The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-09-28
agricultural,
Tho Muck Mines OF tho Farm.

No farmer need seek for richer plGcer,
who has muck mine upon his premises
lie has triple advantage in the work OF en-
richins his land over those who have not
been thus favored. For muck Is not only u
fertilizer of itse,f, hut it possesses the power
.f enhancing the value Of other manures-
the process OF fermentation by which they
suffer some l)ss. giving, in admixture with
muck, greater value to three or four times
the material which could otherwise be secur-
ed. As an illustrative proof We might quote
the statement Of the late Elias Phinney, OF
Massachusetts,. who by a mixture OF twice
the amount Of dry muck with the manure
from his stables, secured fertilizer, which
Inc assured the editor Of the n. T.. Fdrmer,
was of higher value than the drOppings alone,
load for load. "His operations, says the
FwRer, "were extensive, and conducted IN a
systematic manner, and the conclusions TO
which he arrived in relation to them, have
b,cn abundantly sustained by other expert
mentalists, and by careful analysis of scienti-
&c men," According To Proi. ). w. John
s,n, ..the e1eretion of any animal, mix
..l with muck is rendered more valuable,
from the faet that the muck ahsorbs and
saves the ammonia" volatile gas which
would otherwise be disipated 10 c0nsidcra-
BILE extent by fermentation. Tho value OF
the muck compost Is greater also, from being
better propertioncd to the wants Of plants.
Still, manure alone, if properly taken care
Of, is too rich; for according 10 the same au-
thorlty, "plants over-stinulated with ammo
mia. produce much foliage and few seeds"
Our present purpose, however, is to offer
n few hints ON ..wOrking tbs mines" or So
curing a supply Of muck for future use
The best deposits are usually too full OF water
for digging in iall or winter. and can only
= drawn upon during the dry weather OF
Vnsummer. The same scas1n-the time
b. ken the early and later haryst-usually
prestnt some leisure for the work. Besides,
1hes appiratiycly dry, there is less weight
a. uuye,.aal the material il in better state
for use. Ii wall lie more lightly in the hears,
and thus gain greater exposure 20 the air
while seasoning" When muck is dug out
and piled on dry land, the air and rains
grad aaily dissipate the acid which most spec
ilaens contain, and which must he dispelled
or peutraliIcJ before it Is available nourish-
meut Cor plants. lt also needs drying 10 be-
come NNlllDlf lDT iu ah,btutub W
the liquids af the stable-a use Of much im-
portanee in increasing the stock Of manure.
Muck readily bscOmius friahle under the ac-
ton Of the clements, Is valuable fertilizer
for lJamy and sandy soils alone. If 1t con-
ta,ns much acid, this should be neutralized
by ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS readily brought about
by mixing with animal droppinss, Us spoken
of above.
Speaking OF the quantity OF muck which
may he used in u season, the Homestead rc-
msrks that ii bears some prOPortiOn to the
N number Of animals kept upon the iarn, and
puts IL from fifteen to twenty-five loads To
cIch COW, OK, OF horse. and ten loads TO each
Nelrling swine. At least half u load to every
sheep, we think may be spread over their
yard., which shsuld DO kept Uttered with
straw while occupied in tbs winter. Early
In spring let the whole b. drawn out, (mix-
ing the strawy aud mucky portions together
while handling,) and placed in a heap, and
IL will prove very valuable for the fall wheat,
or, indeed. any eropon the arm. A few
loads should be placed where the wash and
sleps OF the house can be poured over them :;
IL will soon become valuable manure. and
should he drawn away and replaced with
new supply.
When the muck beds arc distant from the
barn, and the materi is wanted for appli-
cation 20 lands near by, there v no nesd Of
eartins the muck 10 the barn and back at a
large expense. Get cut the muck now, and
heap il on the fields where neeled. When
the stock come to the stables in the fall,
draw the manure at once 10 theso fields, and
as long a. allowed 10y the frCst, mix the two