452 Transactions of the American Institute. 



about ten loads of compost of ashes, muck and rotten manui'e per 

 acre. How shall I apply the manure and plant ? Shall I sow the 

 manure broadcast and plant on the sod, or cross-plow, cultivate and 

 manure in the hill 1 Also, will it pay to use plaster — if so, how and 

 when ? 



Mr. II. Stewart — This gentleman should spread the manure now, 

 or as soon as convenient, and as it is drawn out, and let it be there 

 until he is ready to plow the field. He should not plow any sooner 

 than is necessary for the corn, so as to get as good growth on the sod 

 as possible. Then turn all under and plant his corn. When it is a 

 foot high a small handful of plaster should be scattered over each 

 hill, permitting it to fall on the leaves of the corn, from which it 

 will be washed by the first rain. 



Dr. Isaac P. Trimble — I would not advise any one to cross-plow, 

 but to harrow it o^er and over. Plow the corn in its early stage, 

 but after that use the harrow. 



Mr. John Crane — A harrow will cut up the soil better than a 

 plow, and pulverize it as it should be. I would not advise manuring 

 in the hill ; I do not think it is best. , 



Oystek-shell Lime. 



Mr. Daniel Cummings, Hampton, Va. — Last year I burned 1,500 

 bushels of oyster-shells for my corn crop, but was hindered from haul- 

 ing out. It is now lying in a large heap, just as they were burned. 

 I wish to ask how I had best apply them. Had I better scatter them 

 on a wheat field close by one that is to be sown in clover, to lie two 

 years ; or on last year's corn ground, which is to go in corn again 

 this year, and which is new land, cleared three years ago, and has 

 never been in anything but corn ? The original growth was large 

 yellow pine, with some gum and chestnut. The lime has no doubt 

 been wet through the whole mass. Will your chemist say whether it 

 will act chemically on the soil, which 'I judge has much acid in it, from 

 the very great growth of sheep sorrell on some parts, or will its action 

 be only or mainly mechanical ? I would say that the wheat was put 

 in with guano and ground bones, 200 pounds to the acre, mixed half 

 and half. Would the lime be injurious to it ? 



Dr. Trimble — Mr. Cummings would do wrong to put his lime on 

 the crops which he has already manured. He would not know which 

 was of benefit. It is likely his lime would be of value on the sour 

 soil of which he speaks. 



Mr. H. Stewart — If he uses it on the land he intends to sow in 

 clover, it may be of some value. 



