CHAPTER IV. Sources of Vegetation.-Elements of Vegetable and Animal Life.-Manuring and Manures, Composts, etc. SOURCES OF VEGETATION. As all plants sprang originally from the earth, were watered by the rain, and surrounded by the air, we may properly expect to find in these, or some of them, all the elements of which plants consist; and such Chemistry shows us is the fact. Plants receive from continually renewed, and therefore exhaustless sources in the earth and air, through the water which dissolves or absorbs them, those elements which each variety of plant secretes and appropriates according to its particular nature and wants, aided or modified by the influence of light and heat. These same elements, the constituents of vegetables, form also, with certain peculiar modifications, the complete circle of the elements of animal life. Milk is the only perfect and entire compound of the essential elements of animal support and growth; but those elements already existed in the grasses from which the milk was secreted, and are derived even still more richly from certain other vegetables and grains, receiving from them in the process of secretion their own peculiar taste or odor, or that of other things mixed with them, as the wild onion, etc. "All flesh is grass" in something more than a merely figurative or poetical sense. Animal digestion and partial decomposition by fermentation are the common means by which the various elements, originally derived from their natural sources through the action of the vegetable world, are prepared to be returned to it, that they may be gathered in new forms, to be again consumed, and again returned; and again regathered, in the incessant circle of changes which shall end only with time. MANURING AND MANURES. Manuring, then, is to furnish to the plant, in a fit state and under suitable conditions, those elements which are essential to its healthful growth; in other words, to feed it, accompanied with such stimulants as will induce more vigorous action in the appropriation or assimilation of the food we offer. Sometimes, indeed, we modify the form, or withhold the stimulants, having rather in view permanent than immediate benefit, as when we apply alone crushed bones, lime, unrotted manure, muck, etc., all of which we use with more or less calculation of benefit to future crops, or to the composition of the substance of the soil. There is, however, much yet to be learned as to the precise modes of operation of divers manures, and the peculiar secretions of different vegetables. As an illustration, we may instance the fact that white bush-beans, which contain some sixty or more per cent. of largely nitrogenous nutriment, are so commonly raised upon poor land that it has become proverbial to say of soil absolutely impoverished, it is "too poor to raise white beans." CLASSES OF MANURES. Manures are sometimes conveniently classified as, 1st. Animal manures. These are either decaying animal matter, fish, etc., or they are certain natural or prepared manures, in which, with the other ingredients, animal matter, or the product of its putrefaction, in the form of ammonia, fixed or free, may to some extent abound, as ta-feu, guano, poudrette, etc. They are regarded as powerful stimulants to vegetation. 2d. Vegetable manures. These are stable and barn-yard manures, green crops, swamp-muck, etc., in all of which vegetable matter predominates, though they are neither destitute of animal matter nor free from admixture of earthy matter and salts. They are especially calculated to favor and promote the growth of vegetables as distinguished from seeds or grain. 3d. Earthy or saline, sometimes called specific manures, because containing only one, or, at most, a few of the necessary elements of vegetable growth. These are lime, gypsum, or sul phate of lime, ashes, etc., in which earths and salts are almost exclusively present; and with these may be reckoned charcoal (including coal-cinders or coke), though perhaps, chemically considered, it does not class with them, its chief value being supposed to consist in its capacity to absorb or "fix" ammonia. These, with those of the first class, are regarded as peculiarly useful in the production of the seed or grain. Another classification sometimes adopted, which has some. special importance in garden culture, is that which rates manures according to their power of absorbing moisture. Those which are highly absorbent, as the manure of hogs, oxen, cows, etc., are called cooling; and those which are less, or very slightly so, as horse manure, are called heating. Of those classed above as earthy or saline manures, gypsum and charcoal are the most powerful absorbents, and these are also distinguished by their capacity to fix ammonia. Perhaps we may conclude that their power in the one case is a gauge or indicator of their value in the other. MANURES SUITED TO VARIOUS SOILS. Manures, particularly for the garden, should be carefully adapted to the soils they are intended to enrich. If the soil be sandy and hot, especially if it be sand lying upon gravel, the cold and moist manures above named are greatly to be preferred, and stable manure should be entirely decomposed, and reduced almost to the state of vegetable mould before it is applied. The applications of manure to such soil should be frequent rather than heavy; and ash compost and liquid manure applied to growing crops through the season will be found of especial benefit. On loamy soils there is a wider range for choice. All kinds of manure will be found suitable, their application being regulated by the necessities of the particular crop or season. On cold soils, as strong loam or clay, stable manure and city street-manure should be almost exclusively used, with dressings of ashes, guano, etc., and, if possible, the soil should be mechanically improved by the frequent addition of sand or road-wash. See page 18. APPLICATION OF MANURES. As a general rule, barn-yard manure, including that from the stable, will be found suitable for all garden purposes. 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. If applied in an uncomposted but half-rotted state, it should be laid on the garden at the rate of from forty to a hundred loads to the acre, at the earliest possible moment after spring opens, and must be immediately dug or plowed in. The subsequent preparation of the ground 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 thoroughly 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 manure, poudrette, lime, ashes, and the other earthy and saline manures, possess the very great advantage for garden use of being free from weedseeds, and on this account are desirable as far as they can properly be made available; but it must not be imagined that they can permanently become substitutes for ordinary manure. Guano and hen manure that has been kept dry are safest when used in compost or as liquid manure. They may also be sown broadcast upon a fresh, rough surface, and chopped, raked, or harrowed in. Bone-dust, lime, leached ashes, home-made or from the soapmakers, may be used freely-say from twenty to sixty bushels to the acre either lightly plowed in, or sown upon the rough, freshly-plowed surface, and mixed in by 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 poudrette, the former being about double the strength of the latter, should be sown broadcast, and well mixed with the soil in the final harrowing or raking previous to sowing or setting out; or they may be mixed in hills prepared for sowing or setting plants, one or two good handfuls to a hill; or they may be safely sown in drills, with or upon the seed, at the rate of one light handful of the former or two such handfuls of the latter per foot. When sown broadcast, ta-feu may be used at a rate varying from one to five barrels, and poudrette from ten to forty barrels per acre. They prove efficient aids to almost every variety of vegetable crop; but they are by no means so useful if their application be deferred until the crop is growing, unless when mixed in hills prepared for setting out, though the disadvantage may be partially overcome by carefully mixing and covering them in the earth around the young plants. MANURE HEAP. Every homestead, however small, should have upon it a corner or hollow where refuse matters of all kinds may be thrown together as they accumulate, upon which slops may be thrown, and ashes sifted, &c., &c. In the course of the year a pretty large heap of valuable manure, or, rather, compost, will be prepared, which should be occasionally turned and mixed with good earth. GARDEN COMPOSTS. Ordinary compost for garden use may be made by mixing the manure of spent hot beds with equal quantities of fresh barnyard or stable manure and swamp muck, or sods pared from alongside fences, or from any spot where water often settles. To these add air-slaked lime equal to one twentieth of the whole bulk, and an equal quantity of unleached ashes, or double this quantity of leached, and throw in and cover any decaying animal matter or drainage of the slaughter-house. Watch the heap, keeping a stick thrust into its centre to serve as a thermometer. Whenever, on withdrawing the stick, you find it getting hot, turn the heap over, and inside out; reinsert the stick, turning the whole again when the heat begins to rise, and at each time, after turning, sow plaster (gypsum) pretty thickly over it. In a few weeks, if the weather be moderate or warm, it will be ready for use. It is proper to observe that lime should be mixed with stable |