Cheraw gazette and Pee Dee farmer. [volume] (Cheraw S.C.) 1838-1839, 1839-08-09
From the Genesee Farmer.
Manure.

"FarmerS are not agreed as 10 Wnat deptn
beneath the surface dung should be placed
in order to be rendered the most avaing.
Do not farmers frequently bury their ma
nure so deep as to impair its good effects
believe that dung exerts its power to the
greatest advantage when placed pretty near
the surface, bu, more light on this subjoc,
is needed. Although when placed near the
surface, II may do the most good TO the next
crop, yet is this the position which should
be givea il when the greatest ultimate profit
is The object aimed att" A FARMER.
A proper answer to this query would fll
n volume, as it would embrace an account
of the different soils, the action of manure
upon each, the kind of manure most proper
for each variety, since all these things
have a direct bearing on the subject.
We however can only say that all vege.
tables and imal.substances which under.
60 decomposition, contain more or less of
the elements necessary to the growth Of
plants and the great Obi 'ct Of applying
manure is to make them afford as much
soluble matter as possible to the roots Of
the plants, and that in gradual manner.
Mineral manures, however, il is supposed
donct act on the principle Of nutrition, but
of excitabl!ity.
Irthen, 10 the use Of putrescent manure,
or dung, the great object is 10 present it so
that the roots Of the plant will most readily
be benefited by the soluble matter afforded
to them i. appears to US that covering to
great depth would be entirely snbversive Of
that end. Were we to give definite opln.
ion on the subject it would be 10 plough
deep-to render the earth mellow and fri
able to as great depth as possible, so that
the roots could easily penetrate,-bu to
bury the manure lightly. 1t should all be
buried however, as that is we thI k lndls.
pensable to the greatest benefit from It's ap-
olicatiou. We would plough deep that the
surface water Of rains, &c. could easily
sink and no, drown. the young plants, and
that the roots by penetrating to some depth,
should not be liable to leave the plant TO
suffer from drought; and we would cover
the manure not too deep, because slight
covering ofearih is sufficient to absorb the
gases that escape from manures during
their decomposition and afford most valua.
bic nutrin,ent to plants, and because seeds
or plants throw out the most abundant roots
near the surface, and Of course it is there
they will soones, find the nourishment they
require.
We may on this point have the misfor.
i. g., of Ift1ro
friends, but we think our position most con.
sonant with correct reasoning and expert.
nnents and besides, we find ourselves sup.
ported by high names in the annals of farm.
ing.
Sinclair in his Code OF Agriculture, and
Brown, iu his work on Agriculture, make
in substance the following remarks.
Notwithstanding what has been already
said respecting the practice of those farmers
who allow manure 10 lie for a long time
upon the surface of the earth, We however
agree with the opposite opinion ii
should be spread as taken from the cart
and completely incorporated with the sol
for by tillage it becomes amalgamated with
the inert particles ofthe earth through which
means both that and the dung form one sub.
stance in the fittest state to promote the
growth ofvegetation. 1t should not how
ever be buried too deep at first for though
tits the prevailing opinion of many persons,
that by deep covering, the dung is defended
from the injurious effects Of exhalations--
that the roots ofplants soon find their way
10 it-and that ii will be raised higher by
after ploughings--yet there are men of &C.
curate observation, who, from long expert.
ence, have found, that if dung be only just
covered, the nearer it is TO the surface the
greater are its effects in promoting fertility,
for then i. liesnear the roots ofyoung plants,
at the time they need the most cherishing
aliunent. They also declare, that dung
never rises to the surface, after it has lain
mixed for a season in the SOL, bit that on