The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1865-07-13
,9armrr's Department.

Straw Manure-~-Deep Flowing.
80 Something more than year ago, or
TO be precise, on the 2Sth and 29th of
April, 1864, covered the remnants Of
straw pile with earth to the depth of
six inches, with the view of converting
tito manure. Tho result is, that have
realized more valuable return from
the payment Of two dollars, which the
labor Of wheeling the earth cost, than
for any other expenditure of like
sum.
- Ordinarily, the best time to use such
manure is in the fall of the year. Tho
earth and straw become mixed, the
straw being we'll rOtted, and tho earth
having been frozen, being rich and mel
low. This compound is pronounced to
be a valuable manure, and feel war
ranted in assuring any farmer who has
q D straw pile fit only for manure, that he
will be amply compensated for any labor
ethat may be necessary in covering it
over with earth.
.- One part Of my plan proved to be a
failure. In the hope of making the
surface Of tho ground over the straw
productive, planted few potatoes on
a part of discovering the seed with six
inches additional earth; potato bugs as
sailed the tops, and the tubcrs came
to nothing. On the balance of the
ground scattered turnip-seed, aud the
turnips turned out no better than the
potatoes. A similar fate befel other
turnips which 1 had sown on ground
that was rich and we'll prepared. The
seed sent its tops to the surface of the
ground, so as to be barely perceptible,
and then, with a glance at this wicked
world, they vanished out of sight; in
sects devoured them. The moral Of
which is, that "the best laid plans Of
mice and men oft gang aglee."
1t is good use of straw to scatter it
under the feet of cattle and horses in
the stable. When it becomes tramped
and we'll mixed with their droppiugs, it
should be laid aside under cover, until
the proper time for using it. The prac-
tice of letting manure lay in the field
in heaps during winter is abominable
The ground is positively injured by it
if the manure is rank, while that which
is scattered in the spring is far less ef-
fective than it would be if spread out
in the fall. If used in the spring, and
hot, dry weather follows, it sometimes
p produces no perceptible benefit. The
great strength of manure is soluble, and
rains are needed to diffuse its virtues
thoroughly through the soil.
When the ground is we'll manured
. the next thing in Importance is to plO,0
it properly. Deep plOwing is not rec
commended in all cases. Under some
circumstances it should be avoided. IT.
is remarkable that there should be q
difference of opinion in regard to this
indispensable part Of good farming.
Undoubtedly deep soil is better than
shallow one, other things being equal,
because the roots of plants have bet.
ter chance to extend themselves, derive
larger amount of nourishment, and
such soils are less affected by wet sea-
sons or severe drouth. If the top soil
is rich and the subsoil is sterile, the
latter should be stirred only by subSoil
ing and not brought to the surface, un
less in small successive quantities, until
by repeated manuring its fertility is
gradually deepened. If the subsoil is
rich, it may be brought up by trench
plowing, with or without previous sub
soiling, and mixed advantageously with
the surface. A. D. G.