34 How THE FARM PAYS. 



have the means, to some extent, for in our many idle hours we 

 could gather sods from the roadside and leaves from the woods 

 and put them in heaps until needed for bedding for cattle (over the 

 absorbent material of course is placed a heavy bed of straw), and these 

 when composted and turned over a lew times would make the most valu- 

 able of manures for the average crops of the farm. If it were not rich 

 enough for certain crops, a mixture of bone or guano at the rate of 

 100 to 200 Ibs. per acre would make it one of the very best fertilizers, 

 as, from the nature of such a compost, its value will be retained in 

 the land for years. 



Q. Plaster is by some considered a valuable fertilizer. What expe- 

 rience have you had with it ? 



A. I have used plaster to some extent. It is one of those fertilizers 

 which have a remarkable effect upon some soils, while in other places 

 it has no effect at all Where the soils are benefited by it, it is of 

 course advisable to use it. Its greatest effect is upon clover, and 

 where clover is used as a means of improving land, plaster is indis- 

 pensable. It is one of the cheapest of all fertilizers, and should by 

 all means be used where it is beneficial; this of course is to be proved 

 by a test. It is sown on clover grass or corn when the plants are young. 



Q. In the foregoing article I have said salt has little value as a fer- 

 tilizer excepting so far as it absorbs moisture, in the vicinity of the 

 ocean, where perhaps sufficient salt is brought on to the land by the 

 sea fogs and rains. What has been your experience in this direction? 



A. I have been in the habit of using 600 Ibs. to the acre on my 

 mangel crop, and find it useful, and indeed necessary. I know wheat 

 growers who use it on this crop for the purpose of preventing rust, 

 stiffening the straw and improving the appearance and quality of the 

 grain, which I know it does. How it does this I don't pretend to 

 explain. I only mention the facts in my experience. 



(Mr. H.) I know market gardeners in inland districts use salt liber- 

 ally upon asparagus, thinking it useful for that crop. The rule as to 

 quantity is to put on as much as will give the ground the appearance 

 of a sanded floor. I might say incidentally that salt is an excellent 

 means of clearing gravel walks of grass and weeds, as when liberally 

 used it is fatal to all sorts of vegetation. 



Q. I believe you have used wood ashes very freely as a fertilizer. 

 What results have you observed from their use on different crops ? 



A. I have used wood ashes very freely. But it is necessary to 

 mention that the wood ashes that are in the market have been leached 

 for making potash, and of course are different from unleached or 

 fresh ashes. As these cannot be purchased to any extent, I refer only 

 to the leached ashes which are brought to market in boat loads or car 



