MANURES. THEIR SOURCES AXD PREPARATION. 47 



dance of fibrous roots, clean, healthy, vigorous growth, 

 and luxuriant blooms. (Paul.) 



Beside charcoal, there are many other vegetable sub- 

 stances of great value as absorbents of the fertilizing salts 

 and gases that would otherwise escape from animal ma- 

 nures. Carbonaceous matter of every sort should be pro- 

 vided for this purpose. Gather the leaves of trees of all 

 kinds, including pine straw. They contain many substances 

 necessary for the growth of the plants from which they 

 fall, or available to other plants. Throw them into the 

 stables and yards, moisten them and sprinkle them with 

 the lime and salt mixture, and if kept in a damp state and 

 turned over once or twice, they form the best manure 

 known for all kinds of trees and shrubs, and indeed afford 

 all the necessary constituents, organic and inorganic, of all 

 cultivated plants. 



Swamp Muck is another valuable absorbent. Gather 

 the black earth of swamps, place in piles and let it dry out 

 the superfluous moisture, and haul it to the compost heap 

 or yard. Swamp muck, by its elasticity, keeps the soil 

 light and open, and is excellent both for absorbing and re- 

 taining moisture therein. It may be reduced with ashes 

 or lime, either of which will destroy all its naturally acid 

 properties. The salt and lime mixture is the best and 

 usually the cheapest for this purpose, but leached ashes 

 mixed with carbonaceous matter have an additional part 

 of their potash rendered soluble and available for plants, 

 and should be used thus where obtainable. 



The Lime and Salt Mixture is thus prepared. Take 

 three bushels of unslaked lime, dissolve a bushel of salt 

 in as little water as possible, and slake the lime therewith. 

 If the lime will not take up all the brine at once, (which it 

 will if good and fresh burned), add a little more of the 

 brine daily, turning and adding until all is taken up. 

 Keep it under cover until wanted for use. Of itself it 



