Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-04-24
40 RtCUlTURAL.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.

we are lndeDteu 10 hon. d iiH w 4 Ioc-
tor of Danvers, Mass, for a copy Of an es-
say on Top Dressing Grass Lands, writ
ten by Mr.. Charles L. Flint forthc trans
actions of the Essex County Ag. Society.
The length ofthe paper precludes the pos
sibility of our publishing it entire, and we
therefore give the following extract, which
contains many useful suggestions:
II is very common practice to suflcr the
manure from the barn to lie exposed for
months to the winds and rains of summer
and winter. Many farmers have no arrange
mcnt by which the liquid and most valua-
bic part of stable manure is saved, and yet,
under all these disadvantages they are too
apt to congratulate themselves on having
so many loads Of manure. They do not
consider that it is equality land notthe guam
tity, which adds richness to the soil. The
practice Of digging cellar under the barn,
is becoming more common among enter
prising farmers, and it may be said that the
increased value and quantity ofthe manure,
is enough to pay far more than the interest
of the extra expense. Sheltered manure is
far more valuable; but in cases where this
has not, and cannot well be done, much OF
the real value may be saved by forming the
yard SO that nothing may escape. Let peat
mud and loan be thrown in to absorb what
would otherwise be lost. Plaster occasion
ally thrown into the yard, is like money
l will not say in the savings bank, but rath-
or put to compound interest:
In Flanders, where the greatest econo-
rho E,,,I a.
NAL is estimated at from ten to fifteen dol
lars year. This, applied as a top dressing,
has a surprising effect No one should neg
lect to form compost heap; it may be SO
made as to form an extremely valuable ar
ticle for top-dressIig. A quantity of mea-
dow mud, should be dug out in the autumn,
for this special purpose. That this is in
dispcnsable, will be seen from the fact that
two cords Of peat mud, added to one cord
OF good stable manure, will make COM
pound OF three cords as valuable as clear
barnmanure.s This has been tried repeat
cdly, and is constantly done by those who
arc ambitiousto excelin farming. To this
compost should be added, from time to time.
al the animal and vegetable matter adap-
ted to enrich the soil; wooden rags, the re-
mains Of fish, the blood and flesh of ami
mails, the hair of animals-all these make
an exceedingly rich manure. A most in
telhgent gentleman, connected with wool
factory, informs us that cord ofmatter col
lected at the establishments worth at leas,
FIVE or six cords of the best stable manure
for top-dressing. This wecannot doubt
for here are the blood, the wool, pieces OF
the skin Of the animal, and many other sub
stances; all collected together. A fermen-
tation takes place by which the richest ga
scs are formed. Such acompost heap, with
an addition Of loan and mud, would be in
valuable for top-dresstng. But though,
IN most cases, all these substances cannot
be procured, many of them can and should
be saved by every one who is DESTROYS OF
improving his lands. Those who are near
the sea, or near the market, can procure an
abundance Of fish to add to the compost
Nothing better forsoils than this Ashes
should also be added, and when additions
ofmanure are made, they should be covered
with mud or loan to prevent waste.
We need not enter more infinitely into
thcdctails of forming the compost heap; i
is sufficient to say ina word, that every
thing capable of fermentation may be add
ed to it. The lower layer should be o
loan or mud. Nothing is more common
among farmers, on the death ola horse, oil
any other animal, than to throw the bod,
away. Its estimated by some. that th,
body Of single horse, when divided ane
mixed with peat, mud and loan, will
make compost of fifteen or twenty cord.
Of the best and richest manure. This il
perhaps too high an estimate, but ANNA
substances ferments rapidly. or rather they
may be said to purify without fermenting
so quick is their decomposition. Leaves
grasses, moss, straw and other substances
Of like nature may be used, and when they
are well fermented, the heap should be
thrown over; and lift is made long and
narrow so as to expose the greater surface
to the air, it will be better. Whenever
such compost has been used as top
dressing. it has produced the most aston
ishing effects. Many experiments have
shown that this is the best way of using
such compost. In the fertile county Of
HEREFORD. in England, it is seldom used in
any other way. 1t cannot be too highly re-
commenced
Animals fed on rich food make the most
valuable manure. This will serve to show
why the manure from the pig-sty is so fer.
hlzmg. Swine are fed on a great variety
ofrich food. The actual profit of raising
them In some places, arises mainly from
the amount circumstances they will mix to-
gether and make into good manure. LIE
the sly be supplied at intervals with mud
loan, and other vegetable matter, and far
mcrs will not complain of the cost of thcs,
animals.
Liquid manures are highly useful t,
grasses. Care should be taken to appl,
them, also, to the compost heap. The
richness Of manure from the sty is OWN.
mostly to the great quantity of liquid mat
ter; hence the importance Of adding
great variety Of vegetable substances, loan
and mud. Ina word it may be said tina
all liquid manures contain large amour
of nitrogen, which is an important ingre
dent Of ammonia. The importance O
saving the liquid Of stables. either with tn.
compost, or to be applied BY ITSELF may b
seens also. in the fact that the exceeding
richness Of guano and the ordure Of al
towb and birds. is dueto the union of Il
srsee vsriss mach in iss value Is manure. Some
n1y - wath what i Is here estimated at; but we