MANURE FOR THE GARDEN.

Northern Advocate, 30 June 1888, Page 3

MANURE FOR THE GARDEN.

During several years' experience in gardening 1 havfl found it unprofitable to raise vegetables for market without a heavy application of manure. Stable manure is the main reliance, but the market value is so high that it must be applied judiciously to make its use profitable. I have used commercial fertilizer freely for two years, but fiud it inferior for the garden to stable manure composted with forest leaves or forest mould. Great care should be used in saving manure, or you may have bulk o*' but little value. Forest leaves when well rotted seem to be especially adapted to the gardener's wants. I have • had the greatest succeed "with the -compost of< two-thirds or one-half forest mould, and one- third or one- half stable manure, kept moist and well-covered, forked over occasionally to mix. and make fine and to regulate the moisture. This will be found, a rich plant food and well adapted for crop. More-over, I find seed germinate better with this compost than with any other manure, particularly commercial fertilizers. No evil cox&etfuences follow a superabundant application:' of manure. A compost formed of the following substances makes an excellent fertilizer for vegetables : For a base take forest mould : upon this throw all animal matter found about the premises — the carcases of animals, offal of every kind, woollen rags, bones, old boots and shoes and waste leather of every description, the droppings of fowls, soapsuds, salt, chamber lye, slops from the sinks, ashes, nightsoil, in fact anything that will decompose. Green weeds and vegetable matterof whatoversort thatwillaid to give moisture, which the compost must have. As often as necessary to keep down bad od^rs and to hold escaping gasses, grass sods or soil from the fence corners should be thrown over the heap. When thoroughly decomposed this will be a fertilizer of great value. — [Thomas D. Baird.]