Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1846-04-24
THE - - FARM.
From the tennessee Farmer.
MANURES-THEtR APPLICATION

On the subject Of manures much has been
written and much has been said still it is
fertile and fall of interest. The subject
cannot, in my opinion, be too frequently ag.
itated, or brought into view, nor too s'ronr-
ly urged.
When we consider how mach the produce
tiveness of our farms depend on the manure
heap, and how much this matter is at times
neglected, few remarks, trust, will not be
unacceptable. and although f,miIiar to most
of you, it they stimulate one person to apply
them, who has hitherto neglected TO do so,
the object in making them wh be attained.
The collection and application Of manures
! consider Ia he the grand serc, in good far
ming. 1t gives us grass and grain. by
a liberal application OF manure that cxtraor-
dinary crops have been raised. 1t is conse-
Qnently an object Of minute attention to col
lect as much as possible, and to apply ii in
the most advantageous manner Although
there is little danger Of applying too great
quantity to lind, il may be used to excess
lidian c0ru is "A v1racious feeder, and will
bear copious dressing, hut the crops of small
grain may he injured by m.nuriug too high
ly.
Minuring the soil forms a grand item in
farming, both on account Of its expense and
its need to replenish the land it is there
fore very important to know the art OF man
aging this department with the greatest econ
ony, and preventing waste in any possible
shape.
Very few farmers ever have a suflicirncv
nfanimal manurrs for thcr purposes. Hence
recourse aust lie had to other means for aug =
n,en'ins the manure heap.
The great nrinriplc Of all mannrcs may be
understood from this ftct, that whatever an
imal or vegri4hIp substance dies, is convert
al int, maunrcs Cor other plants in . living
state NV the natural process Of pntrcflctlon.
BY this process it is qriluliIy, bu, o0rcIu,!-
ly dccompased; and the paits are fitted for
entering into new combinations. aud Tor adj
ding T., the snbs'ance Of til. living plnls.-
THUS, instead of nuisanccs. Nature furnishes
m,nure, anl 10 substance, whatever, is lost,
This is one Of the most beautiful and admit
red laws Of Mature; ,ni though wr canno,
Investigate her very inmate operations, We
are able, hv obsrrvaiun, to lcprn mach, aud
by iiiu ,trv to derive great alrintlgrs.
4 great de hes 'rru said about the fer
tii,v uf pliuis p llv .isrd earth water as
an cxrtcu,"u,, catboa,ccuus matter in sOu-
biz s,ur, aud v..i,,s g,srous substances
have been su'cpsNvrly IN rrputr; some
rt.n,s have l,rru suppose! to draw part of
thrir fond trom III" atmosphere, in larger
uoporlinn Il, IN others; and i, his been tlo't
that gr ,in and green crops rrqtire to be sup
ppr,ed with fupt proper Ia each class; and
that one p,r,culir crop, on that account ex-
haus,s the Substance on which /, feeds il too
frequently repeated.
Practice has Introduced more discoveries
into agriculture, assisted hy observation than
science. Al the same time, though the man
Of science will not presume to ctate to the
skilfui practical farmer, he may not only I'M
prove but enligiten, aud even give dignity
to agriculture as an art, by rendering II in
some degree "A science.
The application Of manure depends upon
the natural state of the soil, and on the pnr
poses tor which, it is to he applied. Ohscr-
vation and experience determine bow to &C,
and What to apply; also, how and when the
application should be. Yet it would be o
important use 10 the farmer, in remarkable
cases, to call in the aid Of science. Many
expensive trials have been made in redeem
ing some soils, or turning them 20 useful nur
poses in vain.
The farmer knows, or ought to know, tina
some soils want soidity, and others have toe
much; thar some exceed in cohesion, other
in ioooseness, and that moderate degree o
these properties is considered essentil (,
fertility. With this view, sand is applied II
tenacious clay; and clay on sand and gravel
But these applications are not made in tn
strict order Of manures; they are mechanic
ally wanted, in order to give to the soils
proper Conscience Tor admitting plants t
grow in them, and to push their small root
without loosine hold, and at the same time /
feed in a regular manner, inbibine in ia,
proport;on the moisture and the nulrimrn
contains wilhou, being either patched G
burned.
Pu,rid manurcs applied in proper quaint
ties furnish direct nulrmeni for plants; an
calcarcous manures probably do the same
ia some degree but they certainly furnis
it indirectly, by resolving organic substar
ces contained in the soil into mucus, assisle
by moisture. AT the same time these ma
nures are always productive of mechanic