304 YARD AND GAEDEN 



nures or of those in cliemical form, for soils 

 differ materially and what might be right in 

 one case would prove too much or too little in 

 another. If, however, the amateur confines 

 himself in the beginning to the use of animal 

 manures, he will materially reduce the risk. 

 Of these manures, produced by cow, horse, 

 sheep and poultry, cow manure is the best and 

 safest. In any event, it is most generally ap- 

 plied and the best for the greatest number of 

 plants. Horse manure is more heating and, 

 with hen manure, should ' be used on stiff, 

 cold soils rather than uiDon a warm, sandy com- 

 post. 



All animal manure should be well rotted be- 

 fore it is applied. Make .use of it only after it 

 has stood at least six months and, during this 

 period, been forked over frequently. It should 

 then assume much of the appearance of rich, 

 black earth, should be fine and should retain 

 very little, if, indeed, any of its original form. 

 So far as the quantity to be applied is con- 

 cerned, here, as already stated, the gardener's 

 judgment must come into play, but, under av- 

 erage conditions, a wheel-barrow load to a 

 square yard is as much as should be used. This 

 is ample for strong-growing plants and for well 



