The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1854-01-04
AGRICULTURAL.
lanagement Of Barnvard manure

ID as . fertilizer, all other nanures being
lsed in comparatively small quantities;
and yet even these are seldom preserved
and applied as carefully as they might, or
oughtso be.
The principal varieties are those of the
Ok, the cow the hog, the horse, and the
sheep. Ofthese, that of the horse is most
in its fresh state; it contains much
nitrogen. but it is very liable to lose by
That ofthe hog comes next.
That ot the cow is placed at the bottom Of
the list. This is because the enriching
substances of her food go principally to
the formation of milk, the manure being
thereby rendered poorer.
From animals fed upon rich food, the
manure is much more powerful than when
il is poor. In England, for instance, where
they fatten cattle largely on oil oake, i, is
calculated that the increased value of the
manure repays all Of the outlay. This is
the reason why human ordure is better
than manure from any ofthe animals men,
toned above, the food Of man being rich
and various.
All these kinds Of manure should be
carefully collected and preserved, both as
70 their liquid and solid parts. The liquid
part or urine is particularly rich in the
phosphates and in nitrogen. This part
is by very many farmers permitted in
great degree to evaporate. Some farm
yards are oontrived so as TO throw the
water off entirely; others convey it through
= small ditch upon the nearest field The
liquid manure which might have fertilized
several acres in the course Of the season,
is thus concentrated upon one small spot.
and the consequeno is vegetation so
rank as to be OF very little use. Spots OF
this kind may be seen in the neighborhood
ofmany farmyards. where the grass grows
up 90 heavy that il falls down and rots at
the bottom, and has to be cut several weeks
before haying time. producing strong
COARSE hay that cattle will scarcely touch.
The proper way to save this liquid is
10 have tank or hole, into which all the
drainings Of the yard may be conducted.
Il LEFT here long, this liquid begins to fer
msnt and lose nitrogen iE the form OF
ammonia, which il will be remembered is
compound OF nitrogen and hydrogen.
TO remedy this, little sulphuric acid. or
. lew pounds Of plaster may be occasion
ally thrown in. The sulphuric acid will
unite with the ammonia, and form sulphate
Of amonia, which will remain unchanged,
NOT being liable to evapofate. Others pre-
ief.to mix sufficient peat, ashes, sawdust
or line charcoal with the liquid in the tank
20 soak il AL up; others still pump il out
and pour il upon compost heap. One
point is 10 be noticed in the management,
Of tank. Only the water which natural
y drains from the stables and ards should
be allowed to enter it; all that falls from
she caves Of the buildings should be dis.
charged elsewhere. Regulated in this way
the tank will seldom overflow, and the ma
nure collected in it viii be Of the mosl
valuable and powerful description. The
tank may be made ofstone, brick, or wood
- 10 most convenient, and need cost bu,
very little.
While the liquid manure is actually in
many cases almost entirely lost, the solid
part 10 often allowed to drain and bleach
until nearly every thing soluble is washed
away; or is exposed in heaps to fermen
without any covering. In such case am
monia 10 always formed and given off;
may oRen be perceived by the smell, par
ioularly horse manure. The fact may
also be shown by dipping feather in mur
iatic acid and waving il over the heap
II amonia in any quantity is escaping g
white fumes will be visible about the feather
caused by the formation Of muriate Of am
monia. A teacher oan exemplify this b.
holding feather, dipped in the same way
over an ammonia bottle. This escape o
90 valuable substance may be in grea
measure prevented by shovelling earth owe
the surface ofthe heap, to depth Of tw'
or three inches. II this does not arrest
entirely, sprinkle few handfuls OF ples
tor upon the top; the sulphuric acid Of th
plaster will as before unite with the ammo
mia, and form sulphate Of ammonia.
In all places where manure is pro,eoie'
from the sun, and from much washing b,
rain, its value is greatly increased.
Horse manure particularly should no
be Left exposed at all; it begins to heat an,
TO lose nitrogen almost immediately, a
may beperceived by the smell. Il shoul
be mixed with other smanures, or coyere,
BY some absorbent earth as soon as pos
sible. Almost every one who enters sta
BE in The morning where there are man.
horses, must perceive the strong smell c
ammonia that fills the place. | have seeI
in some stables little pans containing plas
ter Of paris or sulphuric acid for the pur
pose Of absorbing those fumes and formin
sulphate of ammonia. The liquid whic
runs from barn-yards and from manur
heaps is shewn by analysis to consist {
the most fertilizing substances; and it
calculated that where this is all allowed I
wash away, as is the case in many in
6sances, the manure is often reduced near
~ one-half in its value. lhave eenyard
whore it was almost worthless, owing I
long exposure.
The farmers Of this country need ava
kening upon the subject of carefully pre-
serving their common manures. In Flar
ders, where everything Of the kind is sa,
ed with the greatest care, the liquid ms
nure Of q single COW for year is value
at SO; here it is too often allowed to es
oaps entirely. Either they are very foo
ish, or we are very wasteful.--Norton
Elements of Scientific Farming.
Preserving Butter.
Farmers Of Aberdeen, Scotland, are sal
to practice the following method for curin
4 --x. Il 81 = -. I