Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1849-10-19

ting the kind of manure 10 be used. The So
lid and soluble parts of manures have ten
dency to sink in the soil; the gases evolved
in fermentation tendency TO rise. The true
principle then is to bury the unfermented mat
tiers no deeper Than 10 secure the moisture re-
quired to carry on and complete the process
of fermentation, while the fermented or de-.
composed manure, having no fertiliZing gases
to lose, may be mixed al once with the sur
face earth, or burned at the bottom of the fur
row while the unfermented only superficial
ly, as ii acts mechanically while undergoing
fermentation, in rendering the soil porous to
heat, airs, and moisture-the three great
agents of accomplishment thus supply
the roots of the plants with the creates album
dance of fertiliZing matter when most wanted.
Plants, like animals, require different kinds or
notifications of food. In general, the plants
which afford large stocks or roots, as corn,
potatoes. or turnips, thrives best upon the
gases which are given out in fermentation !;
while those exclusively cultivated for the
seed, as wheat and oats, are often injured by
these volatile parts, causing rank growth of
straw without improving the seed. Hence
the first mentioned crops can be fed upon the
composts usually prepared, without lessenlng
its value for the other crops.
Next 10 farm yard manure, TO keep the fer
tlity of our lands and TO restore those already
exhausted, we may most certainly calculate
upon green crops, TO be turned under by the
plow, and there allowed to ferment and de-
compose. As plant to enrich exhausted
soils, affording as it does both top and roots to
large extent, there is, perhaps, no plant
equal to clover, particularly where it is ne
cessary or advisable to have the green crop
fed off by animals. 1t should be suffered to
grow until in flower, then turn sheep, hogs,
and cattle upon it. They will eat the most
succulent portion of it. and fatten rapidly
The greater portion OF the crop will, however,
be trampled down; and this, mixed with the
droppings of the stock, forms in its decay a
most valuable Top dressing, and if repeated for
two or three years, forms all admirable top
dressing of the soil for wheat and other
grains.
From an experiment made under my own
observation, it gives me pleasure to inform
the society that clover can be grown with
very good success here, if the soil is only
broken up and plowed to sufficient depth to
enable the long tap root to penetrate TO suf-
6cient depth to withstand the effects of our
climate. Buckwhea: is also good plant for
green manure, as its growth is most rapid,
and it gives large amount of weight per acre.
If sown early, and the crop be allowed TO ad-
vance sufficiently 10 produce seed when turned
under 10 insure a stand, two crops could be
easily grown the same season, and plowed
under with great benefit 10 the soil.
But in the pea we have one of the most ef
hcient materials to bring out the complete res
toration of our wornout fields. as our climate
and soil appear to be peculiarly adapted to
its successful growth. The pea, like clover,
by their system of broad leaves, draw their
sustenance largely from the atmosphere, CON-
pared with what they derive from the soil !;
hence they take less from the land and return
more to it than any other kind of plant, and
are therefore manuring or melioratlng crops.
For this purpose, the peas should be sown
broadcast at the rate of bushei TO the acre,
and when the pods begin 10 mature, the whole
should be turned with good turning plow a
month or six weeks previous 10 sowing wheat
this will give time TO decompose before the
wheat is put in. This preparation will be
found most valuable, not only for this, but
all other spring crops as it can be so easily
done by sowing them and covering them with
the last working of the corn crop. The black
and red varieties are, perhaps, the best for
this purpose, as they are less liable TO swell
and sprout from the rain, and a good stand
will be preserved and come up from the ground
after the wheat or grain crop has been taken
of, which, in turn, can be pIowed in to serve
for dressing for the next crop which is to
follow.
A most. important means of increasing The
quantity and improving the quality of farm
yard manure, is the affording a plentiful sup
| ply of turnips as green food for soling Ink
cattle in the yards during wnter-a practice
no less essential 10 the thriving and good con
dition OF the cattle than TO The improvement
of the manure. 1t is. indeed, great object IL
obtain heavy crops of such food as an add
ton TO winter provender In the early sprin!
a large quantity of valuable manures may b.
accumulated by soiling the horses and milcl
cattle with barly, to be followed during sum
mer by mllet and other green crops.
In addition TO lime and gypsum, both o
which might be made valuable aids if the,
could be obtained at reasonable cost, the few
past years have brought guano, and othe
, special manures into notice. These, to Ger
tain degree, might be proftably employed
still their comparatiye high cost must proven
their being generally used. The dung Q
poultry, is very powerful manure, contain
ing, as it does, large portion of the phos
J pilates and ammonia The strongest is tha
oi lo"lS anu pigeons, as tney 1eed prlnclpall
upon grains and insects. To prevent the vast
and uric acid, layer of sand or mould shout
I be spread over the floor Of the poultry hous
f and pigeon cote When applied as a to
dressing in the spring TO wheat, it is said t
} have an admirable effect. 1t should be pre-
r vlously mixed with ashes thoroughly, for tn
? purpose of spreading it more evenly. Whe
employed in compost, it is also unobjectiona
bic, and must have similar effect to guanc
which is derived from the dung of birds. Lin
S should never be applied to falm yard manur
f to make compost, as it takes up immediatel
the more soluble and valuable part of the ma
nure, which it never relinquishes. 1t act:
T however, benefcially upon peat. weeds, an
2 all soils containing much rough vegetabI
: matter, and is we'll calculated TO benefit heav
: clay lands. 1t is rule in regard TO the al
: pllcatlon OF lime, that it should only be al
piled TO land in d.y state, and upon sol
5 well drained.
Bone dust has long been extensively use
Y as manure in England, and large import;
tons have been made from time 10 time fro
: the Baltic and German States but the su,
|, plies from those quarters is now fast dimiI
e ishing, for not only have the bones been scr;
: ped up from every corner where they cou
S be collected, but the farmers on the confines
f are more alive to the advantages which ma
e be derived TO their own soil, that Iatterly
duty has been laid upon their expectation
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