Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1851-05-02
Agricultural.
From the American Agriculturist.
; rx f,ou.x,oSf Heaus.


perty submit the following, on the management
of certain matters, with view to that object
The first thing be attended to is the selection OF
a suitable spot for manure heap Inns should be
on the top of some rising ground, on ground, at
least so level that there be no run Of water to
and from it, in case of violent rains. true regard
to economy will also suggest that it should be pla
ced on some field for which benefit it is mainly in
tended.
Having marked out the ground, say Is feet by Is.
or any other dimensions suitable to your means, sink
stakes three or four inches in diameter, two feet be-
low the surface of the ground and rising to any con-
venient height above, at each corner and at proper
distances along the sides and ends. Now collect
from the woods sufficient leaf mould or rich virgin
soil to cover the whole space nclosed one foot deep,
LAYING old rails or any other material at hand tit for
the purpose. along the inside of the stakes, as the
mould rises to coDfne it within its place. Next take
from the stalls of your animals, the way OF mana
eing which will presently be given as much ma
nure as will cover this mould all equally to the
depth Of one foot except the sides and ends, which
should invariably be mould only, for at least six
inches from the rails by which means it will be per-
ceived that the rich and enrching material will DC
so cased up to prevent escape OF the gases
Then cover this layer of manure soon as may be.
in order to prevent loss by evaporation, with mould
from the woods to the depth of six inches, and cover
the whole with any kind of straw, as wheat oat bar
ley rye, or buckwheat, one foot deep This will do
much to enrich the surface at the time that 1t
prevents injury from the sun and wind. Leaves will
do, but straw is much better. [?7 Let it stand in
this state until your stalls again require cleaning.
You will then remove the straw and spread another
layer of manure except the sides and ends, to the
depth Of one foot and that new layer of mould
six inches Deep before finally replacing the straw
in the first instance Go repeating the process
till you have got the heap to the top of the stakes
then replace the straw and let the whole stand till
required for use, commencing new heap anywhere
else most convenient.
As it may be thought the layers of manure would
be too thick, will some directions for the
management of the horse STABLE cattle stalls. hog
pens, &c, from which it is to be taken. Before en-
tering upon this however, | would pause one mo-
ment to remind the reader of what he has been again
and again told in this valuable journal namely that
any animal that is worth keeping at all, is, on all
accounts, worth keeping well. Probably there is
nothing in which the farmer fatally to him
SELF in the system of starvation 30 often pursued
with regard to his poor, suffering brutes. One ami
NAL well fed Is of profit in the end than three
half fed and for the reasons, the manure from
we'll fed is worth all the poverty drop
pings of three times its number half starved. Few
things more evident to reason than these; and
yet there very few things which some men OF in
tegenee slow to receive and act upon. 1t is
with u.s. respecting animals, very much as with re-
gard to acres; every one is crying more more"
when, in nine out Of ten, every individual
QUESTION is positive and material loss. 1t would
be difficult to lay down rule this subject, of uni
versal applicability. This much, however may safe
ly be said if you want good animals, and good rich
manure, (Which, if properly managed, will always
king it, you must not stint your animals; you must
feed nearly to tie full, ia quantity and quality as
you can without waste.
Another rule highly necessary to success in man
ufacturing manure is. that every animal on plan
tation should be housed at night, the year round
and in winter by day, except much time as is ne
cessary for them to get water and take sufficient
ereise In very cold weather they should be let out
only to get water, and then Immediately be put up
again. This is the writer's rule, and he finds it
works well in every ease, except in regard to hogs
which, for reason, do not appear to bear con-
fnement in the day time in this climate. This prac
tics is at the South II there is another instance
Of it in North Carolina, he is not aware Of it. The
advantages of it, however, obvious and sooner
or later it will be adopted by all.
Into the stalls of these animals, before they are
allowed to enter, mould should be thrown to the
depth of one foot As soon as this has become satu-
rated mixture Of virgin soil leaves and old logs
sufficiently decayed to break up finely together with
the scrapings from beneath and around them should
from time to time be added in sufficient quantities to
keep all dry and comfortable little shelled corn
thrown into the stalls and pens will induce the hogs
to root and mix up the whole together, in the best
manner, at no cost When the accumulation has
become too great for convenience let it be taken out
and put upon the pile, as above directed Before the
animals again put in throw mould as at first, or
any material fitted to absorb and retain the urine
. ana Juices, TO the QcpLn OF one 1OOb FROM snlS, IL
will be seen that no manure goes into the pile in
state tending to waste When required for use, the
pile is cut down perpendicularly and as evenly as
possible in order to puverize it we'll and make the
whole mixture equal
The writer has now pursued this plan to greater
less extent for several years Its advantages are
that it the expense of all tedious preparations
to prevent the escape Of fertilizng matter. 1t is
adapted to every mans capacity, and every mans
means Nothing is ever seen escaping from one of
these pes-no ammonia on damp or frosty morn
ing ascending like smoke from furnace case SO
common where the contents of stables are thrown
out without any admxture to absorb it. The rain
falls in than sufficient quantities to afford
the necessary moisture, while the straw, always to
be kept On top, is efectual protection from
and wind It's tendency to promote the health and
thriftiness of the animals must be obvious. Their
stalls are always sweet and comfortable. Of course,
this plan also saves the expense Of building manure
houses. It's superiority to the mode of managing
these matters commonly recommended-that is, hol-
lowing out the barn-yard into the form of ditch,
and throwing the manure into it to be washed away
and wasted by rain wind, and sun--will readily ap-
pear. Animals should not be permitted to run in a
barn-yard, except in going to and from their places
of confinement; and to prevent any loss from this,
it should be kept constantly covered with mould,
leaves, straw, &C., which, once or twice year, may
be scraped up to put on the heap between the layers
| of manure.
i There are numerous other sources from which
materials may be drawn to augment and enrich these
heaps; such weeds the scrapings Of garden walks
the contents Of privies fowl and pigeon houses, rot
ten chips, sawdust-a capital thing to throw into
pigsties and stables-old rags, hogs hair coal
ashes, soap suds, dish water, urine from the cham