The mountain Democrat., 1863-01-10
Anuss,inn Ahout Manure.

1t is general practice il this country
TO allow the manure formed IA thc barn
! yard during the winter to remain there
until seeding time III the lA... l., thr AZ
rcul,cmical plan? lIoeS not manure un-
dcrco considerable loss in the yard dur
ing the warm weather Of summer?
1t has been calculated by those who
have had experience aud the means OF as
certaining, that for every ten hundred
weight of dry fodder hay or straw used,
the farmer m@y .-s<.% IRON twenty to
twenty five hundred weight Of manure,
in the spring. ,
This ten hundred weight Of dry food
and straw will, as before stated, produce
from twenty to twenty-five hundred
weight of fresh dung, which at the end
of six weeks, will weigh bat twenty -one
hundred; at the end OF eight weeks but
twenty; when halfrotten, but from 6f-
teen 70 seventeen; when entirely rotten,
but from ten to thirteen.
Thus, We sec that BY the time the ma
nure is fully rotten, one.fourth OF the
weight is lost, and tie mass is diminished
J ~ hplk one-half These remarks apply
TO manure that Is left exposed to the ac-
ton Of the sun and rain.
The main loss is in water but there is
a very large loss in ammonia and other
volatile substances, which are evaporated
by the heat of the sun, Or "'she~ ~'-l b.
the rain.
The question, then, is: W01'd q ih12 Et
better to haul the manure out to the
fields in the spring. and plow it under, so
that what loss by decomposition and fer
mentation does take place, may be absorb
ed by the soil !?
II enriching the soil was the only OBJ
jcct in view, it would without doubt, be
most economical to plow the manure un-
der as soon as possible after it is formed ;
but there are other points to be consider
ed, as, for instance, the state Of the soil
with regard to texture. .....n...-.-
If the soil is light and very open, il
would not be economical to plow in long
or fresh manure, for it would have . ten.
dency to make it still more so; the rain
would wash the soluble portions Of the
manure too deep before they could be ab
sorqed by the soil, and in this way q
greater loss might be created than if the
manure had remained in the barn-yard. -
But in heavy or common soils it is un'
doubtedly more economical to plow ir
the straw and other manure while in q
long and fresh state, for it will then have
a tendency to render the soil more oper
and permit a more free passage Of the air
English farmers think this is far The
better plan, for it converts the whole tiell
into heap Of compost. and fermentation
goes on slowly, and as fast as the vola,il,
portions are given off, they are absorbed
and retained by the soil.
The crop for which the manure is ap
piled must also more or less influence the
manner Of application. If the crop is on,
which grows quickly and soon reachc:
maturity, it would not be economical tc
apply long, fresh manure, for the plan
would be done growing before the manure
was sufficiently dccomposed to effect il
much. But il, on the other hand, tho
crop is one which grows slowly, and it is
desirable to furnish it with nouishmen'
throughout its whole growth, then long
manure will better accomplish the effcc
desired than common fermented or de-
composed manure.
consider that obtain more from my
manure by spreading it on the soil and
blowing it under, than do by keeping il
even with the best care, until fall, ant
applying it to the oats stubble to be plow
cd in for wheat.
When secd-time comes in the fall, th'
manure is thoroughly Incorporated will
the soil, and is ready to fcrtilizc the whoa
as soon as it begins to grow German
town Telegraph.