The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1854-01-19
AGRICULTURAL.
F,om Nortons Elements Of Scientific Farming
Management Of Barnyard Ma
Rufes
BY PROF. P. NORTON.

preserved and applied as carefully as
they might, or ought to bs
The principal varieties are those of
the OK, the COW, the hog, the horse, and
the sheep. OF these, that Of the horse is
most valuable in its fresh state; it con-
tains much nitrogen, but it is very liable
TO lose by fermentation. That of the
log comes next That of the COW is
placed at the bottom of the list. This Is
because the enricbing substances OF her
food 60 principally to the formation OF
milk, the manure being thereby rendered
poorer.
The manure OF all these animals is far
richer than the food given them, because
it contains much more nitrogen. This is
for the reason that large part of the
carbon and oxygen of the food are con-
sumed ia the lungs and blood generally
Tor the purpose Of keeping up the heat OF
the body. They are given off from the
lungs, and also by perspiration and evap-
oraton through the pores of the skin, IN
the forms of carbonic acid and water.
From animals fed upon rich food, the
manure is much more powerful than when
it is poor. In England, for instance,
where they fatten cattle largely on oil
cake, II is calculated that the increased
value Of the manure repays all the out
lay. This is the reason why human
ordure is better than manure from any
of the animals mentioned aLove, the food
OF man being rich and various.
All these kinds Of manure should be
carefully collected aud preserved, both as
TO their liquid and solid parts. The il
quid part or urine is particularly rich in
the phosl hates and in nitrogen. This
part is ~ very many farmers permitted
10 great degree to run away or evapo-
rate. Some farm. yards are cOntrived so
rs TO throw the water off entirely, others
convey it through a small ditch upon the
nearest field. The liquid manure which
might have fertiiized several acres in the
course Of the season, is thus concentrated
upon one small spot, and the consequence
J. vegetation so rank as to be Of very
little use. Spots Of this kind may be
seen ia tae nei- bborhood of many farm
yards, y here the grass grows up so heavy
that it falls down and rots at the bottom,
snd has TO be cut several weeks before
hareost time, producing strong coarse
hay that cattle viii scarcely touch.
The proper way TO save this liquid is
TO have tank or hole, into which all the
drainage Of the yard may be conducted.
II lett here long, this liquid begins to
iermoBt, and lose nitrogen in the form Of
ammonia, which it will be remembered is q
compound of nitrogen and hydrogen
70 remedy this, little sulphurie acid, or
few pounds of plaster, may be occasion
sily thrown in. The splphuric acid viii
unite with the ammonia, and form sui
pbate of ammonia, which will remain un-
CHANGED, not being liable to evaporate.-
C;h@r- prefer to mix sufficient peat, ashes,
favdas,. or fine charcoal with the liquid
IA de tank, 70 soak i all up: others still
paMp It out aud pour it upon compost
heap One point is to be noticed in the
management Of tank. Only the water
which naturally drains from the stables
sDj yards should be allowed to enter it,
al that fails from the caves Of the build
ing should be discharged elsewhere. Reg
uiated in this way, the tank will seldom
overflow, and the manure collected in it
viii be Of the most valuable and power
ful description. The tank may be made
OF stone, brick, or wood, as is most con-
venient, and need cost but very little.
While the liquid manure is actually in
many cases almost entirely lost, the solid
part is often allowed to drain and bleach,
until nearly everything soluble is washed
away; or Is exposed in heaps to ferment,
without any covering. ID such case
ammonia is always formed and giren of;
1t may often be perceived by the smell,
particularly in horse manure. The fact
may also be shown, by dipping feather
ii muriatic acid aud waving it over the
heap. Ii ammonia in any quantity is es-
Gaping, white fumes will be visible about
tue feather, caused by the form alton OF
muEia:e of ammonia. a teacher can ex-
cmpity this by holding feather, dipped
~ tie same way, over an ammonia bottle.
This escape of SO valuable substance
may be iu great Measure prevented BY
sboveling earth over the surface of the
heap, to depth of two or three inches.--
II this does not arrest it entirely, sprinkle
few handfuls of plaster upon the top;
the su!phuric acid of the plaster will as
before unite with the ammonia, and form
sulphate Of ammonia.
Aianures containing nitrogen in large
quantity arc so exceedingly valuable, be-
cause this gas is required to form gluten,
and bodies of that class, in the plant; this
is particularly in the seed, and sometimes
also in the fruit. Plants can easily OBJ
tain an abundance of carbon, oxygen ,and
hydrogen, from the air, the SOIL aud ma
nures. Not so with nitrogen. They can
not get it from the air; there is little of it
IN most soils; and hence manures which
contain much Of it, produce such mark
ed effect Not that it is more necessary
than the other organic bodies, but more
scarce; at least in a form available for
plants. The same reasoning applies to
pbosphoric acid. 1t is not more nccessa-