1 6 THE FOOD OF PLANTS MANURES [CH. 



Such essential elements are found naturally combined 

 in our farm-yards and stables. One ton of farm-yard 

 manure should contain these chemical fertilisers in about 

 the proportion of from 9 to 15 Ibs. of nitrogen, 

 9 to 15 Ibs. of potash, and 4 to 9 Ibs. of phosphorus. 

 Such manure, when it can be had, should be used at 

 the rate of from 10 to 12 cart-loads to every quarter of 

 an acre. 



Then again, in some remote corner of every garden, 

 if possible out of sight, there ought to be a compost 

 heap, on which can be thrown animal and vegetable 

 refuse, sweepings of the avenue and road, charred wood 

 fibre, decayed short grass and soft weeds, half-rotted 

 leaves, cleanings of fowl houses, occasionally sprinkled 

 with lime and covered with soil ; on this may be thrown 

 soap-suds and all sorts of slops from the house. When 

 turned over now and then, and sprinkled with soot, it 

 becomes a rich store-house for garden use. The cover- 

 ing it over with soil deodorises the heap, so that it need 

 not be in the least offensive. It may then be used for 

 digging into the ground, or for mulching or top-dressing 

 fruit plantations. Such manure heaps are of great service 

 at small cost ; they are the reserve commissariat of the 

 garden. 



In many public and private stables peat-moss litter 

 is now used for bedding horses. After lying some weeks 

 in the stall it becomes mixed and saturated with the stable 

 manure. A surface dressing of this stuff is peculiarly 

 useful for fruit trees ; it not only attracts the roots to 



