Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1852-01-22
WHAT Is MANUREl

Any substance which restores the ell
ements of fertility 10 the soil may be
termed manure, and in the LANGUAGE
OF Prof. Norton, " may be divided INTO
two classes-organc and inorganic: or
ganlc when derived from the remains of
organised beings, as plants and animals
inorganic, when produced from the min
eral kingdom. Vegetable differs much
in its action from animal matter. Green
vegetables, when deprived of vitality,
rapidly decay their great succulency
promotes this when assisted by air, faci-
itated no doubt by the azortised matters
of the sap, which lmpart the putrea ctiye
tendency, reducing the hbrous organi
cation TO carbonic acid, water, and am
MONA; at the same time liberatng It's
earthly and saline ingredients. Dry veg
etables decay slowy-the sap being
dried up is less inclined to puuefy but
how soon II commences when moistencd
or mixed with animal matters, as when
straw is employed as litter Peat is
vegetable manure in which decomposi-
ton is checked, not only by antiseptic
matters, but chiefly by excessive mois
ture, and The consequent exclusion of
air. Yet, when dried, and mixed with
annual manures or causuc lime, how
speedily it moulders down The prin
clpal supply Of vegetables for manure is
derived from the leaves and stems OF
gram crops, grasses, the collection OF
weeds, the consumption of green crops
and, IN some cases of the seeds of plants
Seeds OF plants are not directly used a,
manures, being too valuable us an article
OF food Seeds contain the richest ele
ments for fertilization-the phosphates
and mtroSenous products hence ia,
rich manure obtained from cattle fed OF
oIlcake or Linseod grain The refus,
OF some seeds is used for manure, barn
rape-cake, malt dust, d Green veg
etables are sometimes used as cheaI
method of iertilizing the soil, either up
on which they grow, or by removin,
them TO another field. In this country
the principal green crop used for manur,
is clover. The waste of substance
which would form valuable manure.
saved and composted, upon many farms
and by saving, economical farmers, TO,
would make them open their eyes will
establishment if they could only see In
truth. We know many a careful, yoi
stIngy New England farmer, who has al
his life time snuIled the tainted air OF IA,
privy, which has dliused lis icrtllzin.
gases abroad upon the air, instead of ap
plying It's Substance as Il manure upol
his growing crops.
How many OF you, M readers. a
this moment are complaining of shor
crops, aud yet have piles of stable ma
nure lying exposed 10 The bleaching eI
fccts of winter rain, or under the eyapoI
atng effects Of a scorchlng sun? llo,
many Of you have barrel of groun
plaster standing IN your stable. vii
which you daily sprinkle the floor, an
thus absorb the ammonia which is so oI
iensIve, and would otherwise escape an
be lost That old greasy coat, hat. an
boots, which | saw last week disiigurin
the landscape near your house, wher
they have dangled as scarecrow eve
since last spring, would make more cor
than they saved, if YOU had used ther
as manure. For the same purpose. "
beg of'you 10 save the blood and bristle
OF your buicheriug-ii is n valuable ma
nure.
Finally, bear in mind that almost eve
ry organic substance is capable of ben
converted into manure, and increasip
the productions Of the earth for the ben
eht OF the whole human family"