80 INTELLIGENT TEAR GROWERS. 



tributed throughout the. entire heap. Such a com- 

 post should not be used until the end of the second 

 year from the time of making. By that time the 

 mass will be homogeneous, and have the appearance 

 of spoiled cheese. If intended for ground not yet 

 planted with fruit trees, it may be applied in con- 

 venient sized heaps on the surface at the rate of 

 fifteen to twenty two-horse loads to the acre. Know- 

 ing the condition of the land, the owner can soon 

 decide the quantity necessary. The heaps are then 

 to be scattered evenly over the surface and plowed 

 under. There are many intelligent pear growers, 

 who merely apply the manure, and leave it on the 

 surface, believing surface manuring to be the best 

 method of application. With us it has not proved 

 so, although we have instituted numerous experi- 

 ments for the purpose of ascertaining the facts. In 

 nearly every instance, the results have been in favor 

 of turning under the manure, with the exception of 

 the lime and ashes. Our experiments were not con- 

 fined to a single crop, but were tried with nearly all 

 our cultivated vegetables, and, as I mentioned above, 

 the largest returns were from those portions of the 

 ground where the manure had been plowed under. 



During March and April, the compost may be 

 scattered on the surface between the rows of trees, 

 and when the soil is in a condition to be worked, in- 



