Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-12-03
MANURE.

The following remarks which we find in
the Albany Cultiyatur, have their origin in
practice. The results obtained, and the sug-
g~estions, are in accordance with scientific ex-
periments:
With too many farmers it seems to be the
aim to make and apply manure, not stopping
10 inquire how it can best be applied. Green
and rotted, composted and clear, il is too often
applied, indiscriminately 10 all kinds of soil,
when or where convenience or custom may
direct. There can be no question thai long
manure is best adapted 10 hoed crops, and well
rotted compost for top dressing. But the
principle TO which | would particularly invite
attention, is that given by the Creator Of Adj
am, aud legibie IN all natures works, viz
that seed produces seed after It's kind; in other
words, that like produces like. Look upon the
stately trees OF the forest. How have they at
tanned their great dimensions WHO has
been their cultivator, and what the mode Of
tier cultivation? He, who does all things
well is their c%ulturist, and their food the decay
ed leaves and branches that are annually depo-
sited at their roots. Man has been Slow in
learning the simple principle from the Great
Teacher. 1t is but a recent thing that the vine
dressers of France have discovered that the
pianings form the best manure for the vines.
1t has long been observed that hog manure is
exceedingly we'll adapted for crop of corp.-
does not the fact that hogs are generally iattcd
upon corn, furnish the best reason of It's adap-
tat on2 An eXpCrimtntoi a good farmer IN his
vicinity, bears directly upon this principle
Cutting the tops of corn for fodder, he places
the bottom stalks between the rows, and upon
these stalks he turns back furrows; without
further manuring or ~ploughlng, he plants his
corn, and his crops are above the average
of those in the ncighborhoOd. A similar eX-
pertinent with potatoes has proved that the
tops, well covered al the time Of digging, viii
furnish sufficient manure to ensure an equally
good crop the succeeding year. Onions, il is
known, succeed hest when sowed on the same
ground year after year. Is not the rationale
found in the fact that the tops are always left
on the ground} Rye has been known 10 grow
on the same land for course Of years, with
undiminished yield, with no other manure than
is furnished by the stubble ploughed in. Chip
manure is universally recommended for pro-
noting the growth Of young fruit trees. The
wherefore is found in the simple principle we
law down, that like produces like. Nature
has furnished all seeds with nutument in
themselves best adapted for the future plant.
Who can doubt but that the pulp Of the apple
was designed as food for the seed as wen as
10 crafty mans appetite The blade ofwheat
and the sprout ofthe potato, as they first shoe,
forth, feed solely upon the parent stock.
The principle we have thus briefly illustra-
ted and endeayored to prove, has important po-
litical interences. II the principle IS true, no
TOD. dressing can be better adapted for grass
than the aftermath LEFT to decay on the ground.
The manure from stock fed on hay should al
so be applied to grass lands, while that derived
from gam should be applied 10 tarlnaceous
crops. II is not necessary to carry these infe-
renees further, They will suggest themselves
TO all readers Of reflection.
BERKSHIRE.
Lee, September Is, 1916.