ORGANIC MANURES. 73 



RICH TURF. 



Much of this is full of the roots of grasses and decayed 

 vegetables, and is a valuable absorbent of every species of 

 animal or other manures. Whenever it can be procured 

 by the road-side or other waste places, it should be used for 

 this purpose. It is frequently filled with the seeds or roots 

 of weeds, which ought to be killed preparatory to using as 

 manure. A mutually beneficial effect is produced, by mix- 

 ing turf with lime, by which the turf is speedily rotted, and 

 the obnoxious weeds killed ; and the lime is thus becoming 

 equally fitted to act beneficially when applied to the soil, as if 

 already incorporated with it. Some weeks after mixing to- 

 gether, the heap will be in a fit condition to receive every 

 description of manure. 



SWAMP MUCK OR POND MUD. 



Under certain conditions, this is a more valuable addition 

 to the muck heap, or more properly, a foundation for it, than 

 either of the preceding. Especially is this the case, when 

 there is no outlet for the water and sediment ; and the mud, 

 besides containing a large proportion of salts, the result of 

 ages of evaporation, is the receptacle of the remains of 

 myriads of minute shell fish, animalculae, infusoria, the spawn 

 and exuvise of frogs and other occupants. Ducks and vari- 

 ous aquatic birds fill themselves to repletion, when ranging 

 through a pond thus daintily supplied; the contents of 

 which are even much more adapted to the promotion of 

 vegetable than animal life. Such reservoirs of vegetable nu- 

 trition, are mines of wealth to the farmer, if judiciously ap- 

 plied ; nor can he justify meagre returns from his fields, while 

 this remedy is within his reach. 



MANURING WITH GREEN" CROPS. 



This system has within a few years, been extensively 

 adopted in some of the older-settled portions of the United 

 States. The comparative cheapness of land and its pro- 

 ducts, the high price of labor, and the consequent expense of 

 making artificial manures, renders this at present, the most 

 economical plan which can be pursued. The design in this 

 practice is primarily, fertilization ; and connected with it, is 

 the clearing of the ground from noxious weeds, as in fallows, 

 by plowing in the vegetation before the seed is ripened ; and 

 finally,the object is to loosen the soil and place it in the mel- 

 lowest condition for the crops which are to succeed. Its re- 



