MANURES. — THEIR SOURCES AND PREPARATION. 43 



kept in proportion to the number of acres in cultivation. 

 What is thus obtainable is not well husbanded, and is 

 needed for corn and cotton. Still, on most country places, 

 enough is wasted to supply not only the garden, but to 

 leave a surplus for the field crops. In town, wherever a 

 horse and cow can be kept, enough can be made for a large 

 garden, while even a pig, if kept at work in his pen, with 

 the aid of soapsuds from the house, will convert some 

 fifteen loads of weeds, yard sweepings, chips, tan-bark, 

 and leaves, into a valuable manure. 



©f Saline and Earthy Manures the most available are 

 ashes, leached and unleached, which should be most care- 

 fully saved, as potash is one of the elements drawn most 

 largely from the soil, and this ashes supply most cheaply. 

 They contain besides potash, phosphoric and sulphuric 

 acids, manganese, chlorine, soda, magnesia, carbonate of 

 lime, and soluble silica. They may be applied directly to 

 any crops, and especially to fruit trees. Composted with 

 swamp earth and other vegetable matter, they correct its 

 acidity, and form an excellent manure for all crops, and in 

 connection with lime form the best compost for orchards. 



Lime may be applied in this compost for trees and for 

 all garden crops. Shell lime is the best to employ, as it 

 contains some phosphate of lime, which is still more valua- 

 ble. If lime is used alone, mix it intimately with the sur- 

 face soil, but do not plow or spade it in. Its effect in im- 

 proving the texture of soils, we have already considered. 

 In soils of but moderate fertility and free from carbona- 

 ceous matters, it is often more injurious than useful. 



Lime rubbish from old brick walls, and the plastering 

 of old houses, contains nitrate of lime. This salt furnishes 

 nitrogen abundantly to plants. This rubbish also contains 

 a portion of hair, and silicate of lime, and is a very power- 

 ful manure. One ton is sufficient for an acre. 



Common Salt, on lands so distant from the sea that the 



