42 FERTILIZERS. 



raw ground plaster over each layer of fish before covering 

 with soil, at the rate of fifty pounds of plaster to three 

 hundred weight of fish. After the pile has been built up 

 four or five feet in height, surround the entire heap (it 

 should be on level ground) with a little embankment of 

 fine soil. This will catch the liquid that often runs from 

 it when the fish begins to decompose, as well as catch what 

 may be soaked from it by heavy rains, ; while it will also 

 be handy to fill up the holes that are apt to show them- 

 selves in the top as the decomposition progresses, letting 

 out bad odors unless they are promptly closed. As the 

 presence of oil or salt tends to check decomposition, fish- 

 waste containing much of either of these had better be 

 composted with stable manure rather than soil, as the heat 

 from the manure will start decomposition. If decomposi- 

 tion is slow to start, unleached ashes or lime and plaster 

 may be mixed with the mass ; but be sure to cover such 

 heaps with soil. The compost heaps, when manure is not 

 used, should be made, if possible, before warm weather 

 closes; and, should no heat be found by driving a bar 

 down, and testing it, after it has lain a couple of weeks, 

 then pitch it over, to let the air in, and cover the outside 

 lightly with soil. Where chum is used, after having been 

 made fine, it can be applied directly to the surface of till- 

 age land in the fall, and harrowed in, or be ploughed 

 lightly under, to be thrown up near the surface by a 

 deeper ploughing in the spring. If left on the surface, I 

 find it is spreading a table all winter long for the crows 

 of the country. 



By applying the chum in the fall, it will have the ad- 

 vantage of rain and frost to help subdivide and dissolve it. 

 Fish-skins, when used on tillage land, had better first be 

 composted. If to be used on sward-land for grass, spread 

 thin in the fall or very early spring. 



