The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1861-10-23
fats for Garmers.
oPGS BANN.YARDS vs.
SnEOS.


ORES sAxs-HAHDs VS.. MANURE
The Workins Farmer says II the whole loss
eo.seoueut up0n the use Of open barn yards as
she general receptacle Of manures, were TO DC
s,sriSused % tho evaporation OF ammoniacai
mater alone, the necessity tor enclosures, such
A manure sheds, would lot be so great Is al
prescn,; but when We take into account the 'n
melse increase an carriage, consequent upon Tue
uss Of the open barn yard, together with various
esher iosses, is becomes perfectly evident cover
I'd sheds for manure, properly constructed, with
a cisseru u receive the drainage, and pump to
rrasore il 70 the mass, are absolutely indispensa
BILE u the greatest economy
Let Us suppose a barn-yard to DC 100 by oo
feet. then with rain tail OF % inches per annuu
the quantity Of rain falling ON such barn yafa
would be iO3, s33 gallons, weighing nearly 4of
sons. Much of this would necessarily run on,
carrying with it the more prog essed, aud there
fore the more soluble inorganic constituents oil
the MANURE and after iuli allowance Tor evapor-
nriou stlll many tons would be absorbed by the
ssrsw, costing 1t least twenty Gents per ton II
cassed for quarter OF a mile. When manures
are properly taken care OF under sheds, they be
come concentrated, more thoroughly decompo
sed. and without any loss by washing; the loss
BY evaporation is but slight, "a they present 50
small al area from whicn the evaporation can
occur, while the ,artagc OF manufes - prepared
il reduced MATERIAL, IN cost. la the open barn
yard the litter is not decomposed until after the
farther composing Of the mass. requiring hand
ling carriage H. all Of when materially IN
creased BY the Immense amount of water pres
ent while the covered shed system, VIC have 80
often rec ,mmended, secures the decomposition
ofIhe manure during its accumulation, and with
cut loss, giving minimum bulk in the best con-
dision for use.
We have frequently described the manure
shed, but tor the purpose OF Illus rating some OF
the principles named above, We will repeat in
part its plan Of construction. The base on which
the compost heap is to be placed should sink
slighly below the level Of the soil, aud be faced
with clay Or other substance, givir & a smooth
bed and varying from level, 50 as 10 cause an
essy dow toward a cistern sunk at the lowest
end. In this cistern should be a partition, so
that any pieces OF litter falling in would remain
the same side Ut the partition, while the more
duid portions would pass through holes near its
bottom, and so occupy the opposite side. la
this section should be placed Chain or other
simple pump, by which the fluid drainage OF the
manure heap Could be carried back two or three
times a week 10 the top of the heap; indeed
at work by Wind mill the quantity to be pump
cd is not large, and therefore u very cheap con
trivAIce is capable OF doing the work. On thi>
heap may DO thrown all the weeds OF the farm
al the manure from the stables, while. the fluid
msnures may pass in cutters under ground from
the stables 70 the huid cisterns similar pipes
may convey all the waste waters of the house to
this cistern; muck, leaves from the woods, head
lands, and variety of other wastes may fad
their way to this compost heap. The continued
pumping and consequent repeated passage down
ward Of the fluid drainage through the mass,
will secure not only the necessary decomposition
without fire fanging or overwhelming, but by dis
solving the inorganic portions AS fast thuy are
liberated, disseminate them through those layers
which are OF less value. Swamp-muck, river
mud, head lands, aud like materials, occupying
strata In such 4 heap, will be continually re-
ceiving the parts rendered soluble from the dung
Of animals, until the whole will be rendered
homogeneous. The advantages do not Cease here,
for the continued change OF position OF all these
constituents produces new chemical conditions
in every part OF the heap, so that all seeds are
decompOsed and the farm thus kept clean. Per-
niei0us results, such as occur when sulphurated
hydrogen ID liberated, are prevented. A small
quantity OF sulpharc acid may occasionally be
introduced into this cistern, for changing the
caroOnates OF ammonia into the sulphate, SD a.
to draw away their volatile character
AanureS thus prepared are suited to all uses,
while this from the open barn-yard can be used
only on 81 -s'ill cases. Ii NO other advantage
should arise tuan that consequent upon the thor.
OuSh decomposition of weed seeds not possible in
in the open barn.yard prac,ice-this alone would
warrant the erection of manure sheds In prop
erly constructed stables the results of which are
70 pass in the manure shed, the amount OF litter
consumed il materially less than in the open
barn-ysrd practice, while the quality of the re-
sulting manure is better. Potash, soda, lime,
and many other constituents which may be re-
quired oy the peculiar condition of the farm
may mud their wayin moderate quantities TO this
compost heap, and be SD evenly disseminated
through the mass, as to feed plants without de
ssroying their inner roots and spongiolcs, from
want Ut q sufficient amount OF division. In
Flanders this plsn Is, with some notifications,
carried out extensively large amounts of water
are passed in the cstern and pumped upon the
mass. % hat all the manure may be carried out
IN huid form from the tank; the whole compost
heap eventually decOmposes. or rather by con
eanued decomposition, the mass remains the
Dame, while tne valuable portion in the highest
possible condition for assimilation, may be taken
- needed from this tank, in form capable OF
beng applied not only before the planting of
drops, bus during their growth. All parts OF
The field may thus be rendered alike, even where
he soil may differ, the poorer portions receiving
he larger amount of this fluid manure Such
} large heap. properly manipulated gives off no
'nsns've gases to annoy animals man, while |
he open barn yard is a nuisance scarcely to be |
A field put down to grass with COM
post manure 50 prepared, will be even in texture
ND quality. while one supplied with rough man.
are frOm the open barn yard will be found TO
'ary, not only in the kinds OF grass, but in their
quality.
HOW I'D HAVE GN0O CIDER.