Loudon free press. (Loudon, Tenn.) 1852-1855, 1854-01-23
Eauaan free Yress,
AGRICULTURAL.
From the Chambersburg (Pa-) Repository and Wing
THE MANURE HEAP.

Among the characteristics OF SOou ldrueij
the attention that is paid to outstanding and In
creasingthe manure heap is prehaps, one of the
most Distinguishing. The farmer may plow
his soil most skifully, and in proper season, and
perform all the operations attending his pursuit
in creditable manner, but unless he restore
TO the soil the constituents that he abstracts
from it by means of his crops, his procedure is
Irrational, and his labor cannot remain remu-
lucrative. Nature does much to relieve the ex-
haustion occasioned to the soil by the improvi.
dence and ignorance Of man; the genial show
ers of summer and the SHOWS of winter alike
contribute to enrich the earth, while the atmos-
phere is constant source of nourishment to
vegetation. But nature only aids man in his
efforts TO preserve the fertility of his cultivated
lands. She has, it is tue, placed with lavish
hand within the soil, and strewn broadcast over
Il the elements of vegetable life;-a supply in
exhaustibe by rational, juGicious course of
cultivation, but inadequate to the demands of
the rapacity that would forever abstract without
deigning any return. On the barn-yard must
the farmer depend for the ability to meet the
Just demands Of his exhausted fields. This is
the storehouse of the constituents of his crops
let it be his constant endeayor to fiji it if he
expects his crops to fill his barn. Let every
thing calculated to enhance the value of the
manure pile, be placed on it,nstead of being cast
where it becomes nuisance. By the exercise
of a little attention and trouble, how greatly
may this source of prosperity to the farmer be
placed in it instead of being cast where it be-
comes nuisance. By the exercise of a little
attention and trouble, how greatly may this
source of prosperity to the farmer be increased,
both in quantity and in quality. The water
from the yards of many of our barns are, with
every rain, permitted to flow off unimpeded into
the neighboring stream or mud, carrying with
It the most valuable ingredients of the manure.
Every portion of the manure heap is of impor
tance-+he presence of every constituent of the
plant, in proper proportion, is requisite to its
growth. In vain may you look for plant to
flourish if single element of it is absent from
the SOIL II, then, you allow any Of the constit-
uents of your manure escape, what you retain
may possess but little value unless the missing
elements should happen to exist in the soil to
which you apply your manure. Every farmer
should guard against this ruinous waste. The |
water of every barnyard should gather towards
the centre, unless when pool is constructed to
receive it. The water from the barn roof should |
be conducted off by spouting, and not be allow
ed to deluge the manure, as it is generally rer
mitted to do. A farmer who would occasional
ly lose hog by it running away, would greatly
grieve over bis misfortune, yet he can look I'M
moved at the essence of his manure, of much |
greater importance to him than a hog or two, |
flowing off in stream over which he finds it |
difficult to leap. In the present season Of COM
parative ease to the farmer, when he generally |
complains that he has no employment for his |
horses, how proftably might he be engaged in
hauling mould and leaves from the woods to
the barn-yard. These substances not only form |
excellent manures as they decompose, but they |
enhance the worth of the remainder of the heap, |
by preventing its too complete decomposition,
and arrestng the escape of the volatile portions.
Soda and earth dug up from the fence corners,
and mixed with small portion of lime, forms
compost which will amply repay the labor ex-
pended on it, many deem this the most advisa-
bic mode of applying lime to land.
In many modes could our farmers enlarge
their stock of manue, and double the yield of
their land What are now grieyed over idle
days. might be rendered, in many cases, their
most profitable ones. In this connection, allow
me to advert for moment to the address re-
Gently delivered before the Franklin County
Agricultural Society, by D. F. Robinson, ESQ.,,
in the first place to thank that gentleman for
the many valuable suggestions contained in it,
and in the second, to question the correctness of
his views relative to the value of straw as fer
tilizer of soil. Mr.. R. regards straw in the
barn-yard as performing no other good Office
than that of preserving the manure derived
from other sources; contributing itself, in no
other important degree, any enriching matter
as the result of its dcomposition. In this, /
think Mr.. R. committed an error, for which, con.
sidering the bfevity of the time allowed him
for the preparation of his address, he was GER
tainly very excusable. Few persons, with SO lit
Gle time permitted to consideration, could have
delivered an address so free from inaccuracies.
Three fourths of our barnyard manure heaps
are composed of the residuum of decomposed
straw, and every portion of it l believe, is of
value. 1t will not be denied that the excre-
ments of cattle, fed solely on straw, are highly
fertilizing, though less SO than those from cattle
fed on more heterogeneous articles. If so,whence
are derived the enriching properties, if not con-
sttuents of the straw? Can the straw acquire
new ingredients by passing through the body of
an animal. That it loses some is known. 4
young animal, fed on straw, alone, will grow,
though not vigorously. If straw contains the
elements of life to cattle, are not these ele-
mentary constituents of value in the manure
heap? 1t is an established fact, the result
alike of reason and experience that any decay
ed vegetable is proper manure for the repro-
duction of the same. If so, the constituents Of
straw must be available, and of value. for the
reproduction of straw in subsequent CROPS
Straw is an article which, exposed in a large