Gossip about I'crfilizrrs. 287 



garden, a grove of forest trees, and in late autumn the ground is 

 thickly strewn with leaves. You will .see him out, on a mild 

 moist day, with rake in liaud, g-athcring up the volant encumbran- 

 ces, and at night the lawn appears like a meadow studded with 

 liay-cocks. After lying a day or two, they become somewhat com- 

 pact, and can then be easily removed to the garden. These leaves 

 when decayed, and reduced with ashes, or lime, are the best of 

 aliment for fruit trees, and all kinds of garden shrubs and straw- 

 berries. The " Lawton" blackberries are splendid, when treated 

 with this fare. That part of the garden, however, which is allotted 

 to the growing of vegetables for kitchen use, will do best when 

 furnished with strong manures from the stable. 



My friend also was careful to have a large rough box, or an old 

 hogshead, obtained for a shilling or two, at the hardware or crock- 

 ery store, which is put in a convenient place, not too far distant, 

 and filled with rotted leaves, or swamp muck, with pulverized 

 charcoal, and a small part uf plaster, or ashes, or lime thoroughly 

 air slaked. It was deemed essential, that tlie materials be ab- 

 sorbent. The domestics then had their instructions, and it was 

 made the reservoir of all the slops which were not too dilute. At 

 first, the question arose, Avhether the result of all this process was 

 sufficient to compensate for the trouble. But when the fruits came 

 out to view, in their appointed succession, and Avere seen in their 

 uimsual luxuriance, and were submitted to that last and satisfac- 

 tory ordeal, the taste, we alluwed at once, that "the problem was 

 solved." If he were planting grape vines, and was about to make a 

 border for the purpose, he deemed it true economy to make it ac- 

 cording to some judicious plan. You might see boys in his cm- 

 ploy gathering up bones and old boots and shoes and all such like 

 refuse. If a slioe-maker lived near, the chips and sweepings of 

 his shop which had been thrown into tlie gutter, were reclaimed 

 and appropriated. The feet of cattle and sheep from the slaughter 

 house were also obtained, and which cost nothing Ijut the expense 

 or trouble of gathering ; these are abundant in nitrogen, which be- 

 comes well developed in a few months' time, and affords a rich 

 pabulum for the wants of the plant. Time should be given for the 

 alimentary substance to be incorporated with the earth before 

 the roots of the vine penetrate the mass. The precise manner, 

 (modus operandi if you please), in which nitrogen administers nu. 



