SCIENTIFIC AGRICULTURE. 213 



manure, it is done at the expense of some powerful fertilizer 

 which is diluted by the mixture, and consequently loses just 

 as much of its efficacy as the other gaiss. Thus, although 

 this process serves to dilute and extend manures which are 

 too powerful or too expensive, it absolutely supplies none. 



Now, although it is evident that this method does not aug- 

 ment in the slightest degree, our quantity of available ma- 

 nure, yet it has several advantages. Caustic lime and wqpd 

 ashes are sometimes too strong for young and tender vegeta- 

 tion ; and when this is the case, the object of their use is 

 much better attained by mixing and diffusing them through 

 some other substance, such as saw-dust, sand, barn manure or 

 humus, or allowing them to lie in a heap together with any 

 vegetable matters, such as leaves, straw, chaff, rotten wood or 

 turf; or with animal matters; until decomposition is completed. 



Another advantage is, that a manure which is valuable and 

 scarce, as guano, poudrette, and some chemical salts, may be 

 extended by mixture so as to be applied to a much larger space 

 than would be practicable if used singly. Thirdly, this mode 

 enables the agriculturist to spread his manure on the soil more 

 even and uniformly. And lastly, by making compost we are 

 enabled to hasten the final decay of animal and vegetable 

 matters, so as to gain considerable time. By mixing quicklime 

 with barn manure, straw, leaves, &c., decomposition goes on 

 more rapidly, and these substances are transformed to availa- 

 ble manures in a comparatively short space of time. But 

 much discretion is necessary in this respect, otherwise some 

 valuable elements are wasted ; the object is to fix and retain 

 the volatile elements and not to dissipate them. A great 

 objection to composts is, the amount of labor retired in ma- 

 king, turning, and transporting them to the fields. 



No definite formula can with any propriety be given for 

 making composts, as the agriculturist must determine for him- 

 self in each particular case, as to what elements his fields most 



