1880.] TRANSACTIONS. 13 



The last part of the question as to the best and most econom- 

 ical method of applying manure, is a question upon which there 

 will be a great diversity of opinion, but less, I think, after testing 

 fully and fairly the different methods. 



Once it was all to be composted, two cords of peat or loam and 

 one cord of manure making three cords, each of the same value 

 as the manure. Then came barn cellars, and with them the idea 

 that we could fill them nearly full of peat, loam or sand, and 

 that it would all come out in the spring, manure. Where these 

 weak preparations from the cellar were put to the test of a crop, 

 it did not do the business, and then the cry was, barn cellar ma- 

 nure wasn't good for much, and it was some time before some of 

 us found out that if we did put the ten cords of loam or sand 

 into the cellar, and dropped down only about one cord from the 

 cattle, we really had only about one cord, after all, and that all 

 that ten cords of loam except what might be sufficient to soak up 

 the liquids, had been carried there more as a mistake than for 

 any practical purpose. 



Now as to the application ; I do not propose to say to you that 

 this or that method is the best. But I shall simply tell you how 

 I should apply manure for my land, and to produce such crops 

 as I might wish to grow. The base of the manure that I should 

 use for almost any lioed crop, would be barnyard or stable 

 manure. And here let me say that I believe in a good, liberal 

 dressing, of course adapted to the crop to be grown. Now, what 

 might be a good dressing for corn or potatoes, might not be 

 enough for some garden vegetables, particularly where more than 

 one crop is to be grown without additional manure. Eight cords 

 of manure, 400 pounds of sulphate of potash, or, instead of that, 

 35 bushels of wood ashes, is none too much for a crop of onions. 



Ten cords of manure, 300 pounds of muriate of potash 80 per 

 cent., 100 pounds dissolved bone, is none too much for a crop of 

 cabbages on sod land after a crop' of early cut hay, the land to 

 be seeded to grass just before winter, and grass follows the cab- 

 bage better than any other hoed crop. 



Six cords of manure, 300 pounds sulphate of potash 57 per 

 cent., and 100 pounds dissolved bone, does the handsome thing 

 with me for a crop of potatoes. 250 pounds dissolved bone, 250 

 pounds muriate of potash 80 per cent., 50 pounds sulphate of 

 ammonia 24 per cent., 100 pounds plaster of paris, makes m}' grape- 

 vines grow on a poor gravelly soil as strong as I want to have 

 them, and they fruit abundantly. 



In seeding land to grass, which I always intend to in the 

 months of August and September, or if I do not have time then, 

 I leave it until just before winter sets in, I use the manure 

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