I H MANUKES. 



Fish (like all other nitrogenous manures) should 

 never be applied as a top dressing, unless previously 

 mixed with a good absorbent of ammonia ; but should, 

 when used alone, be immediately plowed under to 

 considerable depth, to prevent the evaporation and 

 consequent loss of their fertilizing gases. 



Within the past few years the manufacture of oil from 

 fish has become a very extensive industry, especially 

 along the coast of New England. The fish are caught 

 in immense quantities and delivered to the factories, 

 where they are first cooked by steaming and then 

 subjected to very heavy pressure, which removes their 

 oil. The solid matter which is left behind, contain- 

 ing the bones, scales, and muscular tissues, is run 

 through a " picker," and sold for manure. It con- 

 tains all of the fish that is of value for this purpose, 

 in a very concentrated form, and it is easy of applica- 

 tion to the soil. It is now sold for about one-third 

 of the value of Peruvian guano, at which price it is 

 a much more economical fertilizer. 



WOOLLEN BAGS, ETC. 



Woollen rags, hair, waste of woollen factories, etc., 

 contain both nitrogen and phosphate of lime ; and, like 

 alb other matters containing these ingredients, are 

 excellent manures, but they must be used in such a 

 way as to prevent the escape of their fertilizing gases. 

 They decompose slowly, and are therefore considered 

 a lasting manure. Like all lasting manures, how- 

 ever, they are slow in their effects, and the most ad- 



