236 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



not utterly condemn the whole list of special manures, but we 

 do say that animal or homo made manures must be relied upon 

 as the main stay of the farm. Others may be used as stimu- 

 lants or helps. For instance, some plants which are slow to 

 start, or feeble in their early life, may be benefited by a small 

 dose of phosphate or guano ; or it may be seen, after the plant 

 is up, that it is not coming forward fast enough to mature in 

 our short season ; then an application of some quick-acting ferti- 

 lizer may be u^ed with profit, and the plant may have new vigor 

 given it. 



I have become satisfied that the most advantageous way of 

 using special manures, unless it is in some particular cases, as 

 previously stated, is in connection with barnyard manure. 



If the object is to increase the value of your manure pile by 

 the addition of some special manure, then thoroughly mix it 

 with your barnyard manure, adding thereto some muck or loam, 

 as the case may be. 



An experiment came under my notice a short time since, 

 which I will relate. A field consisting of ten acres was to be 

 planted with corn. The autumn previous muck was carted on 

 the field in several piles, at tlie rate of fifteen loads of thirty 

 bushels each to the acre, and fish guano mixed with this muck at 

 the rate often hundred pounds to the acre. The following spring 

 ■barnyard manure at the rate of six loads to the acre was thor- 

 oughly composted with this muck and fish, it being worked over 

 three different times. The land was ploughed, the compost 

 spread, and worked in with the harrow. The result was seventy 

 bushels of corn to the acre. 



I have also known fish guano to be composted with barnyard 

 manure of a dirty character, and spread on mowing fields in the 

 autumn, to be followed with good results. 



PLASTER OF PARIS A MANURE. 



Plaster of Paris, or gypsum, Avhen used on sandy loam, con- 

 taining organic matter, generally gives satisfaction. It seems to 

 be especially adapted to clover fields, applied to the clover and 

 not to the soil, and also to be used on the manure pile and with 

 manure. AVhen, how and where to use these articles should be 

 the constant study of the farmer. 



