Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1864-09-30
Muck Compost.


all that has been said and written in
their favor, do not receive from many
farmers the consideration which they
merit. Although scientific investigation
and practical experience have demons
trated again and again the economic
value Of these numerous and extensive
storehouse Of fertilizing material, they
are often neglected by those who claim to
be farmers ; and it is not uncommon to
find men deploring their inability to cul-
tivate more land, and raise larger crops,
whose farms are capable of supplyir g
nearly all the elements Of the most
abundant fertilization which is needed by
any soil.
1t was well said by DR.. Dana in his
valuable treaties upon muck. that "Na-
ture never bestowed upon man soil of
greater capatility of being made lastingly
fertile than the light sandy soil Of New
England. And he might have added,
that Nature never disposed more abund-
antly the raw materials for the improve
mcnt Of all soils than she has done in
this portion Of the globe. For in our
peat medows and muck beds we have an
enexhaustible supply Of decomposed veg
etable matter, which is the most essen
tial element of all soils, and upon the
existence of which, in greater or less
quantity and in proper conditions, all
crops are dependent for their nutrimeat
and growth.
But it is very hard to induce many
persons to realize this fact. Perhaps
come careless experimenters have failed
to realize their expectations, or a homGo-
psthic dressing of unfcrmented mould
has not seemed to stimulate the crop to
which it was applied to any perceptible
degree and for no other or better reas-
ons they will run in debt for guano. bone
dust and supcrphosphates, to the neglect
Of the more precious, because more last
ing, products OF their own farms.
In saying this we do not wish to be un-
derstood as co demnins the use OF those
stimulating fertilizers but after all they
are but stimulan,s, and it is iii vain to
rely upon them as the foundation Of that
permanent aineioratiol Of soil natur-
ally deficient in fertility which will main
tain it in good heart for the production
of large crops Of every description, and
make the business profitable in the long
run. At the prices charged Cor the arta
cial fertilizers, aud oi guauo, those sab
stances cannotbe proftabiy employed to
any considerable extent in general farm
iug aud the farmer who means to sue
eeed by the economical production OF the
stable crops must rely upon his own re-
sources for the abundant fertilization OF
his ground.
We say abundant, for without liberal
supply OF manures farming is most un-
commenlaJlo method on wasting a HE
time in hard work. Manure is the great
and paramount want Of every cultivator.
Our domestic animals alone cannot fur
uish sll that we need upon our rugged
New Englanl farms. Oar sandy lands
must be supplied more abundanty with
vegetable matter than our barnyards will
supply, and our clay soils must be render
ed more light and porous BY Tie admix-
ture Of such substances as will, in ad-
ditiou to their fertilizing properties, have
this beneficial effect. Most fortunately
there are few who have not >the ability to
meet all the requirements OF this s,tua-
ton, which places the farmers of this
section at SO great comparative sdisad-
vantage with the farmers OF the West
In the peat meadows aud muck swamps
of Massachusetts alone there are unle-
veloped clements Of fertility sufficient to
make every iarm in their vicinity as pro-
ductiyc US a garden. All that is needed
is the skill to manipulate, and the energy
and enterprise to apply them
1t is not fiction, but well demonstrat-
I'd fact, based upon the scundest OF
chemical science, and sus ainei by re-
pcated, careful experiments Of practical
cu!tivators, that a cord of barn manure
properly composted with two cords of the
black mould from the peat meadow, viii
form three cords Of compost equal IN
value to the cord OF stable manure. 1t
is fact equally well established, that
the liquid voidIngs OF COW or an OK are
of equal value to the solids. And yet
how many tarruers there are, even at this
time. who suffer such valuable means OF
fertility to run to waste, from neglect to
supply the best Of all absofbcnis which
The peat meadows will atto.l. But the
limits OF utility to be found IN these large
and frequent deposits OF vegetable mat
ter, are not exhausted even when they
have absorbed all the urine, compos,ed
with all the solid exorements OF horses,
cattle, sheep and swine. Composted with
wood ashes, Or with mixture Of salt
aud lime, such chemical changes are
wrought in the course of "a few week. in
tbs Geld, black, inert mass of decaycd
vegetation, as to hit it speedily to become
food for plants and a most excellent
fertilizer is the result, at cost very
slight in comparison with its real value.
The present dry time affords most
favorable opportunity for throwing up
supply of muck for next seasons use. If
dug thus early in the season large por-
tion of its superabundant moisture will
be evaporated even while lying in heaps
upon the meadow. and if the distance to
the barn is great the saving in carriage
will be no inconsidsrable item. Let the
hogs have plentiful supply at all times.
Let the barn yard be covered with it to
the depth of several inches, and let there
be supply under cover in some conven-
lent place, to be blended with the manure