1S46.] Manures — their .application. 49 



sistence for admitting plants to grow in them, and to push their 

 small roots without losing hold, and at the same time, to feed in a 

 regular manner, imbibing in just proportion, the moisture and 

 nutriment it contains without being either parched or drowned. 



Putrid manures, applied in proper quantities, furnish direct nu- 

 triment for plants; and calcarious manures probably do the same, 

 in some degree; but they certainly furnish it indirectly, by re- 

 solving organic substances contained in the soil into a mucus, as- 

 sisted by moisture. At the same time these manures are always 

 productive of mechanical effect, in opening and deepening the 

 soils to v/hich they are applied. 



From my own observation and experience, I have come to the 

 conclusion that manure, arising from animal and vegetable sub- 

 stances, should be exposed as little as possible to the sun, the air, 

 and drenching rains, and when applied to the soil be immediately 

 plovv'ed in. It is my opinion also that manure, when plowed in, 

 cannot be kept too near the surface, provided it is well mixed and 

 covered, that the essence will be dissolved by rain and taken up 

 by the roots of the plants. So extremely minute are the mouths 

 of plants, that the nourishing parts of manure can enter them 

 only in a state of solution by water. 



My object and great aim is to make and get manure; and to 

 carry this into effect, nothing that would contribute, in the least 

 degree, for increasing the manure heap is thrown away. I have 

 always made it a practice of converting every article of rubbish 

 and filth about my premises, weeds and coarse grass around the 

 fields and fences, into manure; and have even hauled saw dust, 

 turner's chips, and sumac leaves, from the morocco dressers, to 

 bed my cattle and absorb the urine previous to mixing in the com- 

 post heaps. I also haul anthracite coal ashes from the city, on 

 which I set a high value, for a top dressing on my meadows. 



But however correct and economical may be the manner of 

 saving and applying manure, the quantity, it cannot be denied, 

 still falls short of the farmer's wants. How to supply this defi- 

 ciency merits the deepest attention of the husbandman. 



I am an advocate for compost, and for that purpose I mix 



