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pounds fresh-dug peat there are added 2 pounds soda ash, or 3 

 pounds of pot or pearl ashes, all the good effects of cow-dung will 

 be produced. Following out the calculation, he prescribes for 

 every cord of fresh-dug peat, 92 pounds of pot or pearl ashes, Gl 

 pounds of soda, or IG to 20 bushels of common house or wood 

 ashes. Dr. D. mentions a case which throws some light on the 

 principles laid down. It is as follows: — 



" Mr. George Robbins, of Watertown, an extensive manufac- 

 turer of soap and candles and of starch, employs the refuse of 

 these trades in enriching his land. It is believed his crops will 

 compare with those of any of the best cultivators around him. 

 He has not used for four years (from 1851 to 1855) a spoonful 

 of manure made by any animal walking either on two legs or four. 

 lie keeps a large number of horses and hogs, and several cows, 

 and uses riot a shovelful of their manure, but, selling that, uses 

 peat and swamp muck mixed with his spent barilla ashes. The 

 proportions are one part of spent ashes to three of peat, dug in 

 the fall, mixed in the spring. After shoveling it over two or three 

 times, it is spread and ploughed in. The effect is immediate, and 

 so fiir lasting." 



The preference which Dr. Dana gives to wood ashes or potash, 

 in preparing muck for manure, seems to be justified by practical 

 trials. The experience of Artemas Newell, Esq., of Needham, 

 may be referred to as an example. He has used muck very ex- 

 tensively as an absorbent of the liquids of his horse and cattle- 

 stables, pig-pens, &c., from which great benefit has undoubtedly 

 been derived, and he has also tried it in combination with potash. 

 In regard to the latter mode of preparing and using it, he has 

 kindly furnished the following account : — 



" The muck should be dug from its bed late in autumn, and be 

 fully exposed to the frosts of winter before it is used. The reason 

 why I prefer to have it dug at this season is, that if dug earlier 

 and le/t on dry land, it sometimes becomes hard, like dry peat, 

 and is, in fact, better for fuel than for manure. I deem it a waste 

 of labor and money to use it in combination with potash or alkahes 

 in any other form until it has been thus exposed and prepared. 



" My method of combining the potash with the muck is, first to 

 prepare a pile of muck, measure it, and make it into an oblong 

 basin, the sides and bottom of which are as nearly as possible of 

 the same thickness. I place a half-hogshead tub by the side of 

 the basin, and fill it nearly full of water ; then weigh and put into 

 it thirty-five pounds of potash for each cord (or 128 cubic feet) 

 of muck in the pile. When dissolved, the solution is dipped into 

 the basin, and the muck from the outside of the basin is gradually 

 thrown in as fast as it becomes saturated. After the lii^uid has 

 all disappeared, the pile should be carefully worked over, and 



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