

 is from one half to two thirds full add following mixture : 



Unslacked lime, two bushels. 



Soot, .two bushels. 



Salt, four pounds. 



Saltpeter, two pounds. 



Unleached ashes, two bushels. 



Land plaster, five bushels. 



Condensed manure, such as hen guano, privy 



manure, or bought fertilizers, three barrels. 



These amounts are sufficient to decompose a ton of dry 

 wash, or ten tons of green stuff, and of course can be eas- 

 ily reduced in quantity when desired. Mix these ingredi- 

 ents with the water, adding the lime, ashes, and land plas- 

 ter last of all. 



Place in the pen a layer of muck, dirt, or sawdust, 

 about three inches thick, then add the materials to be 

 rotted, straw, grass, leaves, sawdust, etc.; wet them thor- 

 oughly with the liquor from the vat, well stirred before 

 using, then add another layer of muck and wet that, and 

 so keep on, alternating muck and trash until the pan is 

 full, wetting each layer as you proceed. 



Your pen should have a roof, as stated elsewhere ; and 

 this is a very important matter, and one especially insisted 

 on by Mr. Bonner, in his patented formula given above. 



Repeat this wetting every four or five days, first making 

 holes with a crow-bar worked back and forth, and then 

 pouring the liquid from the vat freely over the whole pile. 

 In fifteen days the manure will be in perfect condition, 

 well-rotted and fine ; heat will be generated in one week, 

 and, should it seem too great, may be moderated by the use 

 of water. Do not be sparing of the liquor at the time of 

 first piling the heap. 



