88 



Shell Fish as Manure. — SfC. 



Vol. IX. 



that are necessary for any plant to have, in 

 order to produce its kind. 



If we examine with an ordinary magni- 

 fier those parasitical appearances, found so 

 abundantly upon cedar fences, we shall find 

 ihat they blossom, fructify and increase their 

 kind in a manner similar to many other 

 plants of a larger growth; and it is asserted 

 that the blight when exposed to the action 

 of a powerful microscope, exhibits all the 

 phenomena of a living plant, but the truth 

 of that is yet to be proven, as but few have 

 examined minutely enough to risk their 

 reputation on the assumption, while all ad- 

 rait, that, as a natural production, it must 

 be formed according to nature's laws, and 

 that its proper nutriment must be the juices 

 of plants. 



But be that as it may, its position as a 

 plant or a disease will remain unknown, 

 until it has been chemically tested; but 

 when its nature and composition are once 

 accurately ascertained, then, if a disease, 

 chemistry will find a cure; if a plant, chem- 

 istry will teach man to apply a remedy that 

 will make it seek other quarters. 



Now it appears rational that as lichens, 

 mosses, &o., do not very extensively attack 

 trees in the vigor of their growth, they will 

 not attack plants whose growth is sufficient- 

 ly vigorous and healtliy. 



Hence, if we grow a stalk that shall be 

 vigorous in all its life, and in all stages of 

 maturity shall flourish with luxuriance; 

 then the blight will be obliged to seek other 

 quarters, as the wheat will be of too healthy 

 a growth to allow of its substance being- 

 taken up by foreign plants for their support. 



In order to grow a stalk of this kind, the 

 earth must be supplied with an abundance 

 of the materials that wheat requires for its 

 support, i. e., carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen, 

 oxygen and ashes. A compound of nitro- 

 gen and hydrogen forms ammonia, of oxy- 

 gen and hydrogen forms water, and of oxy- 

 gen and nitrogen forms atmospheric air. 



Hence, in order that wheat may grow 

 with the proper degree of luxuriance, the 

 soil must be copiously supplied with water, 

 ammonia, ashes and air. 



The ammonia may be applied by wetting 

 the grains and rolling them in powdered 

 muriate of ammonia, as a quantity sufficient 

 for maturing the plant will adhere to the 

 grain, and the ashes can be applied to the 

 soil; the air and water are within reach of 

 the plant and therefore do not need attention 

 or application. 



Shell Fish as Manure. 



Having noticed the good effects of shell 

 fish in gardens, applied to carrot and onion 

 beds, it occurred to a gentleman of our ac- 

 quaintance that the same species of manure 

 would be found equally useful on a larger 

 scale, in the case of a green crop cultivated 

 in the open field. Accordingly, he instructed 

 his labourer to repair to the shore, and exca- 

 vate four cart-loads of live shell fish, com- 

 posed chiefly of wilks, cockles, and muscles. 

 When carried home, the deposit was thrown 

 into a heap, and allowed to remain until it 

 began to emit an unpleasant odour. Warn- 

 ing thus given, the shells were smashed and 

 mixed with peat earth, to absorb the moist- 

 ure and facilitate the application. They 

 were then laid in the drills, after tlie man- 

 Iner of bones, at the rate of 16 bushels per 

 acre — sown with turnips — and the better to 

 test the utility of the experiment, turnips- 

 were planted the same day over thick layers 

 of barnyard manure. The seed on the shells 

 took a wonderful start, the plants showing 

 themselves at the end of three days, not- 

 withstanding the intense drought; while the 

 dung operated so slowly, that eight days 

 plapsed before tiie slightest tendency to 

 greening appeared. 



Thus far the shells and substance enclosed 

 have worked perfect wonders, and bid fair to 

 outvie crushed bones, and even guano. The 

 carbonate of lime and animal matter in shell 

 fish are great nourishers of vegetable life. 

 — Dumfries Covrier. 



Mexding a Tree. — We saw at Isaac 

 Frost's, Newton, a tolerably large apple 

 tree that had the bark eaten all around by 

 the mice, some years ago, and of course 

 would have died Vv-ithout some extra pains 

 to save it. Mr. Frost set about a do2en sci- 

 ons in the tree, one end in the green bark 

 and wood below, and the other above the 

 wound. They all took at both ends and 

 grev^-.well, excepting one which took only 

 at the bottom and is forming a little tree by 

 itself. The scions are now about two inches 

 in diameter, and are touching each other. 

 The tree is in a fine flourishing condition. 

 This method of mending a tree is attended 

 with sotne trouble, but by this simple means, 

 which can be done in a few hours, a valua- 

 ble tree may be saved, as has occasionally 

 been the case. — Maine Former. 



Ar.RicuLTUUE is the art of raising crops; — 

 husbandry, the art of preserving and expend- 

 ing tliem.. 



In West Chester co., N. Y., the disease 

 in the potatoe is general. On Long Island, 

 on heavy ground the rot is prevalent, but in 

 light sandy soils, they have escaped. The 

 continued wet weather is assigned as the 

 cause by the Long Island Farmer. 



