The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1850-03-02

EXTRACTS FROM THE
Report Of the Maryla nd State Agricul-
tural Chemist-JAMEs HIGGINS, M. D.
Stable and Barn Yard .Manure.-This
being to great number of agricultursts
the only form in which manures are ap-
piled to lands, any suggestions to increase
its value cannot be overrated.
All manures should be in the finest DOS
sble state OF division and mixed either di-
rectly or indirectly most thoroughly with
the soil. Every particle Of manure should
be placed, If possible, in immediate con-
tact with grain OF sand.
Stable and barn yard manure is COM
posed OF the eXcrements Of cattle, mixed
with that part Of the produce of land
which is unconsumed by them. 1t is,
therefore, nothing more than the former
produce of land, modified by its passage
through the bodies of ANIMALS, or modified
by the presence ofthose things which have
at one time served the purposes OF food. 1t
therefore, contains all of the substances ne
cessary to plants, as well those furnished
by the air as those which are obtained
from the soil. l shall not go into any
elaborate descriptions of its several consti,-
uentS nor their properties, but only give
directions for preserving it in its greatest
possible state Of usefulness. In the de-
composition or rottening OF stable manure,
substance Is formed called ammonia,
which is very volatile, that is it will read
lily escape into the air at all times, but
more especially when the weather is warm
There would seem, to an unlnstructed mind,
no possible way of preventing the loss of
this substance but making the receptacles
OF stable manure alright, but chemistry
shows, by teaching the nature and prop
critics of bodies, that this substance, one of
especial value in stable manure, by the
addition Of another substance of little cost
and OF easy application, can be so changed
as not to escape at any deglee OF heat to
which stable manure is ever subject. This
change not in the least enecting the value
of the manure. To effect this, nothing
more is necessary than small quantity
OF gypsum, (plaster of Paris) say from
half gallon to peck, scattered over the
yards or stables twice week.
When the manure IS to be applied to
sandy soils, in which the sand is white,
sulphate of iron (copperas) should be pre-
terred. a few pounds beat very finely is
enough for each week.
In this way the value OF the manure
will be increased one halt, or at least one
third, and all Of the dsagreeable stencil
removed from the yards or stables. This
stencil is produced by innumerable fine
particles of ammonia escaping into the air,
and effects sometime seriously the health
of animals subject to it. In the applica-
ton thus recommended above, not only is
The health Of a farmers stock, but the val
ue Of his manure greatly increased, either
consideration being sufficient to pay one
hundred times over, the cost of the appli-
cation of gypsum or copperas' Either of
those substances when applied to privies
or any place where animal and vegetable
matter is undergoing decomposition will
at once arrest all offensive odors arising
from them. So much for saving that part
of the manure which escapes through the
air.
AS commonly taken care of, this kind
of manure is subject to another great loss,
which should likewise be zealously guard
ed against.
When any body becomes saturated with
water, all of the soluble substances in it
are at once dissolved, if, when in this con-
ditlon, any additional quantity of water be
added, it takes the place OF that which pre-
viously existed, and forces out, not only
the water, but likewise all of the sub
stances which the water held in solution
That part of the stable manure which the
water dissolves is most valuable, and, when
exposed as 1t usually is, by farmers, nearly
all of ITS valuable matter will be carried
away by water falling on the heaps and
then running off. So efectually does this
deprive all substances OF their soluble mat
ter, that druggists use process identical
IN principal with it to obtain the active
matter OF many drugs and medicines. A
quantity of rhubard, ginger, Sc, being
first saturated with water, is allowed to
remain for short time-an additional
quantity of water then being added-the
water first passes through, taking with it
all the strength Of the substance acted on,
leaving behind nothing but worthless in
ert mass.
A little reflection will show that this
same state ofthings constantly occurs with
stable and barn yard manure.
The yards then for the accumulation OF
this kind OF manure should be so arran-
ged as to permit no water to run off
from them; II provender be scarce, then