Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1858-08-06
Top-DresSing.

A oOrrc.p9ndcn, in Gilead. Mr.. George
Burnham, wishes US TO state in these col.
umn.. 4" the b., method Of eomPosting ma.
nuro tor iop-drcssing grass land" What
We know about the matter and what are
our views on the suhlec, we shall mos, freely
state; bot We would have no Que think We
are competent 70 decide this matter BY aE-
ihOniy. We have had but little experience
10 the matter. and that little on a very lin.
iied scale. We have had enough, however,
90 satisfy Us, that 'SdrY muck. ,o,R decoa-
posed. Is the shee, anchor in tOp-drOssing
There is one thing we end 10 he indispena-
BE TO the hishes, success, and ,hA, is, 10
have whatever Is applied thoroughly &ocOm-
p0'sS-rcducyd % ene rowter-thO fnsr
the better. In this condition, stable ma.
nure eomPOsted with muck ADD the scrap
ing, ct the chip-yard, make a very Ssseient
manure The way we should DO would be
TO commence . hear in size rrOpor,iOnAte TO
the amount Of material We might have to
work up, and begin with layer Of muck or
the scrapings Of the ship-yard, .ay one foot
thick. then put on layer ofs,.blc manure,
and 90 on alternating with muck and ma.
nure, Abe II straw or other litter is at hand.
which you desire to work Up, pat in every
third layer on top Of the manure, Of such
litter. Let il be supplied with water enough
20 keep ii from burning. When thorough
ly rotted down, as ab,'s indicated, il will
make very sfoctuh and cheap top-drOss-
Ing. nit i, desired TO improve IL s,ill more,
aud particularly Il il is desired TO have I,
concentrated a. much as possible, 50 as 70
save expense in transportation, it will bs
well TO add, after fermentation has ceased,
plaster, wood asbe., bone dust, superphos-
phaio Of h=e, GCanO, or portion Of all OF
them.
II We were 10 make heap 70 sui; us sx-
aeily, We should take IL after the stable
manure and muck had become thoroughly
decOmposcd, and add to :; say two bushels
unlSaebed or three bushels lelshed ashes to
the cord, half = bOshel Of plaster. and ,wsn-
iy-sIe pounds Of gusnO or superPbOsphaie
Of lime, fifteen pounds Of bone das,, and
peck Of salt, and mix 10 well together aud
then apply AbOu, one cord TO the acre. This
would make a most efeciual dressing i0r
any purpose, particularly to apply 10 the
surface. Such a compost would cost, ready
for application. from $3.50 to 5000 Per
cord. and would probably double the crop
on old moving Il no, more, and las, two or
threc year, that is, IL the land !, no, wet,
% a. 10 wash out.
II i, /. desired TO have the heap take on
quick and rapid fermentation, i; should no,
be trod down at all. but BE- lSii just a. light
As possible. II it /. desired - re,ard Ter.
msntaiiou. apply water and tread the hOaP
down bard. The more free the access Of air
70 such mA,!ers, the more readily DO they
take on fermentation, as oxygen is ess,n-
tial TO this process, and IT, rapidity ], in
proportion to the supply OF ihi, substance,
which Is drawn from the atmosphere, the
same as in Gre. Fermentation is only a
sort Of slow combustion, dissolying old forms
aud making new combinations Of the elC-
non,s Of which they are composed.
Should any OEsn,iye smell arise from the
heap. keep il covered with rlasisr or coal
dust. and ths.e will absorb thosO gassos
which are among the mOss valuable proper
ties Of the heap, and sAvs them from waste.
to b. again mixed with the material Of its
COMPOSITION.