786 Transactions of the American Institute. 



inches long, and plant so deep that only one or two inches will 

 remain above ground. At the approach of cold weather cover with 

 straw or hay four inches deep; next spring remove the covering. 

 Although the fall is the best time to plant the cuttings, yet spring 

 will do, and no one should neglect planting a few cuttings, even if 

 the leaves have started. 



The Chairman. — I do not like the standard varieties ; they look 

 well and give large fruit, but soon give out. I prefer the low clump 

 bush. 



Action of Muck in the Compost Heap. 

 Prof. J. A. Whitney read the following paper: The uses of muck 

 in the compost heap are fourfold ; to absorb mechanically liquids 

 that w^ould otherwise be lost ; to retain chemically gases that without 

 it would be wasted ; to bring the various manurial substances into 

 that condition in which they are best adapted to the needs of plants, 

 and to make them of easier application to the land. In the manage- 

 ment of muck we must keep all of these jn view, for the failure to 

 do this has caused most of the disappointment that in many cases 

 has been experienced with experimental compost heaps. To be a 

 good absorbent the muck must be neither rotted to the condition of 

 loam nor undecomposed enough for fuel, and it must be well dried. 

 These requisites being provided, the muck must be stored where it 

 can be used, a part at a time, when needed, and the compost heap 

 must be located in a position to receive the manurial substance with 

 no more than their natural dilution. If a stable is so constructed 

 that the liquids will flow readily to a manure cellar underneath, the 

 muck may be spread in a layer on the floor of the cellar, and the 

 solid, as well as the liquid manure, may be tlirown upon or conducted 

 to it. A little gypsum should be sprinkled over the mass occasionally, 

 and as soon as a surplus of liquid, or any emanation of ammonia is 

 noticed, the whole should be leveled off" and a thin layer of muck 

 provided, and the addition of manure repeated. When the cellar is 

 protected from frost this practice will give very good results witli as 

 little trouble as any mode of composting, but the compost will require 

 much shoveling over when taken out of the cellar in order to secure 

 any kind of uniformity in its character. Furthermore, the moisture 

 steaming from it during fermentation will prematurely rot the 

 timbers of the floor above. There is also very frequently tlie further 

 consideration that such cellars can be more profitably used for storing 



