Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1858-07-01
farm&rs 9tpartmsnt.
From the Germantown Telegraph:
AN, OLD FARMERS EXPERIENCE

AN, OLD FARMERS EXPERIENCE.
If writers on agriculture would devise and
lay down more feasible. plans Of, operation,
there would be rather more chance for their
works to be beneficial to farmers. They. d.
rect us to put on manure by the ton, cord or
load, as, the case may be; to, put it on IN
the, spring, in the summer and the fall TO
top.dress, and undertakes, and to always be
ready to put on manure when the ground is
plowed or to be -plowed. Now, all this IS
very fine in theory, but practical faEmers
know very, well that manure does not faii
from the clouds like snow or rain; nor IS 1T
to be dug out of the earth in quantity ana
quality sufficient. 4
Manure is composed mainly Of vegetable
and animal matter, that can only be procured
in limited quantities. A large majority OF
farmers hayeland to workGthatis mostly be-
low the middling quality, and have rent or
interest to pay every year, besides maintain
ing their families and stock, and ought to be
improving the last at the same time. Ii our
instructors would put US I'M way to accomp'
lish this, their works would. be much more
valuable. The thing has been done, and can
be done again. As to buying manure, ex-
cept lime and plaster, for the use of farmers,
generally, except those living near some town
or village, it is out Of the question, as at
present prices it will not bear its weight to
be carted more than six or seven miles.
It can be made on the farm with a small
outlay of money, but it requires labor and
persevering attention. When the yard is
cleaned out to, put on the wheat ground,
spread a thin coating of straw over it, then
haul in dirt, good mellow dirt, if to be had,
but if not, get the best you can, and cover
the ward four or FIVE inches thick. Trina
round all the fences in the latter end Of Au.
gust, and cart all the young bushes and bri-
ara into the barnyard, as we'll as weeds and
other vegetable matter, leaves, &C., that can
be gathered up on the farm.
When the pasture fails inthe fall, put the
cattle in the barn-yard and there keep them
till the pasture is fit to turn on again m the
spring. 1.-THE winter should be a little open,
so that dirt can be got, give the yard one or
two more coatings; the straw not saved tor
litter, refuse Of the fodder and cleanings of
the stables, should he spread over the yard
let this accumulation lay until the first week
in July, when it should be stirred, dirt and
all, and put up in heaps or beds with steep
sides, There should be nothing suffered to
trample on these heaps, as it would in q mea-
sure prevent the fermenting process being
properly carried on. These heaps should
Law till about the middle of August, when it
will be in a better state for the production OF
a crop of wheat, than ever it was before or
will be again. The dirt thus put into, the
yard loses nothing in bulk, nor does 1T de-
crease the quantity or quality of the other
mannure; it only takes up the%jpices that
would otherwise soak away and be lost Sit
IS quite as strong as the other; and Saving the
labor of hauling in and out and spreading, 1t
is so so much clear gain. There may be a
great quantity of good manure made at the
boz mem, having an outlet or yard attached,
and supplied frequently with vegetable mat
tel, such as green weeds, leaves, good dirt,
straw, scrapilgs of the alleys in the garden,
litter gathered up about the lane, &C., all OF
which should be taken out ofthetpen and
rut In heaps, FIVE orsix weeks before tits cart
ed to the field T"T3~&"S SAfF>
There are other means by which manure
can be made, but not SO fast. Make q vat
or cistern of boards, nearly water tight, and
kait,sosthat@thetopawiil" n%early~oua.
level With the surface of the'greund, with a
covering to keep out the rain, large enough
to hold about f9esoart loads Of dirt-placed
near the kitchen door. Chip dirt, droppings
from the hen roost, good mellow dirt, ashes,
&c., may form the supply. Into this mass
should be ,emptied all the soapsuds, urine
Of fall kinds that can be procured, remnants
of pickle, intact alfofthe waste'water from
the kitchen, &c. After laying six or eight
weeks, it should be taken out and put into
heaps, and afresh supply put into the cistern
to be treated as before. - : = =
When the manure in the yard is put, up
in heapst to ferment, there should be another
yard enclosed, with the soil either plowedup,
or other mould spread over it, for the cattle
and sheep to lie on at nights, till the barn
yard is cleaned out and prepared for them
as above directed. This out-yard should
be loosened, up, and mellowed with ploW
and harrow, two or three times, and when
the cattle are taken off, shoveled W. to re-
main till wanted for use. Excellent compost
for corn may be obtained as above
In the foregoing 1 have endeavored to
recommend plans whereby the greatest
quantity of good manure may be made with
the smallest outlay Of money; yet labor will
be required, and I think with proper industry
and management it may be done without
much additional force; or materially interfer-
ing with the general business of the farm
A Practical FARMER.
"