The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1841-12-03
MANURE,

Mr. llohMEs-I will once more speak of the
cycelcncy Of manure. If you will not think me
guilty ofegotism, will mention what have done
myself and what am now doing. In commune
cation wrote year or two since, promised that
ifmy life and health were spared, would give an
example Of what ought to be done by farmers in
reference to the management of swine have now
began to redeem that promise; have constructed
conccarn, and shall soon procure all the necessary
apparatus, and intend that things shall be so
managed, that ten hogs may be fht,encd with less
amount of labor and fuel than would be required
to i,ttcn two hogs by the usual method prac,iccd.
The hog is very celebrated for his adaptation to
the business of manure making, and ! think every
farmer should cndeavor TO supply him with ma
terials, and make him earn his living and as much
more as possible have by digging, carling, Sc
shaped my hog yard somewhat in the shape of a
mlIk-pnn. have also so shaped the GROUND un-
der my hog pens, that the liquid part of the ma
nure will rather tend to the center of the Yard
from bank where could not plow, have car
ted loan and spread upon the bottom of the yard
and under the floor Of the pens, (Which never
suffer to be fastened down with mills, y o'the depth
have attended to-a wheel barrow. This may be
thought very insignificant affair, but it is mighty
affair, notwilhstnndng-fo manure il the founda-
ton of the wealth of nations. No farmer should
be without wheel barrow; it is a very convenient
thing for mnny purposes, and farmer who has
one can constantly increase his manure. Swine that
are shut up in pens or yards, should be daily fur
nshcd with quantity of some kind of matter TO
manufacture into manure. The hands of Farmer
Thrifty, can assure you, move the wheel barrow
more or less every day. 1t is often troublesome
to yoke the oxen every time we wish to add lit
tie 10 the hog sly or to the compost heap under
the sink spout.
Every farmer may find materials more or less
which may be either cartcd to the barn yard the
hog sly or the compost heap. There is no, farm
in the State of Maine which does not contain more
OF less of rich black earth, muck &c, and the
farmer who does not collect this precious treasure,
must be stupid eaongh. Even common diI spread
on the bottoms of barn and hog yards, under ,he
floors of hog stycs, novels, stables, &C. will make
good manure. No good farmer will suffer manure
during the summer 10 lie exposed TO the weather
aud uncovered with loan. For cold, still, clayey
soil, light upland loan, after lying in the barn
yard through the winter, is nm excellent manure,
and for light dry soil, clayey oarn is Just the
material. Some materials, such as muck, leaves
of trees, door dung, and other substances ofwoody
origin, should be carcd to compost yard, (and Il
compost yard every farmer certainly should have, }
and lime should be thoroughly mixed with the
same. Lime destroys the acidiiy (sourness)whch
such materials contain, and renders them healthy
food for plarts. Some low lands are acid in then
nature, which renders them unproductiyc. Now
suppose that lime is Just the thing we should use
to sweeten the SOIL or if you please, try the ex-
pertinent Of car,ing upon such kinds Of soil, ligh
upland ION some bank where you do not wish to
pillow. In order TO manage manure in the most
skilllul manner, much scientific knowledge is re-
CURED, and this knowledge is open 10 all; every
farmer that reads and understand. 1t is the duty
of every agricultural writer to give his ideas in
style that may be easily understood by the weakest
capacity. Every farmer should feel his own
strength, aud endeavor to improve in scientific
knowledge, and also employ good common sense,
and try experiments with a view to correct theo-
relcal errors.
Once more, Mr. Editor, I will invoke aid from Tire
strong arm Of the government and sue for Iegisa.
tive encouragement for the noble science ofagrcul-
ture. Will our yeomanry PROSTATE themselves
before the Hon. members of the legislature beg
glng for support TO that great interest which il
the foundation of our national glory and happiness,
or will our Farmers long speak in little sterner
tones than those Of suPplication '-.'iaine Far.
RpmforJ Oct 1871 T. ROIPr