Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1847-09-30
,NUNBER 81.
agricultural.
MATURING.

The neg!ee, manifested in Virginia and the
surrounding States ON the subject Of manur
ing is really matter of curious observation
We have seen lying about the stables. &C.. of
farmers who were complaining that their
lands Were worn cut, piles Of manure sufiici,
ent to renovate acres OF their barren red gully
land. In other countries these piles would b.
turned to use; and not only would they BIZ
used, but the farmer would resort 10 every
means in his power 10 increase them, by pur
chase aud hauling from distance, and by
artificial creation. VIVA, they pay high prices
for, might be oblamed comparatively Tor moth
ing about many towns in Virginia; but when
our planters will not use that which is lying a
round their doors, how can we expect them to
go farther for II. From this lndplen, unenier
prlsing spirit II is, that we see so much land
in our part of the world, good for nothlng.---
We rejoice, however, thai this is not the case
with all. Our readers will have seen from the
communication in our last number, that there
are those IN our region who are convinced Of
the necessity Of resortng to "the mai, force Of
manure" to bring their soil back to proG,abIs
condition, and who are willing TO make use Of
the artificial means 10 procure it, We hope
those who have need of il will profit BY our
correspondents advice, and we make the fol.
lowing extracts from letter uf the same char
acter, published III number Of the Ainerican
Farmer:
"My ig-faumer friends say they have not
time to raise manure. Well, entered into
the same calculation with them that propose
here cultivate about twenty acres annually
and suppose they cultivate ffty--allowing two
acres a day for team TO flush up. Here CT.
teen DAYS are saved al the outset 10 haul mate
rial for nanure--inakc a rateable allowance
for each subsequent cultivation of the com
crop, for instance, and il figures don't lie.
common sense will indicate that time cno3gh
will be gained to put on the twenty acres more
than double the quantity Of vegetable muler
than there was on the fifty acres, ami conse.
quently the twenty acres will produce as much
as the fifty. Again, the balance Of the land
is resting. and the farmer is on the search Tor
those materials TO manufacture manure, which
in lis farming he had neither energy 10 hunt
for, experience TO analyze, or time 10 accumu.
late. But the question is often put To mo
gravely, how do you make SO much manure
answer, by asking question IN turn--a
YankeeIsm. BY the way, we could profit
much by a few more Yankeesms. | ask.
why do you take down your old fences and
haul of tie head lands but to get the decayed
| vegetable matter which the winds OF Heaven
have blown thus IN part, and which lying
there exposed TO the decaying influence OF
| light, heat and moisture, is prepered By nature
/ for your cropsy Have you not the same ma
te,a in your woods, branches and swamps
| deem il proper 10 say that with the uale-
rails | accumulate, | make one or two com
posts in summer, on the field intended for corn
the succeeding year, surrounding the heaps
with a cowpen, and pennlng my cattle on .hem
/ ftom June to November. ! then begin TO haul
marsh mud, salt, Gas have IL on my iarm,)
/ into my barn yard, and what with the stable
/ | get through the winter, which is spread even
/ ly over the marsh mud and subsequent accu.
mutations of old ditch bank, pine skaters and
wood mould, get up my average number OF
loads as above stated. BY the way, before
close this, will mention small matter my
wife, who prides herself upon her neatness in
Housekeeping, often complained that She
could not make the servants keep the ground
around the quarter clean. there was always
bad smell about there-| soon found ont the
secret--the servants were in the habit Of
throwing the soap suds and dish water near
the door, and seemed to luxuriate in the fra
GRANGE oil their decomposition. Well, MIR.
Editor, preferred 10 put this 20 more prof
table purpose, so sent my cart into the woods.
had dozen loads OF mould hauled TO the very
spo; where the emptyings were made, round
ed the heap up nicely with basin in The cen
ire, and told my servants TO pour their suds
and dish-water there. These spread through
the heap and made me, by occasionally mix
ing the mass, as productive bed Of manure
as desired this being hauled out TWO or
three times year, gives Inc from twenty 10
thirty loads year The empty IN, from the
chambers are carried through the same pro
cess little further from my dwelling, and
thus almost insensibly, make manure enough
to dress an acre land. Since | adopted the
above plan, have had no complaint from my
better halt, and give my servants purer air,
and save Doctors bill, perhaps
| did not write this communication under
the idea that there was any originality in any
thing contained in it, bu, thought perhaps
some .one might catch an idea from it. In
deed, Mr.. Editor. do not know that you will
deem II worthy to occupy a place 10 the Farm
er--it is in your hands 10 do with ii wha,
seemes,to you best. dsclaim any Familiarity
with writing ior the press. aud il i, is publish
ed by You. shall conclude that you think
MT fla,fGs