HOW TO FERTILIZE. 95 



The utility and economy of this process consists in the 

 converting of leaves, corn-stalks, cotton-seed, rotten sap, 

 etc., into ready-made manure. All seeds are destroyed by 

 the process, so that any noxious weed may be fearlessly 

 cast into the heap ; bones broken into small pieces will be 

 dissolved at once, and become valuable plant-food. A 

 compost made by this formula is not only ready for use in 

 so short a time, but its value is double that of ordinary 

 stable manure, and contains all the elements of plant-food. 



And all this valuable fertilizer can thus be made at 

 home by Bonner's process at a mere nominal cost of 

 five dollars per ton. This is the iw plus ultra of compost 



If the soot called for in the formula can not be obtained, 

 use more saltpeter; if ashes turn up missing, substitute 

 ten pounds of caustic potash; and remember, never to 

 leave the pile uncovered nor, we may add once more 

 (for this can not be too strongly impressed on the fruit 

 grower), any other manure heap, if its full value is de- 

 sired to be preserved. 



A word or two about the best manner of preserving 

 stable manure while collecting: nine out of ten of the 

 Southern farmers stable their horses in stalls with the 

 ground as the only flooring. This is a great mistake, and 

 occasions a waste of the most valuable portions of the ma- 

 nure, the liquid or urine. 



In a valuable little book called, "Talks on Manure," by 

 Joseph Harris, he tells us that one ton of stable manure 

 contains only twelve pounds of nitrogen, six pounds of 

 phosphoric acid, and thirteen pounds of potash, and these 

 are its only elements of practical value. Think of it, out 

 of two thousand pounds of matter, only thirty-one pounds 

 of manure, all the rest waste ; and here is the plan Mr. 

 Harris proposes (and has proven for years to be all that 



