Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1858-04-02
swamp Muck---Its Value.

IL ], an established Tact that the source Ol
agricultural prosperity and wealth Is to be
found in the manure heap. To the aecu.
mutation OF this material, each farmer
should give his attention, and il he does 50,
It he husbands everything that is calculated
to enrich aud in,igoratc the soil, and makes
such application a. will guarantee the
greatest return-thcrc Is hut little doubt
that success will crown bis efforts Here is
the basis upon which his operations arc to
tc effected, and, according to the Judgment
used, the efforts by him put forth an in
crease Of the capital, and the prdden, man.
ascmcnt Of the means in his possession, will
the ratio Of success be governed.
The value Of muck as manure is now
pretty generally understood, yet there arr
hundreds Of those possessing this buried
treasure whose farms are languishing, aud
whose crops are, from year to year, grow
Ing "small by degrees and BEAUTIFULLY
les" that have never taken the hrst cord
OF muck from it. " bcd oC ages" and pre-.
pared i, for application to the soil. The
time Of year Is now approaching when it
can readily be obtained, and mos, speedily
Cited As food for vegetable growth, and We
purpos, to prcsen, the methods which eIpc-
ricncc declares % be the best Tor the produc-
ton Of manure from this material, and to
urSc upon those having the opportunity to
embrace il, and provide for their farms the
elements which constant cropping mus, ne
co'sarily take from the soil.
Muck. when first dog, Is no, in the state
to warrant the creates, benefits by immcdi-
ate application. II requires either to be
thrown in heaps Gr the purpose Of drainage
or spread out that frost. may operate upon
il, producing a light, porous, crumbline
mass, which requires admiIturc with stable
manure. wood ashes, animal matter or lime.
Fre,h muck is possessed Of an aciiity which
uec!s a corrective, and by this agency the
object is at,ainablc.
Ia the Report OF the Massachusetts, State
B1lrl OF Agriculture Cor 1855, we dnd the
statements Of several who or year, have
b,su in the habit Of forming a compos, Of
this material. and conden.e the sane tor the
benefit OF RuRAt readers
\ M,dIlcssK County farmer draws his
muck in the iall, exposes it during the win
ter 10 the frost, mixes with it unlcachcl
ashes Or slakoI lime, and As son as the
barn-cellar aud ho;-s,ycs ar, cleared Of ma
mare IN the spring, carts the muck into
thcn, usiu. two load, of muck TO one OF
manure. The wash, lev anI sap slds from
the Lous, are saved from week q wcok and
thrown upon the heap. With several head
ogcAit,l auI horses, together with two or
thrcs pjss, he makes go loai,, 20 cubic
feet - the llal, OF valuable manure IN one
season. \ Hampshire Couaiy farmer thinks
that IA, i,V c5np,,' Is one made from the
Jr5ppinss Of the birn.yari, hos sly and
swamp muck. In the sprlns or fall, after
elelnin; out the barnyari, ho covers the
ground with muck, placing upon it layer
og manure and turns in the cattle u work
d; over, a, tAe work PROGRESSES making adii-
ti5ns OF sAch-in the proportion OF ono load
Of manure 10 ihrcc Of muck-lnl with the
assistance Of eleven head Of cattle can man.
uhc;ure during ,he year from 300 TO $50
loads which. az the loves, estimate, iswor,h
one Ill'4F per load, or two to three dollars
a c1rd. For corn he prefers this compost
u any animal or spsciAl manure.
The testimony of all i,elually in favor Of
composing muck with manurcs. Ia pow
crs OF absorption arc considerable, and this
render, it an eIcellcn, substance with which
to mix the liquid dropping' :hat would 9TH
crwi,o be totally los;. Many persons cover
the doors Of their stables. cow-sheds, &c, f,
with IL m order 70 avoid waste. aud the
amount Of benefit thus received can hardly
Dc oyer-cstimatcd The value OF urine for
agricultural purposes has never been prop
erly appreciated by American farmers. Cane
fully conducted experiments have eonelu-
siyely shown that while certain number of
cattle would furnish material for six loads
Of solid manure, the urine wooded by them
would .aturate seven loads Of loan or muck,
rendering the latter, load for load, fully As
valuable as the former. In speaking Of
swamp muck, ave;cran in agriculture says /.
" Such reservoirs Of vegetable nutrition arc
mines Of wealth to the farmer II jndiciously
applied; nor can be justify measre returns
from hi, fields while :his remedy is within
his reach" Rural New Yorker.