GABDENING FOR TIIK SOUTH. 



and cover the whole with a thick coat of prepared muck. 

 If too dry to ferment add water, and in three weeks it 

 will be fit for use, and will be found equal to common 

 stable manure, and is entirely free from insects of all 

 kinds. In reducing composts of all kinds, the heap must 

 be kept moist or no fermentation will be produced. Keep- 

 ing it "always moist but never leached" is the way to 

 produce a strong compost. 



A thick layer of the muck should be kept also in the 

 hog-peus and stables to absorb the urine, removing the 

 solid manure from the latter daily, aud the muck at the 

 end of each week. Upon this muck also the house slops 

 of all kinds should be poured, and where charcoal is not 

 employed, a bushel every three days should be thrown 

 into the privy to destroy the offensive gases produced. 

 The muck, whether prepared with the above mixture, 

 with ashes or lime, will retain all the virtues of the ani- 

 mal manure. Neither lime nor ashes, unless in excess, 

 when thus combined with vegetable matters, will drive 

 off the ammonia. 



Leaf-Mould, or the black surface soil of the woods, is 

 of still more value. This is free from the acid properties 

 of swamp muck, and may be supplied directly to most 

 plants in the flower garden, many of which will not 

 flourish unless this material is present in the soil. It is of 

 still more importance for potting plants in the green- 

 house. For the kitchen and fruit garden it is best com- 

 posted, like swamp muck, with fresh animal manure. It is 

 indispensable in garden culture. 



Tan-Bark is another material abounding in carbon, 

 which may, to some extent, be used as an absorbent of 

 animal manure. It may be beneficially applied directly 

 to strawberries, to which it answers the double purpose 

 of mulching and manure. But the crowns of the plants 

 must not be covered; and for all purposes it should be 



