( 100 ) 



form of solution. It is not so apt to burn up the plant in this 

 manner. One part of manure to ten parts of water will make a 

 fine wash for vines, or for fruit trees it is unexcelled. Another ad- 

 dition to the heap is skins, carrion, either of animals or fowls, scales 

 of fishes, hair, hoofs, and in fact, every kind of animal substance 

 that may come within reach that is worthless. Instead of dragging 

 off dead horses or cows, as an attraction for buzzards and dogs, cut 

 them up and let them add to the manure heap. In this way a val- 

 uable addition will be made. 



Among the richest of all manures, not excepting animal matters 

 even, is soot. It is not only rich in salts, but in geine. It is said 

 there are as much salts in 100 Ibs. of soot as there are in one ton of 

 cow dung. Nothing is better for vegetables, than an application of 

 water with soot dissolved in it. Be'sides, bugs are not fond of it, 

 and it drives them away. Throw all the soot of the chimneys, by 

 all means, on the heap. 



Sheep dung is one of our finest manures, and what is better, the 

 animals do the spreading themselves. A worn-out meadow or 

 pasture if given to the sheep, and they are kept in it any length of 

 time, will be restored to its pristine fertility. It is said that 1,000 

 sheep run on a piece of ground one year will make the soil capable 

 of yielding grain enough, over and above the capacity of the soil 

 without the sheep manure, to support 1,035 sheep an entire year. 

 Unless the sheep are nightly folded, however, the manure cannot 

 be gathered. If it can be collected, put on the pile, by all means. 



We have now enumerated the principal sources whence a farmer 

 can draw his supplies without drawing upon his pocket. Many 

 kinds, under our system of farming, are unavailable to the farmer. 

 I mean the liquids. Without floors to the stables and pig-pens, 

 the urine, which is the richest of manures, so far as salts are con- 

 cerned, is wasted. But he can save his own, and the excrements of 

 one man, properly saved for one year, will well manure one acre of 

 land. Why let these rivers of wealth flow away from the farm ? 

 He prefers going to the shops and buying worse than he can prepare 

 on his farm. 



There are many artificial manures for sale. Plasters from Ken- 

 tucky and Virginia ; phosphate of lime from South Carolina ; bone 

 dust from the large cities, and many other mixtures and compounds. 



