120 EXPERIMENTS WITH COMPOST. 



Where such saline manures as I have mentioned, or 

 others having some of the ingredients known to be 

 valuable for plants, can be obtained at fair rates, the 

 farmer would do well to mix composts for himself; 

 adding 25, 50, 100 or more pounds, as he may require, 

 of various articles to his manure heap; or making 

 small experimental heaps to try the effect of different 

 substances, and different mixtures, on his soils. This 

 last is the best course of all, as then he feels his way 

 with little expense, and only invests largely when sure 

 of his return. It must be remembered, that nearly all 

 of these manures are so powerful, that if sown imme- 

 diately with the seed, or laid on in too large quanti- 

 ties, they destroy vegetable life. Applied as top dres- 

 sings, it is, as in the case of guano, advisable to mix 

 with ashes, or dry vegetable mould, so as to facilitate 

 even sowing, and equal distribution over the surface. 

 Just before or after a rain is the best time. In a dry 

 season, all of them, excepting gypsum, fail to produce 

 their usual effect, and in some cases are said to have 

 proved injurious. Some farmers, on this account, ad- 

 vise the application of a part in the autumn, and the 

 remainder at the earliest advisable period in the spring. 

 This is an excellent plan for several reasons. If all be 

 applied in autumn, a part washes away during winter 

 and is lost. The half which is added is enough to 

 givfi the young shoots a vigorous start, and a firm 

 hold in the soil before winter comes on; then in spring 

 the other half comes w r ith none of its strength or sub- 

 stance lost, to push them forward through the changes 

 of that season, and to ensure an early harvest. 



SECTION IV. OF WOOD AND COAL ASHES. 



Nearly all varieties of ashes are valuable as manures. 

 Those from seaweed are used in some localities, and 

 are of very great value; but. where the whole weed 



