Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1857-03-12
farmers lepartment.
[From the Evening Postl
Management of Farm-yard Manure.

The best management of barn and yard ma
nure is question attracting considerable at
tention among our agricultural papers, as it
should, for it is one of much interest to far
mcrs and especially to those engaged in mir
ed ARljaadfB or who combine Keeping and
raising stock with grain aud fruit growing
An attentive examination Of much that has
been written on the question, and bearing
thereon, as we'll as considerable practical ex-
periemce, has led me to the following cOnclu-
Si0ns
|. The dung of animals possesses its great
est material value in a fresh or undecomposcd
state for there is more or less loss during de-
composition, as it is managed with more or
less care.
3 The strawy refuse is best employed as
litter for stables and yards for absorbing the
liquids, and should in the end be pretty equal
" distributed through the manure Used
thus, its own decomposition is carried forward
to better point for application, and that Of
the dung retarded, as it should lie while in the
yard.
g. The best winter management OF manure
is to keep it 50 mixed with OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES,
dry muck, leaves, saw-duSt &c.-that no ac-
tive decomposition takes place.
1. Or, keep the manure under sheds, which
are also used as shelters for stock or spread
about a small yard where cattle are kept lc-
vel ani well Uttered in both cases, and It's So
lility will prevent decomposition and waste
So managed a mixture Of the dung OF different
animaIS-thc quickly fermenting horSe-mannre
with the cold, slowly dccomposing dung Of
COWS and swinc-will produce the best results
j. The plan Of keeping the manure under
the stock, winterng them unfastencd in large
stalls or boxes, we'll Uttered, of course, secures
good qnaIity of manure, retaining all liquids,
and keeping up slow decomposition, with a
small loss from the same.
g. The best method of preventing loss of
the fcrtilizing elements of manure is to ploRgb
II uatsr the soil as soon (if the season will a,-
nit as it is so far dccomposed that this can
readily be done Let the farm-yard be closed
in the spring applying the contents to corn
and root crops, and as a preparation for win
ter grain or spring crops the next year
T. All manure left in the yards through the
summer should be heaped in piles, with plen-
tiful mixture of muck or other good absor-
bentS, and sheltered from too much rain \
certain degree Of moisture is requisite to its
best condition. Such manure may be applied
to winter grain crops, or as a top-dressng to
grass lands in the fall
s. The greatest sources of loss to the far
mcr, in the value of his farn-yard manure,
arc
From waste of the liquid parts, arising from
drainage and want of proper absorbents.
From the too active decomposition OF dung
heaps, especially those composed largely of
horSe-mauure.
From the scattered state in which it is Of
ten kept about the yards, exposed to sun, rain
and winds and
From delaying its application beyond the
proper time to secure its greatest effect upon
the soil and its product.
These are hints simply yet, if have been
able to make my meaning clear to my brother
farmers think they will find them practical
ly valuable y much larger space would be
required to go into an explanation of the rea
sous on which these recommendations are foun
dcd, and perhaps it is not essential to do so
J. IL. BXBY.
Royalton, Niagara Co, Y. Y, Jan. "a.