82 PRACTICAL FARM CHEMISTRY. 



neglect to make liberal use of it, whenever it is 

 offered at a lower rate, and needed. 



I find a valuable addition to the stock of domestic 



fertilizing materials in the results of what has fitly 



been termed the " annual roast of rub- 



'^^"EoMt!"^ bish." The great spring cleaning— in- 

 doors and out — accumulates a large 

 amount of waste materials, such as brush, rotten 

 wood and rails, chips, sawdust, weeds, leaves, wet 

 straw, old bones, old boots and shoes, rags, old 

 papers, old mortar, perhaps oyster and clam shells, 

 and other unsightly things, too numerous to mention^ 

 that have outlived their usefulness. To get rid of 

 all this stuff is worth something, and it may be dis- 

 posed of in a way both convenient and useful. 



I practice the following plan: First I select a spot 

 suitable for the great autotafe, usually back of the 

 house, and far enough away from the buildings for 

 safety. Here I lay a foundation of rotten rails, 

 timbers, or anything of a woody nature that is of no 

 value for other purposes, and upon this I start my 

 fire. The trimmings of the orchard trees, and bush 

 fruits, etc., are piled on next, until the fire is going 

 briskly. Then come the yard rakings and the 

 house sweepings, chips, wet sawdust, corn cobs, wet 

 leaves, grass and weeds, with what old bones, clam 

 and oyster- shells may be on hand, or a small quan- 

 tity of lime stone, also wet straw, old sods, and any- 

 thing else of a similar nature. The rakings and 

 sweepings are usually quite damp and mixed with 

 wet soil, etc., and should be spread pretty evenly 

 over the roasting heap so that the fire is merely 

 glowing underneath an outside covering, not blazing 

 up in open flame. 



The entire mass may thus remain glowing and 



