Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1856-06-28
farmer's department.
tFrom the Dollar Ncwspapcr.l
Manures,

Manures.
Farm-yard manure is generally made up OF
the solid and liquid eycrement of animals,
some in state of decomposition, and the re-
majnder fresh and unchanged. There exists
great difference of opinion as to whether it
is most advantageous 10 use long, or fresh ma
nures. rather than that which is completely
rotted. The difficulty is capable of adjust
ment If the intention be only to benefit the
Immediately succeeding crop, the manure should
be completely rotted but long manure, II
ploughed in and covered is more benehclal to
future crops it is much preferred for potatoes
for rotten manurcs make them watCry and
worm-eaten If the object be TO furnish the
greatest amount of organic matter to the soil,
the sooner the application is made the better
Oa compact clayS the mixture of straw and
coarse manure is beneficial, rendering them
loose and light, while the products of decom-
position are more completely retained than in
n looSer soil. Coarse manure makes loose
soils looSer and loses more of its elements in
decomposing for this reason compact, fer
nented manureS are best on such soils. For
crops which grow rapiply and mature in
short tinc well fcrmentcd manures anu fine
compoStS are more Immediately felt turnipS,
hles, might almost mature before decomposi-
tion would be sufficiently advanced in new and
coarse manureS do to them any benefit When
ii is desired to force or quicken a crop, well
fcrmented or fine heating manure should be
used as rich compost. bone-duSt, or manure of
horse and sheep. The straw of wheat, oats,
&c, contains mixture of saline substances,
which is exceedingly valuable as manureS to
almost every crop the same is true of their
chaG 1t is more economical generally to rot
the straw and chatf in the barn-yard, instead
Of dSS pitng all their volatile matter in the
air; when buried dry they decompoSe slowly,
and produce a less sensible effect on the sue
cecding crop During fermentation an una
voidable loss of organic and of saline matter
takes place Ii is. therefore, theoretically
true Of dry as well as of green vegetable mat
ter, that ii will add most TO the soil if plough
ed in previous TO fermentation. Yet this is
not the only consideration for practical man :;
instead of slow and prolonged action on his
crops, he may require an immediate and pow
erfui one for shorter time, and to obtain
this, may be justified in fermentiuy his straw
with the certainty even of a loss. Thus the
dispute about the application Of long or short
manureS becomes altogether one Of eXpedien-
cy and practical economy. Chatf partakeS Of
the nature of straw, but decomposes even more
slowly when buried dry. 1t IS also difficult 10
fcrment even when mixed with liquid manure
The main general difference between Vegetable
manure OF the same kind, cut at the same age,
and applied in a green or dry state IS this =
the former decompoSes more rapidly, and
therefore acts more speedily the total effect
i'll either case will probably be very near the
same. But if the vegetable matter had been
cut at more advanced stage, or been expos
ed to the weather while drying, it will no lon
ger exhibit the same efficacy 4 ton Of dry
straw cut green will be much richer than if
cut ripe and dry not only because the green
plant contains the materials from which the
grain is afterwards formed hut because as the
plant ripened it restored to the earth portion
of the saline matters it originally extracted
After il is cut, every shower that falls on it
washes out a portion of the salt contaiued in
lis poreS.-(See Scientific Agriculture by Ro-
gers Johnston and Browns Field Book,
223) All those troublesome pests, the roE-
berS of our fields, should be cut down in their
greatest vigor aud laid in the barn-yard or
pig-Sty to decay they are rich in fertilizing
salts, and whenever and however applied, are
valuable as manure. 1t almost SurpaSSes our
calculation 10 estimate the damage done 10
NAVlAS ~ httOS, anu ti!c consequent dufdttd-
gcS Of destroying them in their bloom almost
every species produces millions Of seeds which
are waited to far distant spots they shade
and occupy the soil, and bv their superior Vi
gor drain out the SuStenance prepared for more
delicate plants, and at last smother them
The remains Of plants with the excrement
and carcaSeS of animals if returned TO the
earth before decomposition ; must contain all
the mineral organic and gaseous matters
which the animals derive from their food. or
the plants from the soil The solid matters
must all pass through the process Of decompc-
S;tion, before they assume their original, case
Gus or earthly forms, and become food for
plants The science of mauuriug consists in
applying 10 the soil those elements which have
been taken up by growing crops; the richest
maaureS may be applied 10 failing soil. aud
If they lack the particular elements which the
crop require, and which the soil does not con-
tain, the field grows barren. Farm-vard ma
nure probably contains the greatest number
ot elements necessary 10 fertility. but for their
full deyelopement particular Ilauts require spe-
cal maEuges.
NIanures operate beneicially in various
ways: Fl st--by serving in some instances
s food fer plants Secondly causing che
la;cal changes in the soil by which other sub
stances are prepared to be taken up as food
Thiri-Bv neutralizing nOxOuS substances in
the soil, which prevent the growth Of crops
Foarth-By their bulk and texture they change
the mechanical properties Of soils.