Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-08-14

ntte they are aware of the hundreds thew are eve
~ year losing by suffering this most valuable of
their farm products to escape. Indeed. there are
not few who carefully, and very ;ngerona %" 90
they suppose, place their barns and cattle ed, %
such manner on the sides of the hills TIM, ali the
drainage from them may pass off out Of the wav
into the neighboring streams; and some one men.
tons farmer, who, with pre- eminent shrewdness
quilt his bog-pen directly across a stream, that he
might at once get the ceaniugs washed away, and
prevent their accumulation. He of course succeed
Gu 10 ms wish; but he might, with most equal
proprlet have built his granary across the stream
so as to shovel the wheat on the water when il in
creased on his hands.
Inc loss OF manure by the escape of gas is often
very great. The proof Of this was finely exhibited
by Humphrey Davy, in an experiment. performed
oy hlling a large retort from heap of fermenting
manure, placing the beak among the roots of some
grass. Nothing but vapor left the vessel, vet in
lew days the grass exhibited greater luxuriance
around the beak Of the retor than any of the sur
rounding portions. Hence the superiority of nm
lermented manure-the rich portions are not vet
:ost. And hence, too, the Importance of prevents
ing tnls loss 6y an Immediate application and plow-
ing OF the soil, and also by mixing it in cornposts
with muck, peat, and swamp mud, and even COM
mon earth IN dry state,-and of preventing its
escape from stables and yards by a,daily strewino
with dried peat, lime and plaster
The superiority Of unfermented manure has lust
been mentioned, which is by many doubted. But
the very facts on which these doubts rest, only
prove its efficacy. For, they say, al have always
found fresh manure to be attended with little effect
the first year, while it yet remains fresh but after
wards, when fermentation and decay had taken
place, the benefit was great and striking" But
here is the proof at hand, that not until the rich
soluble and gaseous parts had we'll penetrated and
been absorbed by the soil, was their powerful and
inVigorating influence exerted upon the growing
DlantS io lee.
readily mixed with soils; it is thrown into large
Jumps upon the surface, some of which are plowed
in and others not but none of them prove of mlne-
date use to the crops But the other hand, fer
mented manure, from its ready pulverization, ad-
mlts Of an easy admxture Let fresh manure be
thoroughly ground down and worked into the soil
by repeated harrowings, and two or three powings,
and its influence will be like magic
Swamp muck has often been spoken of as ma
nure. But those who expect great and striking re-
suits from its application, will be disappointed, as
the writer has BEEN Even with ashes, it is much
less powerful than stable manure, not only because
It possesses less inherent richness, but because it
has less soluble parts, and consequently mparts
Its strength more slowly to growing plants. But
this quality only makes it the more enduring. BY
decoton in water, vegetable mould loses a small
portion OF its weight by solution; but if the re-
naming insoluble portion is exposed to air and
moisture few months, another part may be again
dissolved. Thus, peat, muck and all decayed veg
etable fibre, becomes slow but lasting source Of
nourshment to plants
But it is when shoveed out aud dried, to be mix
ed WI h farm-yard manure, recipient for its
evanescent parts, that peat or muck becomes pre-
eminently valuable Some parts of the State a
bound with nexhaustible supplies in almost every
neighborhood; many land owners have from TWEEN
ty to hundred thousand cubic yards their farms
lying untouched, while half starved crops grow
ing in the adjacent fields There are whole coun-
ties we'll supplied with it, that if judicousy ap-
piled, it would doubtless double their aggregate
products
All neat farming, all profitable farming, and ell
satisfactory farming, must be attended with care
full saving of manures. The people of Flanders
have long been distinguished for the neatness and
excellence of their farms, which they have studied
to make like gardens. The care with which thew
collect all refuse materials which may be converted
into manure and increase their composts, is one of
the chef of the cleanliness of their towns
and residences. And were this subject fully ap-
preciated, and attended with corresponding prac-
tice generally, it would doubtless soon increase by
millions the agricultural products of the State.