American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-11-30
Chr farmer's department,
Nathan and the Chemist.


the backsliders whom he counts most
needful of reformation. The back
slider. will call him Nathan, is
breaking up field, and is applying
the manure in an unfermented and
unctious state the very act of sim
ming, according to the particular the
ory of our chemist, perhaps who ur-
ces that manures should be applied
only after thorough fermentations.
lie approaches our plowing farm
er with a " Good morning"
Morning" returns Nathan (who
never wastes words in compliment.)
~ see you use your manure unfer=
mented'"
Waal, / d'n'know-guess it's all
right smells pooty good, doan't it p
E'Yes, but don't you lose something
in the smell?"
"Waal, d'n'know kinder hard
to bottle much of a smell, amt it 2
"But why don't you compost it,;
pack up your long manure with turf
and muck, so that they will absorb
the ammonia 2
"The what Gee, Bright ~
Ammonia /; precisely what makes
the guano act so quickly"
"Ammony, is it? Waal,-guan-
ner has pooty good smell tew my
opinion is, that manure ought to have
pooty strong smell, or 'taint good
for nuthin."
Scientific gentleman little on the
hip; but revives under the pungency
of the manure.
"And if you were to incorporate
your long manure with turf and 9TH
er material, you would make turf
good manure, and put all in better
state for plant food.
"Waal-(considering)-Ive made
compo's afore now dooz pooty well
for garden sass and sich like, but it
seems to me kinder like putin wa
ter to half a glass o sperit; it make
a drink plaguey sight stronger n
water, no doubt o that; but after
all's said and dun,-'taint so strong
as the rum. (IIaw Buck why don't t
ye haw J"
Scientific gentleman wipes his spec
tacles, but follows after the plow.
"Do you think, neighbor, you're
plowing this sod as deeply as it should
be?"
"Waal-(Gee, Bright D-it's as
folks think l doan't ike myself to
turn upmuch o the yaller ; its a kind
o cold sile."
" Yes, but if you exposed it to the
air and light wouldn't it change char
acter, and so add to the depth of
your land 2
"Doan't know but it might; but |
ha'n't much opinion o yaller dirt no.
how; kinder like to put my corn
and potatoes into good black sile,
if / can get it,"
But color is a mere accidental
circumstance, and has no relation to
the quality of the soil
("Gee, Bright gee.''
"There are a great many mineral
elements of food lying below, which
plants seek after; don't you find your
clover roots running down into the
yellow soil Z"
" Waal, clover's kind of a tap
rooted thing, for it to run
down; but if it runs down arter the
yaller, what's the use O. bringin' on
it up?'
The scientific gentleman sees his
chance for a dig.
But if you can make the progress
of the roots easier by loosening the
sub-soil, or Incorporating a portion
of it with the upper soil, you increase
the facilities for growth and enlarge
your crops
"Waal, that's kinder rash nal and
of l could find a man that would nm
dertake to do little of the stirrin' OF
the yaller, without bringin' much
ont up, and bord himself, I'd fur.
nish half the team and let him &C
ahead"
"But wouldn't the increased pro
duct pay for all the additional la
Dor 2"
"Doan't b'lieve it would, nohow
between you and l. You see yor
gentlemen with your pockets full o
money scientific gentleman coughs
slightly,) talk about diggin here
and diggin there, and turnin' up the
yaller, and making compo's, but all
that takes thunderin' sight o work,
Gee, Bright glang, Buck!''
The scientific gentleman wipes hi:
spectacles, and tries a new entering
wedge.
How do you feed your cattle
neighbor ?"
f" Waal, good English hay; now
and then a bite o oats, 'cordin' al
the work is"
But do you make no beeves ?"
+" Heb 2" I
" Do you fatten no cattle 2"
ksVooo ell