Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1861-03-14

summer and autumn are, the most proper
seasons for composing. in order that the
varisus manures Of which the compost is
made may be well decompesed before re-
quired in the ensuing spring; yet it may
not be inappropriate to advert to the subject
at this season of the year. for there is time
before planting and sowing for the forma-
ton of several quick and eficacious composts,
and many agriculturists do all their COM
posting in the spring.
The great desideratum ia forming COM
posts is to have them. at once strong and
inexpensive. Many farmers wisely refrain
from purchasing the various manures and
fertilizers offered for sale at the present day,
as "guanos," ''superphosphate of lime" !"
&c., ora account of their high cost; but
should they feel SO disposed they might,
with little trouble, discover on their own
premises, by going no farther than their
hen roosts, valuable deposits, but little in
ferior to those Of Peruvian fame. and cost
ing comparatively nothing. There are,
also. othersources often disregarded, whence
the farmer can obtain the richest Ingredients
for composing, as the contents of the privy,
which, when thoroughly incorporated with
horse manure, say one part of the former to
five or six of the latter. constitute most
excellent mixture for all kinds of vines -
A Agriculturists arc usually disiuclined to in
terfere with night-soil from the noxious odor
it emits, which might be obviated by occa-
sionally sprinkling the surface with some
disinfecting agent. as lime. charcoal dust,
or the salphate of iron These. likewise,
tend to fix the ammonia otherwise constant
ly escaping. thereby enhancing the value oi
the already rich deposit. An excellent com
post is formed of Muck, 4 loads; Stable
manure, 2 loads; Horse manure, load
This quantity and proportion constitute q
layer, to which might be added with grea,
benefit several bushels of ashes and plaster
Other layers similar to the first may be add.
ed until the heap shall have attained the
desired dimension. For hight, sandy soils
the fSiiowing is recommended - Stable
manure, Is loads; Clay, loads; Ashes
25 loads; Lime. 20 loads. This will b
suitable to apply after it has been thorough
ly mixed, and has remained in the heap twt
or three weeks.
n lCH Uuoh0io VI Pidot0A "Aou on0 toS@>
of hen manure, and two bushels of ashes
make a valuable top-dressing for turnips
cabbages, beans. &c. Ashes alone are in
valuable to turnips. not only promoting thei
growth, but protecting them from the raw
ages of the worm A calm, moist day
should be selected to mix the ingredients
forming the compost, for, by shovelling
over compost heap on a aNwindy day. one.
fifth of its value evaporates. The skillfu
farmer will not be at a loss to devise means
and sources for enriching his lands; and by
studying the nature of his various soils. be
will be enabled to select the kinds Of ma.
nures and composts best adapted to them.
MANY agriculturists of New England
adopt system of making manure which is
cheap and strong, and to give the n,odus
operandi may not be uninteresting to the
many readers Of the ''Rurol." It is thus
Blind treughs are constructed and placed
beneath the stable floor Immediately under
and behind the cattle, IN such a position as