Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1842-12-29
From the Conn. Farmers Gazette.


Bone Manure and Turnip Culture.
Crushed bones as manure are but lit
lie known by the farmers Of the United
States and there seems 10 be n prrIu-
dice against their use similar Ia thai
against poudrette when fist Introduced
mt" Great Britain ; hoYever, such pref
ndice will, on fair TRIAL, speedily Civ.
place to more liberal feeling, and a lew
repeated experiments will prove the great
efficacy ofiheir ieriilIzing powers. l.
~ n"w about 80 years since first observ
ed their effects as manure. Ii was on an
extensive farm OF about 5000 acres oi
poor sandy soil, formerly enclosed ms n
rabbit warren, with heritage that woulo
scarcely feed goose pei acre, but BY
good tillage aud the use OF bones and
lime, this poor farm in the course OF SIX
'r eight years, became one oi The mosI
productive ~ the country. The course
pursued was first to spread and pl"w in
at the third blowing, about % or 80
bushels OF air-slacked stone lime then
we'll pulverIzed with the harrow SOW
with drills about % To 80 bushels of
ha!i-incn bones, with one pound turnip
seed per acre These drill machines are
so constructed as To SOW the bones and
seed IN the row at one operation, at the
distance al half to two feet between rows
aud calculated to do from six to eight
rows at once, aud followed by "a roller,
leaving the land perfectly smooth, to be
dressed hereafter by The hand aud horse
hoe. These turnips are eaten of by
sheep OH the ground, and the following
spring sown with barley or oats and grass
seed, which after ying two years is sue
Heeded by wheat, and that again by tur-
nlps.
In the United States it would not be
practicable to sow turnips on scale of
any magnitude, AS the severe irosis would
not admit oi feeding on the ground.
shall therefore substitute the nationa
crop of corn, followed by spring grains
and grass seeds, to lay for two years );
then spread and plow in about % bushels
stone lime, and sow wheat or rye, fol-
lowed by corn, with manure, say % to
80 bushels of bones.
l should wish TO impress upon my
brother farmers the necessity, previous
TO using, Of mixing with bones about one
tenth OF fresh wood ashes, well turned
and sprinkled with water, which will
cause partial fermentation and expedite
their decomposition. | would also re-
mark, that on lands destitute of caIcare-
Gus material, stone lime is an essential
ingredient, and more particularly for The
production Of wheat, oats and potatoes
1t also greatly adds to the efficacy
OF bones, but there is no necessity of
using lime at the same dressing with
bones. | decidedly prefer and recon.
mend its use on clover ley, plowed in for
grain The lime will remain active for
years, decomposIng all crude animal and
vegetable matter into suitable food for
the nourlshment Of the growing crops of
grain and grass.
ln England, where bones are in gen.
eral use, they are ground or crushed by
iron cogged rollers, into three assori-
menis, say, inch, hal! inch and dust =
The latter Is esteemed of little value be-
ing only available for one crop. Inch
are the most durable, but half inch are
generally preferred, being not only dura-
bile, but are more active in their effects
on iurnips, giving an immediate and wig
.orous growth to the young plant. 10
this country, nv experiments have been
on very small scale, but SO far have
proved satisfactory and | cannot see
why this manure should not be as efiica-
cious here as in Great Britain, parilcu-
larly where the soils are similar in quail
".
Should further commune ations on this
or any other subject be deemed Of value
to your very interesting periodical, they
shall be at your service.
From your friend,
y. w.
Hamdpn Nov IoiD