292 TALKS ON MANTJEES. 



and late cabbage. He speaks of 70 to 80 tons or more, per acre, of 

 well-rotted stable -manure as not an unusual or excessive dressing 

 every year. 



Now, according to Wolffs table, 75 tons of fresh stable-manure, 

 with straw, contains 820 Ibs. of nitrogen ; 795 Ibs. of potash ; 150 

 Ibs. soda ; 315 Ibs. of lime ; 210 Ibs. of magnesia; 420 Ibs. of phos- 

 phoric acid ; 105 Ibs. sulphuric acid ; 2,655 Ibs. of silica, and 60 Ibs. 

 of chlorine. 



u Put the figures side by side," said the Deacon, " so that we can 

 compare them." 



Here they are : 



" That is rather an interesting table," said the Doctor. " In the 

 case of lime, the crop takes about all that this heavy dressing of 

 manure supplies but I suppose the soil is usually capable of fur- 

 nishing a considerable quantity." 



" That may be so," said the Deacon, " but all the authorities on 

 market gardening speak of the importance of either growing cab- 

 bage on land containing lime, or else of applying lime as a manure. 

 Quinn, who writes like a sensible man, says in h's book, 'Money 

 in the Garden,' ' A top-dressing of lime every third year, thirty or 

 forty bushels per acre, spread broadcast, and harrowed in, just be- 

 fore planting, pays handsomely.' " 



Henderson thinks cabbage can only be grown successfully on 

 land containing abundance of lime. He has used heavy dressings 

 of lime on land which did not contain shell", and the result was 

 satisfactory for a time, but he found it too expensive. 



Experience seems to show that to grow large crops of perfect 

 cabbage, the soil must be liberally furnished with manures rich in 

 nitrogen and phosphoric acid. 



In saying this, I do not overlook the fact that cabbage require a 

 large quantity of potash. I think, however, that when large quan- 

 tities of stable or barn-yard manure is used, it will rarely be found 

 that the soil lacks potash. 



What we need to grow a large crop of cabbage, is manure from 

 well-fed animals. Such manure can rarely be purchased. Now, 

 tlie difference between rich manure and ordinary stable or barn- 



