The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1846-12-09
AGRICULTURAL.
From The American Agriculturist.
M A NURES.

M a n u X Els.
h Every species Of matter capable Of
!. s.prnmotins tho growth Of vegetables,
lnay be considered us manurc. Decny
sing animal aud vegetable substances ron
.stilu,c by far the most important class
/. Of manurcs. or vegetable food. Vegetable.
and animal substances depositedin the snil,
are consumed during the process nf vrgc-
talion; and'lhcy can only nonrish the plan.
apy affording solid matters capable of being
dissolved in water, or gaseous. substances
capable If bring absorbed by The nuis in
lilo leaves of vegetables. The great ub-
jcc,. therefore, in the application Of manure,
should bc 10 nuke il atiortl as much soln-
bic matter us possible to the roots Of The
plan,s. and tha, III slow and gradual man
,,cr. so ,ha, il may DC entirely consumed in
forming its sap and organized purts.
NIucilagfnous. gelulinous, saccharinc,
oily, and cxtractirc fluids. arc substances
that in their unchanged states contain al.
most all the principles necessary for TIC
life ur plants; but there are few eases where
they can be applied as manurcs in their
pure forms. All green succulenl plants
contain sacchnrinc, or mucilaginnus matter,
with woody fibre, and readily fermrnl.
They cannot, therefore, if intended Tor
manure, he used too soon after their death.
Hence the advantage Of prwing i'll green
: craps whether natural or sOTn 1nr the pur
pnsc; they must not, however, be iurncdi in
400 deep, clherM Use fermentation will be
prevented by compression and exclusion
Of air. Green crops should be dug in, if it
he possible, when in flower, or nj the Time
ihc flower begins Ia appear: for il Is at
this period that they contain the largest
quantity Of easily soluble matter. and that
,heir leaves are most active in forming nu-
,riiivc matter. Yeast is nEc Of The tHnst
powerful and durable Of all manurcs. Tn
1or:unalcly- the article is too expensive to
he much used f3r this purpose, but i. will
well pay for n trial on fine plants.
Fish forms a powerful manure, in what.
ever statc'i il is applcd; but il cannot be
used too fresh, lll"ugh quantity should
he limited. The skin of the fish is princi-
pally gcIatinc, which, from lis sligh, state
nt cohesion, is readily soluble in water;
sAhev contain also fat or oil, either under
ihe skin or in sumo oC The visccra, and their
fbr0us matter contains all the essential
elements Of vegetable substances.
Bones are also much used. These arc
ground in y mill and applied to the land in
.,tlc form Of powder or dust.
%ss" Sca.wecd is much used on The sra-coast
frcts; bnt is nevertheless Of much value in
situations where it can be obtained. The
most common method Of using il, is to con
sev il directly TO the land, aud appl, it fresh
ms top-tlrcssing to the growing crops. IL
not applied in its recent state, it should he
formed into compost with dung, or with
mixture or that and earth.
Peat is n substance which may be used
rs u manure; but unless freed Of lis ncid
principle il may remain forycars exposed
sowntor and air without undergoing tccom.
position, in which state il can afford no
nourislmcnt 10 plants. 1t SHOULD, there,
fore, be made 10 undergo decomposition
before is applied TO the soil. TLis may
he done by long exposure to the air, or ly
mixing il with newly-madc and completely
Stacked lime, which encompasses The wnody
tibrcs, and forms kind Of compos, which
is Of some value. Amongst cXcrcmcnti-
lious solid substances used MS ,nanurca. one
oftlIe most powerful is The dung Of birds
that feed on animal fond, particularly that
Of sca-birIs. I'lis gnnno which is used Ia
great extent IN South America, aud which
has attracted much attention in this country
tor few years past, is The manure that
.1srtilcs The sterile plains Of Peru. Itcxisls
abundantly in the small islands ia ,hr
South Sea; and appears US fine brown
powder.
Liquid manure, being the DRAWINGS Of
che slablcs, is strong fertilizer If ap.
EsiIe 10 corn when sprouling or just before
rain. il has an e fleet WHICH no other ma
nurc has: II destroys insects, an,! throws
asurpfisiug degree orvigor into the crops
Ilic dung Of horses, oxen, und cows, is