306 WHAT I KNOW OF FARMING. 



I think there are few farmers in the Old Thirteen 

 States who cannot obtain it for less than that. 



Where Muck is not to be had, I believe the tiller 

 of a sandy or gravelly farm who can get access to a 

 bed or bank of clay may profitably dig and draw this, 

 to be used as he would use Muck if he had it, and 

 even for direct application to the soil. I do not think 

 this method the most advisable ; -yet I feel sure that 

 clay spread over a sandy or gravelly field that has 

 been laid down to grass is worth fifty cents per cu- 

 bic yard wherever Hay is worth $12 per tun ; but I 

 would wish to apply it not later than December. 



He who has fit places of deposit should draw all his 

 Lime, Plaster, and other commercial fertilizers, in 

 Winter, so as to be ready for use when required. 

 Mix your Lime while fresh from the kiln with Muck, 

 at the rate of a bushel of the former to a cubic yard 

 of the latter, and the Muck will be ready for use far 

 sooner than it otherwise would be. Be careful not 

 to mix Lime with animal manures in any case, since 

 it expels Ammonia, whereas the sulphur of Plaster 

 combines with that volatile element and fixes it. 

 There are some farmers who do, but twenty times as 

 many who do not, use Plaster enough about their sta- 

 bles and pig-pens. They ought to realize that a bad 

 smell implies a waste of Ammonia, which a farmer, 

 unless very rich, can hardly afford. 



Fences should all be scrutinized as Winter goes off, 

 and put into thorough condition for next season's ser- 

 vice. 



