Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1849-04-26
agricultural.
A MODEL FARM.

The following letter, addressed to the
Nepdrk Advertiser, gives the results of the
scientific operations of Prof. Jas. ]. Mapes,
on his little farm of thirty-hve acres, in
New Jersey. When Prof Mapes bought
the place, it was supposed by some not to
be worth the taxes annually assessed. 1t is
now the MODEL FARM of the State, if not
of the country.
Prof Mapes' letter is as follows
al would state that my success may be
mainly attributed to the use of the subsoi
plow, and poper system of manuring.
The land is clayey loan, underlaid by
clay 10 inches thick, on substratum of
decomposed sandstone, and, until the clay
was cut through by the subsoi pillow, the
surface was too wet to be productive.
1t may not be undressing to your cor
respondent to know the different methods
adopted for the manufacture of this manure.
The chloride of lime and carbonate of soda
is made by shaking 3 bushels Of shell lime,
hot from the kiln, with one bushel of COM
mon salt dissolved in water. Common salt
being composed of chlorine and soda, the
lime combines with the chlorine, forming
chloride of lime, which in turn receives
carbonic acid from the atmosphere, and be-
comes carbonate of soda. This mass should
be turned every other day for ten days, at
the end of which time it is ready for use
Four bushels of this mixture, thoroughly
divided through one cord of muck, will de-
compose it perfectly in 80 days in winter,
and in proportiohately less time in summer.
When this muck cannot readily be pro-
cured, any other organic matter will answer
the same purpose; pond scrapngs, river
mud, decayed leaves, or even head lands,
with l-20th its bulk of stable manure, or
weeds will answer well.
My stables are arranged thus under the
oxen, COWS, SC, the earth is removed to the
depth of IL inches, making space capable
of holding half cord of muck to each ami
NAL. This muck is covered at night with
salt hay for bedding, aud the liquid manure
voided by the cattle is absorbed by the
muck aud rapidly decomposes it, This de-
composition is assisted by the warmth ofthe
animal while sleeping upon the bedding
The solid manure is removed from the bed
ding each morning, and after being mixed
with twentw times its bulk of muck, is plac-
ed under cover. The muck containing the
fluid portions of the manure is removed ev-
cry four days, and is also placed under GOV
er; after ten days the manure heap is turn
ed over and wetled with a weak solution OF
nitrate of soda, after which it is permitted
to remain until it is sufficiently decomposeo
for use-thirty days.
All the weeds of the farm are daily put
into the hog-pen, and the hogs are induced
to root among them, to obtain which they
keep the weeds in continuous motion unit
decomposed, About once in 10 days the
pen is emptied, and after sailing the weed;
TO prevent the possibility of their again ger
minating, they are mixed with 20 times
their bulk of muck, and four bushels to the
cord of the salt and lime mixture, AM
placed under cover, where the mass readily
heats, and in 25 days is fit for use.
These manures, with the occasional use
of special manures for special crops, selec
ted with reference to their chemical compo
nents, as compared to the RECRUITMENT ofth'
plant desired to be raised, constitute the ma
nures used
The amount of manure am enabled L
make by the above methods, and the assist
ance of q oxen, 3 cows, 3 horses, and y
hogs, is about so half cords per week.
The subsoil pillow is no less importan
than asufliciency Of manure, and without IL