MANURES AND FERTILIZERS 



earth around the edges being worked in, the whole 

 mass is then ready to be loaded and transported. 



By this method the material is made convenient 

 to handle, and as little disagreeable as ordinary 

 manure from the barnyard. In England and on 

 the Continent, by use of the long straw, judiciously 

 disposed during the loading, the mixed material 

 above described is built up into a stack reaching 

 two or three feet high, above the sides of the wagon 

 or cart, and so great loads of it are carried many 

 miles without loss. The straw is spread so that 

 half of its length projects over the sides or ends 

 of the load, and in layers the inner ends of the 

 straw being covered and held fast by the alternate 

 layers of compost and the outer ends are then 

 bent upward and backward, and similarly confined. 

 Racks for sides and ends are convenient but 

 when the load is carefully put together may be 

 dispensed with. 



Wood ashes, where they can be obtained, form 

 one of the best fertilizers, and when unleached are 

 generally richer in potash (which is one of the most 

 important elements) than most commercial fer- 

 tilizers. From the fact that ashes are almost 

 entirely lacking in nitrogen, it is not advisable to 



[57] 



