Cheraw gazette and Pee Dee farmer. [volume] (Cheraw S.C.) 1838-1839, 1839-09-27

ed that nothing could escape from it-being
first leveled, then slightly concaved-so every
thing will be retained. 1t is further necessa.
ry that your manure should be well sheltered.
A very suitable place can be erected at the
extremity of the lot for that purpose. Chaptal
gives some directions in relation to this matter
which / will quote. He says, at is neces-
sary in producing the fermentation of dung
and litter, to use certain precautions, by which
the inconveniences arising from the usual
mode may be avoided. Instead Of heaping up
in large masses, the collections of the barn
yard and stables, and allowing them to rot
uncovered. and exposed to the changes of
weather, they should be placed under shed,
or be at least protected from the rain by
roof Of straw or heath. Seperate layers should
be formed Of each clearing Of the stabless eow
houses and shceppens. These layers should
be from foot and half to two feet in thick
ness and when the heat produced in them
by fermentation, rises in the centre to more
than 95 degrees, or when the mass begins to
smoke, it should be turned, to prevent decom-
position from going too far. Fermentation
should be arrested as soon as the straw con-
tanned in the heap begins to turn brown, and
its texture to be decomposed"
1t has been subject Of dispute among Agri.
culturists and Chemists whether compost
manure should be applied in fermented or
unfermented state. 1t is question which
has elected much speculation and experiment,
but does not as yet seem to be satisfactorily
settled.
Judge Bu thinks that it altogether de.
pends upon the manner in which it is applied.
If it is placed upon the surface of the earth, it
should be thoroughly decomposed-but if it
is intended 20 be covered, it should not have
have gone through that process. Chaptal
advances a different theory, and mentions that
it depends upon the nature CT the SOIL and moi
upon the peculiar application. He says
"Before deciding upon the question, whether
dung and litter should or should not be made
to ferment, it is necessary 10 take into consi.
deration the nature of the soil to be manured.
Ifthis be compact, clayey, and cold, it is better
that fermenta tion should moi have taken place
as two effects will be produced BY the applica.
ton of The manure in an undecomposed state.
In the first place it will improve the soil by
sof,enng and dividing it. so as to render il
permeabie by air a,,sa w.s~.. ..a ~ iha- .az.
place il will, whilst undergoing the successive
process of fermentation and decomposition,
warm the soil. If on the contrary the soil be
light, porous, calcarious, and warm, the tho
roughly fermented manure, or short muck,
as it is called BY farmers, is preferable, be-
cause it gives out less heat, and instead oi
opening the earth, already too porous, to the
filtration of water, it moderates the flow o
that fluid. Long experience has made these
truths known to observing practical farmers.
Whether either or both of these different
theories, may not in some degree be correct
will not at present undertake to Determines
but defer for future number. 1t is a question
of much Importance and I should like to sec
it thoroughly investigated particularly inrela-
tion to the 8. ecies of manure commonly made
use of in this section of country.
ARATOR.