The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1857-01-07
MANAGEMENT OF BARN MANURE.

II
MANAGEMENT OF BARN MANURE.
The article below. which we have taken
from the Working Farmer, contains the most
correct practical directions for the manage
ment of manures that we have met with. The
necessity of decomposing barn yard manures
before applying TO the soil has long been ap-
parent, but the labor Of turning aud returning
where help is so scarce and high, has been
an objection which compelled the hauling out
in green or uniermented state, and thus
save hauling. BY Prof. Mape's method, the
quantity of manure is greatly increased, and
the labor Of rotting by keeping the mass moist,
and introducing the oxygen Of the air by the
hltering OF the water, is so much lessencd
that nearly every farmer may adopt the plan:
Aftera very thorough series ofexperiments
in all the known methods Of managing ma
nures, We have arrived AT the following. viz:
First, 10 have in the immediate vicinity Of
manure sheds, many hundred loads of meadow
muck composted with the lime and salt mix
ture, and not applied to the muck until after
the chemical changes have taken place. which
converts the mass OF lime and salt into chic.
ride oi lime and carbonate Of soda, in the
manner set forth in the Working Farmer.
This muck so0n looses aeidiiy. and by the
effect OF the soda is rendered fine like ashes;
this We call our divisor, aud its use is as fol-
lows, viz: Whatever fertilizer we NAV use
at any time. is mixed with large quantity
Of this diyisor and when Of an ammoniacal
kind, like gnsno, the ammonia is retained by
the muck and not lost to plants. while the
muck itself supplies the snl with organic
matter, stlfIrning sandy soils and rendering
them retentiYe OF mlnurcs. while clay soIls
are made less adhesive by its use. When
manures Of non-tolatile character, like
Hitrogenized super.phosphate Of lime or ash
es, ate used, then the ditisor ensures their
more general diffusion through the soil. and
experiment has proved that less quantity
will produce a greater effect when thus diyi-
ded
We manage our barn-yard Or stable.Ina-
nurcs thus:-
Adjacent To stables and barn-y yards are
covered sheds. under which the manGres are
evenly spread each day. and immediately
covered with eighteen times their bulk oi The
di,isor, and thus the compost Is continually
being augmented in quantity. AZ the lower
end oi this she'd Is cistern supplied with a
pump the drainage 81 the compost heap runs
TO this eistern. and il IS pumped on top the
compost heap each day. When the mass is
too dry 10 supply drainage. We run in water
/ and pump IT On the heap This continuous
supply Of water or drainage passing down
. through tle compost, furnishes all the cnnd-
tiOns for rapid decomposition without fire.
ianging. A. last a. the dung decomposes,
the parts rendered soluble are transferred in
solution 10 the muck dlylsor in LAYERS through
the heap, and thus the whole mass becomes
homogeneous like sosp, the straw lnsing it,
fibe-, and the quantity not lessening. as in
the usual barn yard practice where covered
sheds are not used. Il will readily be seen
that nineteen times as much manure j. thus
made. - lar a. bulk j. concerned. from the
solid portions II the manure alone. as would
have occurred in the open barn.yard without
the use III tie eighteen propUrtlUnals ~ the
disisnr. The iluld mannres II the stables,
which We consider to be d equal value with
the solid portions, are carefully preserved W
either u the Two following methods. Ttey
, may be conducted by tight cutters TO tie
compost cistern, or The, may be preserved by
cutting gutter in the stable in the direc tion
Of its length, and Immediately under the
hind feet Of the animals. This gutter may b.
two feet deep, and three feet wide. Ul seini-
circular lufn. II should be Kept filled will
the dyisor, so as 20 absorb the urine as last
as supplied, and thus secure the bedding
placed above il from remaining wet. Thi.
ii,isor also absofbs not only the ammonia o
the urine, but also the gasses given of from
the bodies Of the animals, breath, &C., an,
by 80 doing secures the health uf animals and
prevents many u The Ills arising from imper
lect ventilation. The cuntents u this guiieI
should be removed TO the compost heap ffc.
: quently. aud ! fresh guantIt, supplied IN IL
place.
The advantages ol this cisteTn arrangement
are many. Nhrn liquid manures are desired
: a. 10 gardening. they may be had from tll'
Cistern, and The deficiency supplied by NOR,
!, water. Eaeh passage 81 this waicr vii
recharge the Duld portions with the part o
|. the constituents rendered soluble by chemca
:, changes. When the fermentation Is found &
? be too rapid. the addition ol a small quantit.
!, oi sulphurie acid 20 the cistern will convert
z by its passage through the mass, all III
4 volatile salts 81 ammonia into the non volatile
d sulpbate 0i ammonia, and thus secure Il Iron
2 loss. Tie turning over or lorking Uf the mas
:. is rendered unnecessary, for the alternat
Il aetion ol moisture aud air, for air mustiOllO'
the downward passage oI the iluid, will NOR
.. thoroughly free and disseminate the prsAi
:, mites as developed, than would any practice
. . number oi fofkings or turnings. As turtle
\ inducement for this arrangement, Il supple
q ready mfthnd Tor disseminating any con
stitucnt which analysis Ur the soil may sho'
: 10 be requisite. Thus, il the soil be ,lrliciei