The North-Carolinian. [volume] (Fayetteville [N.C.]) 1839-1861, 1851-04-19
MANAGEMENT OF MANURE OR
COMPOST HEAPS.

| NJ AN AGEME Nj Ok MANURE VI
COMPOST HEAPS.
AS the collection Of manure is admitted
on ,aIl hands to be the prime source o
agricultural prosperity, submit the fol
lowing, on the management of certain mat
ters. with view to that subject
The first thing to be attended to is. the
selection OF suitable spot for a manure
heap. This should be on the top Of some
rising ground. or on ground at least So
level that there can be no run of water to
and from it, in case Of violent rains. A
true regard to economy, will also suggest
that it should be placed on some field for
| which benefit it is mainly intended.
Having marked out the ground say 25
feet by Is, or any other dimensions suita-
BILE to your means, sink stakes three or
four inches in diameter, two feet below
the surface Of the ground, and rising to
any convenient height above, at each corn
err, 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 inclosed, one foot
deep. laying old rails, or any other ,nateri-
al at hand fit for the purpose, along the IN
side of the stakes, as the mould rises, to
confine it within its place. Next. take
from the stalls of your animals, (the way
of managing which, will presently be
given,) as much manure as will cover this
mound, all over 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 perceived that the rich
and enriching material will be SO cased up
as to prevent the escape Ot the gases.
Then cover this layer of manure, as 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. barley. rye, or buckwheat, one foot
deep. This will do much to enrich the
surface. at the same time it prevents
injury from the sun and wind. Leaves
will do, but straw is much better Let
it stand in this state until your stalls again
require cleaning. You will then remove
the straw. and spread another layer Of ma
nure, except the sides and ends. to the
depth of one foot, and over that, a new lay
nallv replacing the straw as in the first in
stance. Go on 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, commen-
cling new heap any where else most COLI
venient.
AS it may be thought the layers of ma
nure would be too thick, | will now give
some directions for the management Of the
nurse stable. cattle stalls, hog pens, &c. {,
from which it is to be taken. Before en-
tering upon this, however. | would pause
one moment 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 ac-
counts, worth keeping well. Probably
there is nothing in which the farmer errs
so fatally to himself, as in the system Of
starvation SO often pursued with regard to
his poor, suffering brutes. One animal
we'll fed is Of more profit in the end. than
three half fed; and for the same reasons.
the manure from one we'll fed, is worth all
the poverty-stricken droppings of three
times it's number, half-starved. Few
things are more evident than these; and
yet, there are very few things which some
men of intelligence are so slow to receive
and act upon. 1t is with US, respecting
animals, very much as with regard t"
acres; every one is crying ''more. more;'
when in nine cases out often, every ind-
vidual acquisition is positive and mate
rial loss. 1t would be difficult to lay down
a rule on this subject, Of universal appli-
cability. This much, however. may safe
ly be said: if you want good animals, and
good rich manure, (Which it properly man.
aged. will always be fair compensation
for the food consumed in making it, you
must not stint your animals; you must
feed as nearly TO the fuN. in quantity aud
quality. as you can without waste.
Another rule highly necessary to success
in manufacturing manure is. that every an
imal on plantation should be housed at
night, the year round; and in winter, by
day, except SO much time as is necessary
for them to get water, and take sufficient
exercise. In very cold weather. they
should be let out only to get water. and
then Immediately put up again. This is
the writer's own rule, aud be finds it works
we'll in evey case, except in regard to
hogs, which, for some reason, do not appear
to bear confinement in the day time, in
this climate. This practice is rare at the
south. If there is another instance OF 1t IN
Moth Carolina, he is not aware Of it.
The advantages oft, however. are obvious,
all.
Into the stalls of these animals, before
thev are allowed to enter. mould should
be thrown to the depth Of one foot. AS
soon as this has become saturated, mix
ture Of virgin soil, leaves and old logs, suf-
6ciently decayed to break up finely, to-
gether With the scrapings from beneath
and around them. should from time to time