The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1853-12-10
[ From the .4m4ricIa FErm,r. |
AGRICULTURAL.


into compost heaps, 10 be converted into T!
manure. The earth and vegetable n2at-
tiers from head lands, lrncr.Sidr<, fence !
corners, woodmou hi, river mud, creek
mud, marsh-mud, peat, tie sod from
fields covered with sedgr grass. the
s@rap!ngs from tencc-Sides, the SclariugS
Of bitches, sea-orc, weeds, rutton.>ceG:
and, IN a word, any substances having in
them vegetable and animal remains, are
good to enter into such conf o,ts. But
with every tWo loads Of such matters,
there should he mixed one load Of barn
ward Or stable manure. As the comic t
heaps are being formed, layer and layer
about, the surface OF each layer should
b" busted freely over witt faster, say
in the rroI ort!on Of one LGShr Of pla>-
ter 10 twenty double-horsr. cart loads Of
tie rough materials named The cora
post heap should be shaped into conf
ca! form, dusted over with plaster, pat
ted down, and, if possible, kept under
cover. Even covering or pine OF cedar
brush will prove useful. The object CT
mixing the barn.yard and stable manure
with the roug h materials, Is to excite
fermentation, and BRING on a heallhtul
state OF decomposition in the latter;
without which, its action Will be S}cw,
and hut little perCrivabla on the first
crop, though it will ultimately tell IN the
soil in succeeding years. The list Of
substances We have named are mostly
conn a;atlveIy cold, ana require the adj
dliion OF animal or organic mannr"s to
bring about trrmrntation and d'c"", "A
condition absolutely necessary to render
thrm Immediately availlhIe as manure.
All such inert, all such dormant matters,
require to have vitality previously ni,lS-
ed INTO them before application 20 !hr
land, as they will not otherwise he G. m
prtrnt to dispense the noursh!ng prin
cllle, If we may so express our>eIt, INTO
growing plants--irom the decay and
death OF the former, the pri"ci lie OF life
Is communicated into the latter.
GrANo, being tn" strongest Of all con-
c2ntrated animal manurrs, might be very
advantageous, y used in the compost
heap instead Of stable and harn-yard
munures-so also might fish 10 b,ing
On the decomposition OF the rough ma
t'rlals we have named, but thea, as these
substances are not ayulsahlr 10 all, We
have called particular attention to The
lUimrr substances.
.HhoIiae SUJStHRrCS. as wood ashes,
harilIa ashes, lin" soda. Sc, will also
bring on The desired decomposition, OF
the enumerated inert substances, but
these, with the exception OF Hme, rest
under the objection of incomprtrncv of
snillv, while that mineral, if applied in
quantity, would operate to drive Of the
nutrl.ive gases as they might be- grmer-
ated, and thus deterorate the value of
the compost as manure.
The substances we have before d-S-
crlbrd, il spread over the atle-ya:dS,
hos-yardS, &c, wouId, by the weddings
of tn" ANIMALS, especially the liquid por-
ton OF them be converted into manure.
But whether such substances be made
into compost heaps, or spread over the
cattle-yards, ana hog styes, it is ncc"S-
sary that either one or the other should
be shoveled over and thoroughly mixed
together before being applied to the
land the ensuing season. This opera
ton OF shoveling over, is necessary ulson
two accounts: first to produce equality
in the SIT ength of the manure, and scc-
ond(y to let in the atmospheric air, to
give fresh impetus 10 decomposition,
in order that the nutriive principle may
be rendered the more active and opera
tive.
WINTER PLoUGHlNG.-All stiff clays
intended for spring crops should be
ploughed at every seasonabe Period
thronghou winter. Wereprat our form
"r advice, do not plow when the ground
is wet, Or very dry--the light time is
when it IS moist.
ETABLING AND SHEDDING FOR SrocK.
Stock of every desert ption should be
provided with comfortable stables o.
sheds. Exemption from the inclrmen-
cy Of tie weather, while il conduc", 10
the health Of the animals, saves TODD.
TREATMENT OF MrLcn Cows.-Nlilch
Cows cannot be expected 10 give much
mill; unless they are properly cared for.
They should have comfortable, warm
well ventilated stables--.-thcir stalls
should be we'll Uttered and cleaned cut
twice day,-they should be curred or
rubbed down twice day. b" warred as
often; be fed twice day, with sufficient
no"tshing food, and sailed, or given a
mixture Of equal parts OF salt, ashes, and
oys'ershell lime, twice a week; say,
from one to two oncrs at time. In
good weather they should have access TO
an enclosed yard, on the bottom of which
there should be at least twelve inches Of
rough materials spread, TO be- converted
into manure.
You've CATTLE.-These should be kept