The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-08-02
From the Plough, The Loom, and the .4,,pil.
Rules for the Application OF Manure.

FROM THE WRITINGS OF Won THAER.
We much question whether one farmer out of a
hundred entered into any calculation TO inform
himself about the weight of given measure of ma
nure; yet how without such calculations, can he
tell whether his cattle are over or under-oaded, or
his land over or under-dungedi Is there any bus-
ness OH this earth conducted with so little pretence
to exactness, as that Of agriculture But how can
il be otherwise when there Isl for it, pretence of
education, or systematic accounts Of any thing
when, in fact, the idea is that any fool may make
farmer
The real value of manure is increased by the fact
that 1t progressively augments ITSELF and that, be-
sides the produce it yields, extra quantity of ma
nure will, if properly bestowed, never fail TO pro-
duce the elements Of fresh supply, so that it will
be possible to cultivate those plants, success
lively, from which the largest sum of money may
be realized. On the other hand, the manure dImn-
ishes in like proportion, if scarcity is allowed TO
be felt, and an immediate and suitable remedy be
not found and applied. One of the consequences Of
scarcity or diminution of manure is scarcity of
straw; and, where there is little straw or fodder,
little dung be obtained, and thus the quantity of
manure progressively dwindles away until the soil
becomes totally exhausted.
However expensive ii may be to bestow this first
quantity of manure on a soil which has been i'm
povershed there certainly capital better employ
ed than that iohich is expended in this
The usual load for wagon drawn by four horses
is thirty-six cubic feet of stable manure, half re-
duced, and in the state in which it is usually applied
to the land. In this state, that is to say, when the
straw has become soft and disorganzed, without be-
ing wholly decomposed, and the dung is moist, yet
not very watery, cubic foot of will weigh Sc lbs
therefore load of SO feet contains 2,0l6 pounds,
which, for the sake Of obtaining round numbers,
we will reduce to 1000 pounds. Where the roads
are good, and the weather favorable, this load may
doubtless be increased but, as a period Of fine
weather is seldom chosen for carrying manure, this
quantity will in general be found to be toerably
correct.
If the straw is not decomposed or altered, cubic
foot closely packed will not weigh more than AS
pounds, and in this case the volume or size of the
load is increased and contains from As to as cubic
feet of manure.
When eight of these loads are distributed over an
acre Of land, it is considered that good covering
has been given. Each square perch then receives
81 pounds Of manure, and each square foot nearly
six pounds. If only FIVE of these loads be allowed
for each acre, is generally the case, is said then
| that the ground has been slightly MANFRED, and
| each square perch receives about SIS pounds. And
lastly, if IL loads spread over each acre, which
| must never occur where cereal crops are to be
grown, 1--WE Of course do not include Indian corn,
unless the land has been completely exhausted then
the ground is said to have received an abundant ma
nuring.
II is customary to allow only one-half the weight
and quantity of manure above mentioned when the
manure is derived entirely from sheep, because the
effects which it produces are at once greater and
more prompt, but less effcacious in point of dura-
bility.
The periods of these manurlngs occur every three,
four, six or nine years. The more frequently ap-
piled, the slighter they are and the longer the in
tervals, the more abundant must the manurng be
Thus 1t is necessary to take into account not only
the quantity 10 be laid each time but the num-
Der Of times 10 be repeated.