The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1846-05-22
RUH.fL ECO.lO.uY.
SOMETHING ABOUT MANURE AND ITS
APPLICATION.

~ Jesse RYDER.
Almos, all the farmers of this country
are obliged 10 depend on the resources Of
their own farms for the supply of animal
and vegetable manutes. Mineral manures
are more generally purchasable, but as
s,imulanis and abso' bents, they can only
operate in conjunction with the vegetable
matter Of the soil, (he humus or mould
the principal supply OF which, 10 cultivated
land, is obtained from cur cutie yards.
II seems TO be selfeydent, that the earth
must receive something IN return for her
productions, or, become bankrupt. Either
portion of her produce mus, be left with
her, or an equivalent returned, otherwise
she becomes barren and un!Iuit!ul.
Ii behoves US, then, to increase the fer
liliiy Of the soil We cultivate, until il is ca.
pable of atlording 10 phnts all the noutish-
men! they require of II, IN order TO deyeloPe
them fully.
There IS great encouragement IN the
thought tina, plants derive part OF their
food and nourishment from the atmosphere.
iii was all derived from the earth, then ii
would require oil the produce Of the farm
10 be restored TO it, in order 10 preserve its
fertility. But experimental proofs are not
wanting 10 show that large part Of the
food Of plants is derired from The aimos-
phere.
When once i, is conceded that the soil
of a farm can be made to gro. rich by the
use Of manure made from great deal less
than its own produce, It must also be con.
coded that the same farm ought TO be en-.
riched faster and faster, as the amount of
it's productions increase.
do not believe that The manure which
is applied 10 hoed crops IN this country, re.
produces itself 10 Tie farmer, as general
thing, notwithstanding its auxiliary help
from the atmosphere. This IS serious
consideration, If we believe tina; by secur.
ing all its valuable properties, il ought,o be
Instrumental 10 producing five or SIX times
as much. Take field and apply 10 il for
Indian corn the amount Of manure made
from It's own produce Tor five preceding
years, then raise three gram crops IN sue /
cesslon, say corn, oats and wheat or rye +
and at the end OF that time | am well assur.
ed that the soil will have lost more strength
than Sas impaired 10 II by The manure OF
five years. Let it then be laid down TO
grass lur two years and al the eud OF that
time At will have recovered the elements Of
fertility, SO as to BE, generally speaking,
about as good as Il was before the manure
was applied FIVE years previous saa for.
nation oil sod being rcJ1yenaung process.
once buried BY the plough, IN the spring
Of the year, about sixty ox.car! loads Of
manure on four acres Of sod ground plough.
cd the usual depth, Eve or SIX inches; soil
stiff and heavy; and ioF aught have ever
seen Of its effects, there might as well have
been funeral ceremony AZ the time OF the
burying. The season yas somewhat, vet.
What became OF the salts Of The manure
1t was FIRST planted with potatoes, winch
were poor then sowed with rye, which
was poor, and The grass that followed was
no, as good as that which grew before The
ploughing. Ploughing IN manure on dry
land may do better; tut doub, whether
one-iourth Is ever reaized from il that
ought to be. | ouce put about i've bushels
Of strong horse manure 10 one heap On a
timothy meadow, aud spread the surround.
ing parts with like manure, len two-horse
loads 10 the acre. The manure heap aade
the grass but little heavier on It's borders
than j. was elsewhere, Tic Ten loads to the
acre having brough! The land near 10 rs
maximum Of probationary tons 10 the
acre. Nineteen twentleths o. The manure
IN the heap, then, was lost which Is proof.
poS 1--WE 10 my mind, that II is necessary 10
secure It's valuable properties very soon, OF
they are lost.
know that most theoretical and many
practical farmers recommend the use OF all
ihe manure % the farm on hoed crops; aud
thus wear the land out, as | think, without
securing return from ii as Will leave ii
better than before.
Experience has taught US here, that TO
enrich our land, We must apply the mauure
for our plough land at the lime Of sowing
winter grain, spread 1t on the lurrow, aul
harrow IN with the gram, which leaves q
Just where we want It, near the surface
or harrow the ground first, then spread the
manure, and plough II and the grain 10 10,
geiher, with light burrows.
If we put all the manure su for corn, the
result is pretty good corn aud oats, and poo,
winter grain and grass succeeding. v her
the sod Is again turned over for corn, It be
ing poor, The corn again requires barn-yar,
manure aud thus the land is kept poor
the grass being light, aud The manure no
increasing in quantity.
But let the disposition Of the manure b
changed: apply IT TO winter grain, aud ther
we have good wheat or rye succeeded b,
good grass, plenty OF todder, and So
formed, which, when the land IS agali
Ploughed for corn, will enable 1t 10 grow d
luGufisntly as il did under previous man
sgement with the manure applied directl,
10 II, and the manure il lAus iett for tht
winter grain again.
With the manure for winter grain. i
preycnls II from IRE, zug out 10 lae winter
gbd spring; also saves Inc young timothy.
and IN many instances hghleas lie soil ID
as 10 preserve the clover roots Of the YEA,
following. Grass beng mcndlpr crau