AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 335 



" If SO, what quantity of either of the above substances, or combined, should 

 be used to the cord of peat ; and how long will the compost require to lie 

 before using ?" 



He says : 



"Peat, composed of vegetable and woody substances, found in swamps, 

 is available in large quantities in this vicinity, and the information sought 

 will be highly appreciated by myself and fellow farmers," 



Mr. Pell stated that he preferred to haul muck into the barn-yard and 

 mix it with the manure, and then cover the mass with lime, which pene- 

 trates and disengages ammoniacal gasses, which he secures by spreading 

 charcoal over the heap. Liquid manure is applied to the heap before the 

 charcoal. The dust of coal is a very valuable substance on a farm. Lime 

 will sufficiently neutralize the acid in muck. So will exposure to the atmos- 

 phere for a long time — say two or three years. About Ih bushels of lime 

 to a cord of muck will be sufficient to neutralize the acid in muck. The 

 most economical application of all sorts of manurial substance is in a liquid 

 state, as is now much practiced in England. The best manure for a 

 sandy soil is olay. I consider the plow a had implement. We use it for 

 want of a better one. It consolidates all the earth that it does not turn 

 up. So does the harrow. It hardens the earth at the poi»t of the teeth. 

 There is a great diflFerence in the character of muck. That from the sur- 

 face will always produce the best results at first, or if used without prepar- 

 ation. 



Mr. Smith, of Connecticut. — I take out muck in August, and apply two 

 loads of muck to one of manure, and it is ready for use the next spring. 

 Gypsum does wonders with me, but lime does no good. The best way, if 

 we have but little muck, is to put it in tke pig-pen. I never heap any 

 manure. I prefer to keep it spread so it will not heat. 



Mr. Cavenach, gardener. — I have used muck fresh, in potting plants, 

 without trouble from sourness. But I prefer to mix it, two loads to one of 

 manure. 



Mr. Garvey. — No directions can be given without knowing the exact 

 constituents of the muck to be used. 



The Chairman. — I had my muck analysed, and found some of it almost 

 equal to cow manure. 



FUNGUS IN HOT-BEDS. 



Mark D. Wilson, of Bloomfield, wants to know if there is any way to 

 prevent a sort of mushroom fungus growth in hot-beds, which starts in bun- 

 ches, raising the earth so as to throw out the plants, and producing a black 

 dust, probably the seed, which blackens the cultivated plants. He tried 

 lime and salt mixed in equal quantities, spread half an inch thick, which 

 seemed to stop the fungus growth. But then plants have to be grown in 

 pots or boxes set in the bed. He hopes some member of the Club can tell 

 him how to prepare hot-beds so that they, will not be troubled with this 

 fungus pest. 



