THE GARDEN. 65 



stimulants alone, and take good, solid, blood-mak- 

 ing food. This illustration suggests the proper 

 course to be taken. Many a time I have seen 

 action the reverse of this resulting disastrously. 

 For instance, a man carts on his light thin soil hot 

 fermenting manure from the horse-stable, and 

 ploughs it under. Seeds are planted. In the 

 moist, cool, early spring they make a great start, 

 feeling the impulse of the powerful stimulant. 

 There is a hasty and unhealthful growth ; but long 

 before maturity the days grow long and hot, 

 drought comes, and the garden dries up. There- 

 fore every effort should be made to supply cool 

 manures with staying qualities, such as are fur- 

 nished by decayed vegetable matter composted 

 with the cleanings of the cow-stable. We thus 

 learn the value of fallen leaves, muck from the 

 swamp, etc. ; and they also bring with them but 

 few seeds of noxious vegetation. 



On the other hand, stolid, phlegmatic clay re- 

 quires the stimulus of manure from the horse- 

 stable. It can be ploughed under at once, and 

 left to ferment and decay in the soil. The process 

 of decomposition will tend to banish its cold, inert 

 qualities, and make the ground loose, open, and 

 amenable to the influences of frost, sun, and rain. 



Does the owner of light, warm soils ask, " What, 

 then, shall I do with my stable-manure, since you 



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