14 WORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. [1880. 



made from the cattle, horses, and swine. Of the latter I keep 

 quite a number, and there is more or less waste material from 

 the farm put in their pens. The land having been ploughed at 

 a considerable expense, it is economy to fertilize it well, and I 

 think there is a better return from the manure applied when 

 seeding, than as a top dressing. If I desire to top dress grass 

 land I have found the following articles mixed to be a good 

 application ; they should be sown broadcast early in the spring : 

 150 lbs. nitrate of soda, 100 lbs. muriate of potash 80 per cent., 

 100 lbs. dissolved bone, the whole costing from $9 to $10 an 

 acre. Do not sow nitrate of soda in the fall. 



I have recommended to some of my friends who are market 

 gardeners, sulphate of ammonia for the purpose of a quick action 

 in hurrying up a crop of dandelions in the spring, as one week 

 makes a large difference in the price which they can be sold for. 

 This has been attended with very good results in most instances. 

 In one experiment in its use, the person who used it on one half 

 of the piece without any appreciable increase in the product, 1 

 asked him what manure he had applied before sowing the crop. 

 The answer was 15 to 18 cords of stable manure to the acre. 

 With the large amount of nitrogen in the stable manure — more 

 than the crop can possibly utilize, thete was no wonder that the 

 additional amount of ammonia did not produce any effect. 



The best preparation for plants in pots is to start right in the 

 first place ; two or three inches deep of the top of an old pasture 

 of rather stiff loam, piled up with the sod downward, and allowed 

 to rot six or more months, makes the best potting soil. This can 

 be varied by adding sand or leaf mold from the woods, or peat, 

 as the plants may require. Do not sift it, but use it coarse, and 

 in all pots over three inches give good drainage. This may be 

 enriched by old rotten manure to suit the plant. Do not over- 

 pot the plants ; repot when the roots are in action, if necessary, 

 and afterwards give liquid manure if the plants need stimulating, 

 just as buds are swelling to increase the size of the flowers. 



All the manures that I have mentioned are spread broadcast 

 and worked in with a Randall or other harrow thoroughly. I 

 have applied manure directly from the stable in the fall and 

 winter as a top dressing to land to be planted the following year, 

 and am unable to perceive any loss on my land, which is tolera- 

 bly level. If there is no loss it would be an economical method 

 of application. 



I have stated to you my theory and practice. My theory is 

 that the different varieties of plants that I cultivate want ammo- 

 nia, bone, and potash in different quantities. My practice is to 

 study tlie wants of the plants themselves, and endeavor to furnish 

 them those articles in a soluble state amply sufficient for their wants. 



