The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1862-06-04


Der every land
BARN-YARD MANURE COMPOsTS.
The farmer whose usual practice has been
TO apply his barn manure in the long state
to spring crops, will be very liable to find,
on attempting different method, that he
is exposed to losses from lack Of experience
in managing the rotting Of the dung, and
from not fully understanding the effects of
heaping manure with its varying compost
ton Of straw and different animal droppings,
its state as regards moisture. aud the loose
or compact condition in which it is placed.
II will be nearly or quite impossible to gain
full information on the subject from others
practice must be had--personal experience
must be added to the knowledge gained from
inquiry and study.
Still much NAV be learned from others
their written or verbal instructions--as we'll
as careful consideration Of the principles
at issue. And, as having practical, bear
ing on the subject, we extract Gin substance }
the following paragraphs from the Mark Lane
Express, there contained in communication
on i Farm Yard Dung-its Preparation and
Application" apparently written by thor
ough practical farmer-one whose views are
as applicable in American as in English ag-
riculture:
"An approved and long continued mode
Of preparing farm yard dung, is that
OF placing the contents Of the cattle yardsn
square piles, about six feet in height, in the
corners Of the fields 10 be planted with green
crops. The yards are concaye or dish-sha-
ped, retaining and speading the moisture
equally over the mass. and supplied with
straws that absorb all the moisture from the
rains, SHOWS. and urine. The contents are
carried out at two different times during
winter. and no pressure is allowed on the
piles, except the weight OF one or two per-
sons to spread the materials evenly and
thinly over the heap. In this condition 4
fermentation reduces the heap into a sapo-
naceous mass for use in NAY and June, and
10 a condition that is easily divided by
hand. forks. we'll mOistened, and from which
the heat Of fermentation has in most cases
nearly altogether vanished. Much bulk is
lost by this mode Of preparation, but ii is
reckoned the best for the use Of green
crops.
Educated under the above system,
practced il with the usual success, but in
later years adopted another mode, from OBJ
serving the great loss Of bulk, aud a wish
TO use q iresher condition Of the dung. At
any time Of convenience during winter, the
contents of the yards are carried into the
green crop fields aud laid in heap sloping
at both ends, over which the carts pass to
deposit the loads, and over which the ma
terials are spread evenly and thinly, in or
der TO mix the substances, and that no part
remain in a dry state. The consolidation
from the passage Of The cart prevents the
fermentation Of the heap, which is formed
at convenient times from the month Of No
yember 10 April. aud later. when the yards
are duly moist aud the straw thinly used.
Potatoes are the first planted green crop !;
and about ten days before the dung is re-
quired for use, the heap is turned over With
forks, laid loosely together, and the Jumps
we'll broken. and the dry outside Of the
heap thrown into the middle Of the new sg-
gregation. 4 very active fermentation i'm
mediaiely commences, which is prevailing
during the deposition Of the drills, which
are Immediately reversed and the seed plant
ed. This mode produces fully equal, il not
superior results 10 the first mentioned pre-
paration; il affords larger bulk and more
convenience in forming the heap at differ.
eut times; while the former requires to be
done at one time, or al not distant periods"
The opinion that manure not fully decom-
posed, but short, so as to allow Of pretty
thorough mixture with the soil, Is in It's best
state for economical use for all fertilizing
purposes, is gaining ground among those who
have given attention 10 the question. The
best means Of bringing il into that state has
been little discussed among rs, and We invite
practical experimenters TO favor US with their
views upon the subject.
sSsssSeSNssS.SSes
RAISE CLOVER FOR HOGS.