532 MANUAL OF THE NILAQIKI DISTRICT. 



CH. XXIX. 



Cattle 

 uiaiuire 



iclmess of theii- manures, as for the immense quantity that they 

 -Tj,.^ make when well littered down, and the trifling cost of their keep. 



They will eat and thrive on almost every weed that grows on an 



estate. 



Cattle manura is the fertilizer most frequently used by the 

 planter, and in many cases the only one procurable. It should 

 be thoroughly decomposed before its application, and is always 

 the better for being made into compost with other substances. 

 Though less heating than horse or pig manure, its effects are more 

 lasting, and it is the only medium with which the more powerful 

 stimulant manures should in small proportion be applied to the 

 soil. The effect of a bushel basket of cattle manure may be said 

 to extend over four years. On all estates some cattle at all 

 events may be maintained, and if these, or a portion of them, 

 can be stall fed, a much larger outturn of manure will be obtained. 

 Manure in a fresh and undecomposed state should not be applied 

 to the roots of any plant, as it is very apt to promote, especially 

 in wet weather, fungoid disease of the roots. A bushel basket 

 of well rotted cattle manure in a fairly dry state will weigh on 

 an average 25 lb., and one such basket to every tree once in 

 four years may be considered sufficiently high cultivation. Allow- 

 ing 2,000 plants on an average to the acre, this will give us a 

 little over 22 tons to be applied per acre once in every four years. 

 A garden of 100 acres, of which one-fourth is manured at a time, 

 will require 550 tons of cattle manure per annum. In all cases 

 where bone-dust, blood, wood-ashes, lime, &c. are added to the 

 manure, the greater will be its value. 



Sheep and goats' droppings are admirable manures, but they 

 do not decompose rapidly. 



In places where oilcake can be obtained cheap and in large 

 c^uantities, a considerable increase of yield may be obtained by 

 its application, and where the manures above named are not 

 procurable in sufficient quantity I can recommend its use. Its 

 effect, however, is very transitory, and frequent application will 

 be needed if much good is to result. Far better feed cattle on 

 it and use it in the second-hand form. 

 Guano. Guano is beyond doubt, when obtained in a pure state, the 



most poAverful manure known. Its application, except in small 

 quantities and then in conjunction with other less stimulating 

 substances, is not unattended with danger. By itself its effect 

 upon plants is much that of the free use of alcohol on the humau 

 system. An unnatural vitality is caused only to subside and 

 bring on relapse directly the stimulant has ceased to act. For 

 farm crops, where it.s effect is needed on a crop that only occupies 

 the ground for a short time, its value is decidedly groat; but for 



Odc-ike. 



