Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1860-11-10
THE MUCK MINES OF THE FARM

No farmer need scrk for q richer ,l,,cey. who
has muck mine upon his premi.cs' lie has n
triple advantage in the work of enrichinr his
l,nI. over thoSc wbo hqvou not bapn thus f,vornJ
For muck il not only a fertilizer of itself bnt
i, possesses the mower of enhancing the value
of other manures-the process of fermentation
by which they suffer some loss oiyinp in od-
admixture with muck. n greater yaluo 70 three
or fnur times ,br material which could other.
wise be secured. As an illustrative proof we
might quote the statement of the iatc Elias
Phinney of Massachusetts. who by the mixture
of twice the amount of drv muck with the ma
nure from his stables. secured a fertilizer. which
he assured the editor of the \ f. Fo,7ycy was
of hisher ~el,e .h~., .l~ .i~.rr;~e- -i-.,-. Ill
for load. ellis operations, says the Farmer,
'were extensive, and conducted in systematic
manner, and the conclusions to which he arrived
in relation TO them, have been abundantly sus-
tanned by other experimentalists and by care
tul analysis of scientific men, According to
Prof >. W. johnson, 1.-THE eXcretion OF any an
imal, mixed with muck is rendered more valua-
BILE, from the fact that the muck absorbs and
saves the ammonia volatile gas which would
otherwise be dlsslpated TO considerable extent
by fermentation. lhe value OF the muck COM
post is greater also, from b ing better proper
toned to the wants OF plants. Shll, manure
alone, If properly taken care OF, is too nchi for
according to the-same authority, plants over
stimulated with ammonia, produced much foil
age and few seeds
Our present purpose, however, is to offer a
few hints on working the mincs,' or securinga
supply of muck for future use. The best de-
posts are usually too full OF water for digging
IN fall or winter, and can only be drawn upon
during the dry weather OF midsummer. The
same reason, the time between the early and
later harvest, usually presents some leisure for
the work. Besides, when comparatively dry.
there is less weight to move, and the material
is i'll better state for use. 1t will lie more
lightly in heaps, and thus gain greater exposure
to the air while seasoning. When muck is
dug out and piled on dry land, the air and rains
gradually dissipate the acid most specimens
contain, and which must be dlspelled or neu-
tralized before il is available for use as an alb
sorbent of the liquids of the stables-a use of
much Importance in increasing the stock of ma
nure. Muck readily becoming friable under
the action OF the elements, is valuable fertil-
izer for loamy and sandy soils alone. II 1t con-
tains much acid, this should be neutrallzed by
fermenta,ion-most readily brought about by
mixing with animal dropping, as spoken of
above.
Speaking of the quantity of muck which may
be used in a season, the Homestead remarks
that it bears some proportion to the number Of
animals kept upon the farm, and puts it from
fifteen to twenty-five loads for each COW, OK, or
horse, and ten loads to each yearling swine
AT least half a load to every sheep, we think,
may be spread over their yards, which should
be kept Uttered with straw while occupied in
winter. Early in spring let the whole be drawn
out, (mixing the strawy and mucky portions to-
gether while handling,) and placed in heap,
and it will prove very valuable for the fall wheat,
for indeed, any crop on the farm. y few loads
should be placed where the wash and slops of
the house can be poured over them; it will soon
become valuable manure, and should be drawn
away and replaced with new supply.
When the muck beds are distant from the
barn and the material is wanted for application
to lands near by, there is no need of carting