IV. 



THE WORK BEGINS. 

 MANURING, PLOWING, HARROWING. 



STABLE MANURE. — AMOUNT REQUIRED. — ITS VALUE. — COMPOSTING 

 IT. — APrLICATION AND PLOWING IN. — WOOD ASHES. — COMPLETE 

 FERTILIZERS. — NITRATE OF SODA. — POULTRY DROPPINGS. — SALT 

 AND LIME. —OTHER MANURIAL SUBSTANCES. — HOW APPLIED. — 

 PULVERIZERS AND SMOOTHING HARROWS, ETC. 



With a properly-selected piece of ground, and an abund- 

 ance of old barnyard manure to begin with, we will have 

 pretty plain sailing. On ground that has been heavily 

 manured with stable manure, year after year, or which has 

 been treated pretty freely with clover, and which in conse- 

 quence is full of organic matter, also on rich muck and 

 other soils abundantly provided with humus, we may some- 

 times entirely, or more often partially, dispense with man- 

 ures originating in the barnyard, but I seldom feel safe 

 without them. When we desire to raise crops that approach 

 the great capabilities of the soil, we must give, not only 

 full, but also varied rations. I have learned to appreciate, 

 and know the full value of, commercial concentrated fer- 

 tilizers, and under some circumstances would not hesitate 

 to operate with them to the exclusion of coarser manures ; 

 but, as an onion grower, I put my first reliance on good, 

 old, stable manure. This should be well rotted, free from 

 weed-seeds, and free from other infection. Onion growers, 

 for instance, often throw their onion refuse — tops and 

 trimmings generally, decayed or otherwise unsalable bulbs, 

 etc. — upon the manure heap. I would be afraid of such 

 compost, as it may carry the germs of the blight. 



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