The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1856-05-28
agrnulturnl,
From the Country Gentleman.
SAVE AND USE EVERYTHING
THAT WILL FERTILIZE.

Many seem slow in learning this lesson,
and it may be therefore repeated great
many times without any fear Of its inutil
ity or inapplicabilty. This may proba-
bly, come under the eye Of fmany-of some
few at least-who never attempt to make
the best possible use of several sources of
fertility around them. Are there not
good many who, for example, never save
or use their hen manurcl Are there not
a great many who leave their stable and
yard manure to be injured more tLan one
half, by being exposed to the incessant
thefts committed by the sun, raips and
winds.
Why does this negligence so extensive
ly prevail2 In some, probably, from a
Gear of trouble, from lazy inclination to
do any thing that can be let alone. In
most, perhaps, from some vague idea that
it will not pay, or for the want Of clear
and fixed impression of the actual value
Of what they are allowing to go to waste.
Every cuItivator Of the soil knows that
the markets of the world, and the wants
of the inhabitants of the world, are scarce
ly ever supplied to, the full, and that he
may add to these supplies and to the COM
fort Of many, as well as to his own pecu-
mary income, by almost every addition to
his crops which he Can procure by means
Of manuring and extra cultivation of all
kinds. With such inducements before
him-adding to the great heap from which
all draw their supplies, helping to save
some from suffering from want, and in
creasing the comforts of others, and at the
same time augmenting his own pecuniary
resources-it seems that cultivators Of the
soil can be negligent only from not having
given their attention to these considera.
tions.
Let us take at present the case Of her
manure. Bushels and barrels of it are
allowed to 60 to waste every year. Now
we may take for granted that this manure
is not far behind guano in its real value.
Ii then guano and other fertilizers are
freely bought at prices which make each
pound OF guano, or of an equivalent, cost
about three cents in cash, why should not
every pound Of hen manure be estimated
if guano when judiciously used, produces
ample return-often from 100 to 700 per
cent-and if there is good reason, as there
is, TO expect as good returns from hen ma
nure at the price at which we have put 1t,
how blind to all considerations which usu.
ally stir men to action, must that man be
who allows dollars and dollars worth of
domestic guano TO go to waste, when, if
used, it would bring him in more by tens
aud hundreds Of times than the value in
money if put al interest.
The same train Of reasoning would lead
to similar results in regard TO some other
neglected sources Of fertility. We leave
those interested to make their own ap-
p!ication.
Meanwhile, we would draw to con.
clusion this appeal to those who have
hitherto been thoughtless or neglectful, by
reminding them that they may even yet
do something to make up for past negH.
gence. For example, the hen manure,
which their more careful and thrifty neigh.
bors have swept up every week aud put
into boxes and barrels, with sprinkling
or layer Of charcoal on the top of every
fresh sweeping, they may yet save, though
in less valuable condition, and use for
the garden or the more remote fields with
great advantage to the crops Of the sea-
SON now at hand. A barrel woald ma
hure half an acre of corn. 1t should be
mixed with muck oi some other devisor,
as undiluted it would burn the seed as
guano does.