Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1864-04-23
AGRICULTURAL.
The Minor Snanures.

The Minor Snnnures.
Mr.. EDIroR. Some time ago | gave YOU
an article on the subject of making and saw.
imp the principal manures about the farm;
and now propose TO offer q few hints on
the same subject with reference to minor
manurcs, hoping they may have a good
effect in husbauding every description Of
fertilizer.
HEN MANURE.-.--This is a most valua.
bic article, and pOsscssrs value almost
equal to that OF the best guano, even when
mixed with half its bulk of garden mould.
BY mixing the cxcrement of hens with muck,
or well decomposed peat. and saturating tho
whole with urine, or diluted sulphuric acid,
compound Of great energy will be found,
and which, when applied to the purposes of
vegetable enrichment in the ordinary way,
will insure the best and most salutary results
on any crop.
GOOSE DUHC. although possessing, in its
crude state, qualities highly uncongenial aud
even delctcrious TO plants, is nevertheless
endued with principles which render it ca
pable OF being transformed to- good and
salutary manure. To secure this result, il
may be thrown into heat, after being pre-
riously saturated with water in which salt
has been dissolved and mixing it with fine
caustic lime. gypsum and wood ashes, ona
bushel of three last ingredients, in equal
proportions to six bushels of the eXcremrnt.
The compost should be allowed to remain
six weeks undisturhed. before being used.
and then applied in the same manner as
guano and pCudrcttr. For Indian corn, it.
Goes we'll in the hill, but for grain and grass
crops, it should be broadcasted. Twenty
bushels to the acre, will bc found liberal
application tor wel-set sward land, or land
nnGpr IA ~
garden manure, ii should be sown broadcast
and worked in hy the rake. There are very
few roots which do not receive great benefit
from this application.
PIGEON EXCREMENT:-This like the ex-
crement of the hen, to which ii is strongly
asslmilatcd, is another valuable fertilizer. Il
may be applied TO soils and crops in q per
icctly crude state, and always with atmira.
bic success. 1t is of "A warming nature rich
In all the essential elements OF nutrition. and
cXcrts its energies at once. 1t is less dura.
bic than some other manures, and owing to
its energy. requires to be applied in lc>i
quantities, especially on cultivated crops.
For roots and bui0ous plants it is inyalus.
bic.
Cur MANURE may be regarded az be-
longing to the same category as muck and
peat. When dccOmposcd, it is fine and
liEhl, and when unalyzerd presents "a heavy
preponderanCc Of vegetable and mineral con,
stituents- 1t POSSESSES . high degree Of
value as an ingredient in composts, especial
~ those which are mostly of mineral nature.
It's effects on Indian corn are well-kuown.---
The finer ii is, the more immediate and eff.
cient will be its action though in this con.
diton it is less durable than when applied
in coarscr state. Currant, gooscberry and
other iruitiierOus bushes, are greatly bcne.
flied by annual applications of this arti.
Gle.
FOREST MOULD OR SCRAPINGs.-Thcse
articles are also of vegetable origin, being
derived principally from the decay of leaves
wood, &c., and consequently possess in
themselves many Of the more important 20.
getable principles, such, for instance, as tho
nitrogenous and carbOnaceous compounds
which enter, more or less extensively, into
the texture and organization of all plants
When accumulated either in the spring or
fall, and placed in situations tavoring de-
composition, these materials are readily
resolved into highly powerful manure. Ii
placed in the cattlc-yurd, or hog pen, de-
posted under sheep sheds, or mixed with
other materials IN the compost hep, their
valuable properties will be happily cncono.
mized, and an important addition thereby
SCtuiCu " the Nv dllhDle IuunllGlCl resources
OF the farm. Too much Importance cannot
we'll be attached to articles Of this character;
they are all valuable, and no one who can
procure them need complain of want Of
manure.
Bosses constitute another valuable fertile.
er. Crushed ana ground bones have long
been extensively used both in this country
and i'll Europe. On almost every species Of
yegetation--rOots a+ we'll rs grains they
act with surprising promptncss, and their
effects are both salutary and lasting. Bones
dissolved in sulphuric acid-whiCh is itself
great promote of yegetRtive power in the
soil--are perhaps more efficient than in any
other state in which they can be applied
AS all the bones contain large quantities of
phosphate of lime, their mechanical effect
upon the soil is considerable, and dcgIee
OF constitutional improvement will follow
Us natural result. To those who have
never experimental with this species OF
manure, would say, be no longer remiss in
the performance oi An obvious and most inn
portant duty. It bchooVes every one who
has soil to cultivate, to strive, by every pos.
sib!e means, TO improve its productive ca
pacity, and to secure from it the richest and
most liberal rewards. In order to achieve
this result We must have manure. This can
never be possessed without c!lort like all
other acquisitions, it must be purchased by
effort, and often at the sacrifice of case and
comfort. But in such an undertaking, con-
sderations of this nature should be entirely
OyerlOullrd - GtTyHgHfyFH Itiggdyh.