PEEPARATION OF THE MANUKK 73 



has any advantages over plain manure ; I use it consid- 

 erably every year and with good results ; at the same 

 time, I get as good ci'ops from the plain manure beds. 

 But it has many warm friends who are excellent growers. 



In preparing this mixed material I use fresh sod loam 

 well chopp d up, and add it to tlie manure in this way : 

 First select the manure and throw it into a heap to fer- 

 ment, as before explained ; then after the first turning 

 cover the heap with a layer of this loam about three or 

 four inches tliick, enough to arrest the steam ; at the 

 next turning mix this casing of loam with the manure, 

 and when the heap is squared off add another coating of 

 loam of the same thickness in the same way as before, 

 and so on at each turning until the whole mass is fit for 

 use, and the full complement of loam, say one-fourth the 

 full bulk, has been added. In this way much of the 

 ammonia that otherwise would be evaporated from the 

 manure is arrested and retained. 



Some growers, when they first shake out their fresh 

 manure, add the full complement of loam to it at once 

 and mix them together. Otheis, again, Mr. Denton, of 

 Woodhaven, for instance, prepare the manure in the 

 ordinai-y way, and when ready for use add the quota 

 of loam. I use good sod loam for two reasons, namely, 

 because it is the very best that can be used for the pur- 

 pose, and, also, after being used in the mushroom beds 

 it is a capital material, and in fine condition for use in 

 potting soft-wooded plants. But the loam commonly 

 used to mix with the manure is ordinary field soil. If 

 the loam is ordinarily moist to begin with, and also the 

 manure, there is very little likelihood of any of the ma- 

 terial getting too dry during the preparation. And 

 much less preparation is needed, for the presence of the 

 loam lessens, considerably, the probability of hasty, vio- 

 lent fermentation. 



Mr. Withington, of South Amboy, N. J., uses rather a 

 stinted amount of loam in his manure. He writes me : 



