b2 AlIEEICAN HOME GARDEN. 



APPLICATION OF MANURES. 



As a general rule, barn-yard manui-e, including that from 

 the stable, will be found suitable for all garden piu'ixjses. If 

 well rotted, it may be applied unmixed to the soil ; or it may 

 be formed into compost, for doing which directions will be found 

 under the appropriate head, p. 63. E applied in an imcomposted 

 but half-rotted state, it should he laid on the garden at the 

 rate of from forty to a hundred loads to the acre, at the earli- 

 est possible moment after spring opens, and must Ije imme- 

 diately dug or plowed in. The sul}sec[uent prepai-ation of the 

 groimd for the reception of crops will mix it sufficiently with 

 the soil. If compost be used, it may be in smaller or still 

 larger quantity per acre, and may be applied to the land as the 

 crops are about to be put in, being then carefully and thor- 

 ouglily mixed with the soil in the process of its preparation for 

 the seeds or plants intended to occupy it. 



Animal matter, with '' ta-feu," guano, hen manm-e, poudi'ette, 

 lime, ashes, and the other earthy and saline manm'es, possess 

 the very great advantage for garden use of l^eing free from weed- 

 seeds, and on this account are desirable as for as they can prop- 

 erly be made available ; but it must not be imagined that they 

 can permanently become substitutes for ordinary manm'e. 



Guano and hen manm'e that has been kept chy are safest 

 when used in compost or as liquid manure. The}' may also be 

 sown broadcast upon a fresh, rough siu-face, and chopped, raked, 

 or harrowed in. 



Bone-dust, lime, leached ashes, home-made or from the soap- 

 makers, may be used freely — say from twenty to sixty Ijushels 

 to the acre — either lightly plowed in, or sown upon the rough, 

 freshly-plowed smface, and mixed in Ijy a thorough harrowing. 



Unleached ashes may be used in the same manner at half the 

 rate per acre, or applied as ash compost. See p. 64. 



Ta-feu and poudi'ette, the fonner being about doulile the 

 strength of the latter, should he sown broadcast, and well mixed 

 with the soil in the final harrowing or raking previous to S(3w- 

 ing or setting out ; or they may l^e mixed in hills prepared for 

 sowing or setting plants, one or two good handfuls to a hill ; 



