The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1858-11-30

when at the period named thoy woul'
scarcely command IS an aclc, they nov
bring from $50 to 800; and in the neigh
borhood of villages located on sandy lands
where they afford the greatest benefit il
gardening, they are worth $500 an acre
provided the muck is Of good quality anC
the deposit deep and Of convenient access
Indeed it is often said by persons abou
TO purchase farms that they would not en-
ter upon such, ne are not supplied will
meadow muck, for where it abounds, ant
good barn cellar exists, thrift and pros
periiy are always certain.
Tho circumstances under which much
beds are placed are so various that only Q
few general rules can be suggested with
advantage.
Many Of these cannot be approached with
teams unless it be taken when tho ground
is frozen; and tho springs and swamps be
ing then usually filed with water, tho ex
cavation Of tho muck becomes an operation
cf extreme difficulty. Beds thus situated
often present so msny obstacles to theil
removal, that when the farmer is in the
possession Of the most ample means, he
forcgoes thoir advantage rather than en-
counter tho expense and difficulty required
10 procure il. The only way have been
able to procure it from such localities, is to
tHkc advantage Of severe summer drouth,
and throw largo quantities into high com
pact Piles, to be hauled away ty sled or
cart, when tho surface is sufficiently frozen
to support tenm.
The way in which muck is most com
monty used, and the most practicable and
profitable mode is, to collect and store it
in dry state in some place convenient to
the droprinrs Of the stall, and then from
day to dav to spread upon those droppings,
twice their own bulk Of muck. Three
cords of manure compostod in this manner
arc Of moro value than threc cords of the
droppings alone. This mode Of prcpara-
'ion requires no uncommon skill, but CON-
monds itself to the practice of all because
any common laborcr Of the farm may ac-
complish it, and il needs no adjuncts from
chemistry or what arc called "spccifc ma
nurcs. The method Of composing manure
here detailed may be objected to because
Of the labor involved. The reply is, that
most things in this world como to US only
as tho result Of diligcnt unremiitcd labor.
He who is content to sec around him bar.
ron fields, scanty crops anl lean starving
ANIMALS may pass along without dovising
ways for changing such conditio; Of
things; growing at all propositions Of
Of amendment pointed out to him, and
e,o1, ho, I'll,
ming tllagc will give him. But it is far
better to be up and doing in the manufac-
ture Of manurcs for the irvigoration of tho
sol II = both r'oasan'rr and moro prof.
table to be pursuing au irnrre~;us, -~.L.
than exhausting mode of farming.
SNcxt to compost Of muck and barn
manure, n mixiure of muck and ashes is
the most common, and by experienced far
MRS is considered the most profitable
There is no danger Of error in regard to
tho quantity of n hes mingled with muck
only in most cases II will be likely TO bo
too small. About l03 bushels Of muck
will mako corl and If to this shonld be
added five bushels Of unleachcd ashes and
four cords. or twelve OK loads Of about Sd
bushels each, were to be applied TO an acre,
the effect would be plainly perc 'ptible in
any crop in favoarble season, But on
lands hungry for vegetable matter, this nj
lowance should ~ continued two or three
years. With such dressing rs this, and
what manure could be spared from the barn.
together with thorough system Of cul-
! tivation, even our poorest lands would soon
produce permanently remuneratiyo crops
and once in this condition it is an easy
matter 10 keep them SO. To the farm er,
in his barns, stvcs, sinks and reservoirs, it
can hardly he dispensed with, and leave n
! hope of profitable farming. tIe covers his
stcaming heaps with it, and their exhala-
tions arc arrested and stored NY by this
wonderful substance, ready to be given mp
again to tho plants which desires should
be nourshod. and rrofitcd bv it. Sprink.
led on tho floors Of cattle and horse stables
it readily absorbs the foul odors. and leaves
the atmosphere pure and elastic. / have
known it applied to vaults whore the odoi
was nearly suffoca,ing, md in twelve hours
no unpleasant smell was pcrcepfiblc.
believe it would conquer snlphuraicd hy'
drogcn, steal all its odors, and disarm il
Of its power. AS m absorhment Of liquids
and gasses it has most remarkable capa
city. And thus it becomes ono Of tho
cheapest md most convenient of dcodor
izcrs. Powdered charcoal could hardly
be more afficacious in its results. Such arc
some Of the uses. and such is, in fact. tho
value Of this abundant material. Yet will
AL it merits it is despisod by some, ant
neglected by Others, after lying in large
quantities totally di.regarded even where
il is wanted most.
Tho stones which cover many portions
Of our county. are considered nv many a
not only useless. but an actual damage L
tho land. Lying promiscously about upor
the ground they arc vexation, and I
nuisance TO the farmer. They cncumbe
our road to tho great wear and tear o
man, beast and vehicle; they lie concealed
in our ploughed grounds ready to destro.
our modern improvements for tilling th'
land. They overspread our meadows ant
grain field, making hayiny and harvestin,
slow and tedious, and preventing the us
of horse Mowers, Rakes, Rcapcrs and o h
er labor saving machines. But properl.
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