Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1860-11-09
Paris Farmer Club.

9Th ult, the suoett under uiscassion "
ins "manures, and their application 10 the
soil, !" the debate was Of an Interesting char
aetsr. and We note .omo Of is principal
points, as matter OF general interest.
Mr.. Perham alluded 70 the fact that all
crops tended to dcisriorate the soll aud
saiI the point - b. arrived at was, can the
condition Of the soil bo maintained or i'm
proved. under this system OF cropping. lie
advocated the analysi. Of soils, by which the
proper fertilizers could be applet to suPPly
IT, ds6cicucics
lie bad used plaster more or les, and
with different success. At tine, could see
no benefit, and at others experiments d'm-
oustraicd an increase Of the eroT, from II
ola. lis experiences with Super PhO'-
rhats Of Lime had been the sane, while
Ashes Away. produced a good ELECT.
lis opinion was that the farmer should
dcrcnd principally upon hrs own resources,
by saving al bis manure, solid and liquid,
uni Increase 70. quantity by the uso Of ab-
.1rbsnts. By the use oi muck the quantity
nigh, easily be doubled, and the whole BE-
ofas good quality a. before composing.
N, cited the b,ncfi derived by the men,
bers Of the Harrison club, IRON attention to
their manure heaps. \ member Of that
club had given him the following statement
Of an e1psrimsn, made BY request Of the
Board Of Agriculture
Au acre of ground was measured and
plowed. IL va, then divided into four
equal parts. and a coating Of manure spread
upon the whole surface. On one quarter,
the manure was plovei in eight inches
81. four 81. cultivated. ith narrowed in.
The crop was hest where manure was on ,he
surface ~. whero u was cultivated 81,
plowed in inches, and poOres, where il
was ploweI in deep.
Mr.. n. T.. Hammond thought barn yard
Inanurcs must D. the main reliance. lie
bad used plaster on corn, ani az times bad
marked a difference in the color while srJw-
Ing, and in time Of riPcuins at Others no
difference wa pcrccptibls. With potatoes,
sone years bis crop was increased Others,
tbey looked better while growing, bot saw
10 difference m yield, IN parallel rows.
Eight years aso be experimental with an
acre Of corn. On one.hA.f be sprcad eight
loads % manure. And plowei in. The other
had eight loads spread on the surface,
after blowing. which was narrowed IN. The
latter produced ten bushels Of corn more
than the former. Tho succeeding wheat
and sra,s crOrs were also better where the
mansre was narrowed in. Two years ago
the sane acre wa again plowcd. and pro-
duc,i equal crops on each section, showing
that the soil wa, left in as good condition
BY tie surface mAnurias, while the crops
were materially increased.
J. T. Clark plowcd .Vard land, loih Of
June, Tor potatoes. Manurcd in the bin
and rlisiersi an but two rows. Dog a row
that was pla.isrei. iill bush.l basket was
filed and then took the unPlasierel row
beside it. sane distance. Tue Latter pro-
tueel a PECK
Mr.. Black INQUIRED whether tho different,
result, from the u.o Of plaster were not due
TO ID, Seasons in.vhieh the application was
made
Mr.. Denim: considered plaster good for
nothing in wet seasons In dry Seasons will
DO good, farrlisd on the suria'e. One Dry
s,ason be rlasisred IL the hill. The Gr.'
Of August deg into hills, aad found j. Is dry
a. when applied.
Mr.. e. H. Cumming, had planted poia-
t5ss the present scason. Part were manurcd
in bin, and rymaindsr plasiered without ma
Eure. The latter yielded the large, crops.
The President had been told that much
depended upon the plaster used. Thai,
ground IA Portland vas Of good quality,
while that ground IN the eastern part Of the
STATE was good Tor nothing.
Mr. clark thought the grass was greatly
benefited BY top-drcssins with ashes and
plaster. lie bad applied three loads TO the
acre. The crop Wa green, anI on cutting
had a very thick bottom, making heavy
yield
Mr. Dsmiug eHpeumsnted with plaster
and ashes, anl plaster and rotten stone
The former produced best result. though
bath improved tbs crops.
Mr. Black thought the experiments given
demonstrated ,ha, the chief value Of plaster
consisted 10 is power % gather moisture TO
supply to The crops, with perhaps the eH-
eep,i5n Of Supplying ia somo instances a
mineral quality needed. Ashes possessed
the same power 70 tx the moisture contain
cl in the air and AZ the same time sgpplied
vegetable substances valuable as fertilizers
Guano. be thought, acted chiefly as stm.
ula. to the pre.sn. crop, bot was OF little
permanent value as manure. Vegetable
matter dscomposed was valuable. because it
pOssessgd all the elements necessary TO sus-
tain new growth.
Mr.. G. f. Hammond coinciiei in this
opinion Of guano. II, aii farmers must
make their manures. From his observation
be thought Massachusetts, farmers made
one-thiri more manure than We do. from
the same amour, Of stock. Their land j.
not more fertile, nor their markets better
bat they were industrious and let pass no
opportunity to add valuable matter to the
compost heap. THIS was the key to their
success. They use much muck, which is