52 AMERICAN HUSBANDRY. 



state, in ordinary cases, by a tr mnial top-dressing 

 with manure or compost ; or may be renovated and 

 restored to a productive state by the modes we have 

 already recommended in the Cultivator. 



28. Composts are economical when made to ab- 

 sorb fertilizing liquids which would otherwise be 

 wasted ; or to decompose inert vegetable matter, as 

 peat, earth, &c. 



29. Lime, gypsum, marl, and ashes are powerful 

 auxiliaries when applied to proper soils or suitable 

 crops. Observation and experience will be the best 

 guides in their application. They should all be ap- 

 plied to the surface, or but superficially covered. 



30. All vegetable and animal matters constitute 

 the food of plants when they are rendered soluble, 

 or capable of being dissolved in the water of the 

 soil. 



31. Bone-dust, horn-shavings, poudrette, woollen 

 rags, urine, and animal carbon or burned bones, are 

 concentrated manures, and should be used sparingly 

 and with great care upon or near the surface of the 

 soil. Pigeon and hen's dung partake much of the 

 character of the preceding, and require precaution 

 in their use. We think the best mode of applying 

 the two first named is to mix ashes with them or 

 long manure, just before they are put upon the soil, 

 whereby they are brought speedily into a state of 

 fermentation and decomposition. 



32. The best guards against drought are keeping 

 the soil deep, rich, clean, and mellow on the surface. 



33. The more cattle that are well kept upon a 

 farm, the more manure ; the more manure there is 

 applied, the greater the product and the profit, and 

 the greater the means of sustaining an increased 

 stock of animals upon it. All of these advantages 

 are increased when root-crops are made to enter 

 largely into the system of culture. 



