FOOD AND STIMULANTS. 23 



In speaking of food of plants of the most essen- 

 tial and proper nature, I have never found any that 

 answers a better purpose than well rotted manure 

 from the stable yard, as horse, cow, or hog manure 

 placed in a heap for fermentation with a quantity of 

 loam, or peat incorporated therewith ; this compost 

 should be well rotted and mixed before it is carried 

 on the land. I am well aware that there are many 

 kinds of stimulating manures recommended, as bone 

 dust, horn, shavings, and other powerful stimulants, 

 besides many kinds from minerals, as lime, plasters, 

 and the like ; these I cannot pretend to say are not 

 in many cases very quick and beneficial in their 

 operation, but I am of opinion that the first recom- 

 mended kinds, although more steady and moderate in 

 their operation, are much the best. The best food 

 for trees not in use that I am acquainted with is old 

 woollen rags or cloth cut into small pieces and dug 

 or ploughed into the soil about the roots of trees ; 

 young trees are particularly benefited by this ma- 

 nure, as it is one of the best substances I am ac- 

 quainted with to cause young trees to throw out 

 fibres, and support them by emitting to them a 

 gradual moisture of an oily nature : this also serves 

 to retain moisture in dry weather and absorb it in 

 moist. Many kinds of fish are very active and forci- 

 ble manures for young trees, but they are not to 

 be recommended, as they rather force than invi- 

 gorate the nature of the tree. When exhausted, 

 trees generally linger if not well supplied in after 

 years from such active manures ; blood, night-soil 

 and many other things may be recommended when 

 incorporated with loam as manures, but they re- 

 quire to be used with caution in order that the vege- 



