ARTIFICIAL MANURE. 193 



reminded here, that this action was explained in de- 

 tail, in order that it might be understood, how spent 

 ashes could act so rapidly on swamp muck. 



274. Alkalies and peat, or swamp muck, are 

 within the command of almost every farmer. Lime 

 is not within reach, and besides, requires no small 

 skill in its management. In the preparation of ma- 

 nure, price is every thing. Let the cost be estimat- 

 ed per cord, of artificial manure, prepared in the 

 proportions stated (270). Peat or muck, may be 

 called worth fifty cents per cord, and the labor of 

 digging, say one dollar, 



$1 50 



92 lbs. potash, 6 cents, $5,52 ^ 

 or, 61 " soda ash, or white I 



ash, 4cts. 2,44 f average of alkalies, S,65 



or, 24 bush, ashes, 12 1-2 cts. 3,00 J 



$5,15 



3)10,96 



3,65 



Were they really good hard wood ashes, about 16 

 bushels would be sufficient, but an excess here is 

 allowed, to compensate for variation in quality. But 

 this may appear a very high price, but it is to be re- 

 membered, that its value is to be compared with that 

 of a cord of clear cow dung. What is the value of 

 cow dung ? It appears from the barn account of the 

 Merrimack Manufacturing Company, that for 9 1-2 

 17 



