A WORD ABOUT MANURES. 305 



the guano of the chicken house is exceedingly valuable and 

 well worth saving. Mixing it with soil or ashes and sow- 

 ing it over a garden plat, rather thinly, for it is very rich, 

 its effects are seen to the row. However, the dung of fowls 

 and especially of pigeons is best applied in the form of 

 solution. It is not so apt to burn up the plant in this 

 manner. One part of manure to ten parts of water will 

 make a fine wash for vines, or for fruit trees it is unex- 

 celled. Another addition to the heap is skins, carrion 

 either of animals or fowls, scales of fishes, hair, hoofs, and 

 in fact every kind of animal substance that may come with- 

 in reach that is worthless. Instead of dragging off dead 

 horses or cows, as an attraction for buzzards and dogs, cut 

 them up and let them add to the manure heap. In this 

 way a valuable addition will be made. 



Among the richest of all manures, not excepting animal 

 matters even, is soot. It is not only rich in salts, but in 

 geine. It is said there are as much salts in 100 Ibs of soot, 

 as there are in one ton of cow dung. Nothing is better 

 for vegetables, than an application of water with soot 

 dissolved in it. Besides, bugs are not fond of it, and it 

 drives them away. Throw all the soot of the chimneys, 

 by all means, on the heap,. 



Sheep dung is one of our finest manures, and what is 

 better, the animals do the spreading themselves. A worn- 

 out meadow or pasture if given to sheep, and they are kept in 

 it any length of time, will be restored to its pristine fertility. 

 It is said that 1000 sheep run on a piece of ground one 

 year will make the soil capable of yielding grain enough, 

 over and above the capacity of the soil without the sheep 

 manure, to support 1035 sheep an entire year. Unless the 

 sheep are nightly folded, however, the manure cannot be 

 gathered. If it can be collected, put it on the pile, by all 

 means. 



We have now enumerated the principal sources whence a 

 farmer can draw his supplies without drawing upon his 

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