Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1848-06-23
ADrtruIturaI.


Esq, III OuHHtTSloni VIZ 10 UHu 50 ui-
umphant an illustration of the profitable
results Of enterprise and good judgment,
in seizing hold Of the natural advantages
Of the larm, and appropriating them to use.
These advantages consist in an abundant
supply Of swamp muck of fine quality, and
the power to obtain and hold large guam
Iity Of surface pdter for the purpose Of IT.
rigaton. Mr. Rice's farm is mainly grass
farm, hay being the most profitable crop
for his location and soil, and his operations
are therefore conducted with view 10 the
raising Of large burden Of grass, of good
quality.
He has recently erected new barns which
are remarkably convenient and well arrang-
ed J.; the main barn is 100 feet in length,
east and west, by 80 feet in. width, with
ample shed lofts, aud horse barn and car
riage house annexed. The ground upon
which The barn is built is descending to the
east, and under portion Of it is a spacious
barn cellar for the manufacture of compost,
100 feet long by 30 wide. open "a feet on
the southeast end The lower side, or east
end Of the barn.yard, being OH a level wnh
the cellar bottom, affords a convenient pas
sage into and out Of it from the yard.
The liberal use Of muck enables Mr. Rice
TO sell of large quantities Of hay without
detriment to the farm. lie usually winters
from 80 to 40 head Of cattle, however,
about hall OF which are stall led, and the
manure from these, composted with muck,
together with other means OF making COM
post hereafter described, affords him all the
manure necessary Tor the improvement OF
his land, making and applying about 500
loads annually.
Management of Muek.-IIis bed OF
muck covers a number of acres from 6 TO
8 feet in depth. and is a vegetable deposit
of the finest quality. The original growth
Of timber on the adjoining land, was hard
wood mainly, and whatever wash there may
ever have been Of an extensive area OF high
er land around the swamp, would naturally
flow into il. Excellent arrangements have
been made for the thorough drainage Of the
swamp, which will be more particularly
described in speaking Of his system of irri.
CATION. The main body Of the muck, ex.
cept from March to the middle Of June,
when the gates are shut aud the swamp FILL
ed with water for irrigation, lies high and
dry from moisture to the depth Of 5 or 6
feet. and can be got out at any time Of the
year. when most convenient to do the work
Two or three times IN the course oil the
winter, quantity sufficient Tor layer oi
foot in depth over the whole cellar, is taken
directly from the swamp on sleds, and
thrown in, It being but short distance
from the barn, and the ground lille de-
scendlng.
In the fall, coat oil muck loot IN
depth, is deposited over the cellar bottom,
and when sufficient quantity OF manure
has accumulated under the scutlies IN me
stable floors TO cover the muck . or III
inches thick, the same 49, spread, and ano'h-
er coat OF muck put over the manure re-
pes,ing these operations from time to time
through the winter and spring, until the
cattle are turned TO grass An immense
quantity OF compost is thus formed and,
Judging from the smell and appearance, oil
the finest quality. A part oil the muck Is
dumped through scuiiie III the barn moor
into the cellar, and part IS thrown IN
through windows IN the underpinnsng, and
what cannot be conveniently spread from
these hears with the shovel, is taken up on
wheel barrows, running on plank, and
distributed IN due proportion The design
being to incorporate two parts OF muck &c
one OF manure. A larger proportion o.
muck Is kept under the stable noors' wher'
the urine hows' than elsewhere, anu ,h,
saturated muck Is spread INTO .he m'uui'
o' lhe cena1 ''9" ''''e ~ ''''e' !" o'''' "
equs''@e 'ne "n1'e ',a's n
Inc co"pos' 'ays VI '"'s s'a'e UNI ane
Inc spring WORK is cone wnen az oua Joos
, such as rainy oays anu o'ne' o"y' Vi ,e''
nre' " IS iorkec over from enc 70 enu' :
Aner hay'ng IS car'eu ou' on 10 Tue i""'
where wanted LOT 'he neM spring use
None OF y Is aPplled 70 'ne sou um'n yea
oiu-m, N'oe oe'"s " oP''o' 'na' So"'
posts wheie large proportions o. MUCK az
used require 70 DC iu'y ''Peneu oy aye an
ieImeh'a.on' III oroe' 10 ueiNe '"e g'eh'
est ncnen' rom .ne'r app,lca'lon 10 'ne sou
Mr. hlce mas been IN Inc nap" OF Apply
r ing on loads 10 me acre 20 ioaos sPres
. on inc tu'i ana P'o"eu ~; anu 20 ioNu
spread on the burrows ana narrowed ~
he mas come 70 the conclusion, howe.e .
rom recent "la's WIN view 10 asceI'"'
Inc proper ueP'n 10 euIy coh'pos', 'na1 u