On C(/w-UMi.\h, a;i a Manure. 
489 
Article IV. — On the advanta^.H of ming Cow-wash in 
the growth of Vegetables. By Mr. Wilson, Cresswell 
Hall, iStaffordshire. 
Some of the readers of the Register may not altogether be aware of the 
benefits to be derived from the use of cow-wash, in the growth of vege¬ 
tables. The market-gardeners in the vicinity of Glasgow, use it in great 
quantities, which they procure from cow-feeders in the city, at the rate 
of four-pence per barrel, (a common herring-barrel) and I can from 
observation, vouch for its efficacy. Cauliflower, cabbage, brocoli, 
celery, and asparagus, thrive amazingly with it, and 1 have used it 
myself to gooseberries, currants, raspberries, &c., with excellent ef¬ 
fect, They apply it after this manner:—a little earth is drawn round 
the stem of the plant or tree in the form of a basin, into which the 
liquid is poured. If it be dry hot weather, this is done in the evenings, 
but if the weather be moist it may be done at any time. When this has 
been performed two or three times, the plants are earthed up, and re¬ 
ceive no more of it. They apply it to their asparagus beds any time 
from the beginning of March to the beginning of April. Their celery 
is planted on ridges five feet wide, in rows across the ridge at twelve 
inches from row to row. Before planting they flood the ridge with the 
wash, having previously dug the bed with a little manure. Nothing 
answers better than this wash for turnips; I have seen most excellent 
crops when no other manure was used.—The ground for this purpose 
was well soaked with it during winter. To try the experiment I dug 
a plot of ground without giving it any manure; one-half of this I water¬ 
ed with the wash previous to sowing, and the other half was sown 
without: the difference was very great, the part watered bore turnips of 
a fine clear skin and colour, and at least a third larger than the unwatered 
land. Any of your readers who may wish to excel in growing vegeta¬ 
bles, may stir up a small quantity of cow-dung with the wash, and if 
applied when the plants are in a growing state, I hesitate not to say 
it will answer their highest expectations:—this I speak from experience, 
as both cauliflowers, cabbages, and gooseberries, which have obtained 
the prizes, I have watered with my own hands. I am satisfied, if the 
farmers in this country were to have a barrel sunk in one corner of their 
cow-houses, and the wash drained into it, and with a water-cart or other 
means, apply it to their land in moist weather, they v/ould find their 
labour would not be lost. 
An old experienced gardener in the neighbourhood of Glasgow, 
under whom I worked three years, applied it to both vines and peaches, 
part of which were planted inside of the house. We made a kind of 
canal in the inside border, so as to contain the wash, which we stirred 
up with a small quantity of dung;; we then poured as much as we 
VoL. I, No. 11. 3 P 
