Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1866-03-09
Westminster Farmers Club.
MAsuREs AND THEIR APPLICATIONS,

westminster FARMERS Siuo'
MASUREs AND THEIR APPLICATIONS
Mr.. H. G Lane had found from a series of tr- I
ais that he could get the best crops by plonghing
in the manure to the depth of three orfour inches.
Manure did not do as well or inches in depth
as narrowed in on the top. Manures did not
leach into the soil, but were decomposed by air
and moisture near the surface. Decomposition
should take place in the soil next the roots, thus
furnishing heat and rich food to the growing veg
etable. making the ground light and porous that
the roots msy easily extend. He thought that
manure kept in the barn cellar or under cover
worth three times as much as when exposed to
sun, rain and air without protection.
He found hogs valuable aids in working and
composing msnures. The value of manures
consisted not SO much in the amount as in the
goodness. He found that plaster and ashes at
the rate Of three bushels of the former to twelve
bushels Of the latter per acre insured good crop
of excellent potatoes. He placed the mixture in
the hill. He did not think plaster and ashes used
separately, of any great value for potatoes-nei-
ther would he scatter them on the top. Our farm
crs drop ashes on the top of each hill of corn and
it makes an early and vigorous growth
Mr. l. N. Farr was in favor of barn cellars. Our
lands being level, let the cellar part be mostly
above ground, and wharf up TO the stable and
large barn doors. Let the horse and COW stable
manure be all passed into the hog pen beneath,
the swine would compost and work it with ample
litter, and absorbents applied and make valuable
mine for the farmer. The horse manure would not
heat. If the proportion was large, however, add
water from time to time.
Mr.. Farr has applied guano $50 lbs to the acre
with good success to oats and winter rye, getting
70 bushels of oats per acre, and afterward produe
ing crop of clover from which to make ami
NAL manure which he much preferred. He would
spread manure on the top of moist lands and clay
lands, and plough it in on dry very lightly
Mr.. Pierce said that guano exhausted his land
| and it cost too much to bring the soil back to fer
tiIity, he would not use il if the guano cost even
nothing, He found that ashes and plaster were
good for potatoes, but thought that ashes thrown
upon the blades of young corn would often kill it.
Mr.. j. Phelps had often put ashes directly on
| the corn as it was coming up, and never found it
| injured, and this was the experience of most of
i
| ploughed under the turf, three to four inches
deep, that fermentation caused by the manure
| made the turf to rot and the corn was ready with
its roots then to take hold of the rich food and
insure good crop. me
! Mr.. +. Arnold also prac,sed poughing the ma
nure under the sod and believed it assisted in the
decomposition Of the turf He depended much
| on the roots nf nlayar Co.. opr;ob;pfr b;s Iopds
Mr. J. C. Richardson practised the same meth
cd, turning the manure under four inches
Mr. A. C. Underwood spread the manure in the
Fall and in the Spring worked it with the horse
cultivator.
| Mr.. Pierce would plough one half of the ma
nure in six inches and spread the other half on
the top, narrowing it in SO that the corn might
take hold Of it at different times. He would pu:
Is bushels of ashes with 800 lbs of plaster to the
acre, applying it in the hill
Dea McNiel did not believe that manure vast
ed or evaporated in the air He spread manure
Fin the fall, or in the spring, early, and did not
hurry to plough. He let the grass get well start
ed, and then ploughed, getting a better crop
Dea- McNiel had found that swine would pay one
half Of tlsir keeping in working over manure and
keeping it from fermentng. He would apply the
manure to the land in green a state as possible.
J. c. Richardson had used guano on his lands,
and the most sensible effect he had witnessed, was
that it impo verished his pocket.
Various other fertilizers were commented upon.
Mr.. Grout had found the refuse Of tan-vats val
liable for orchards. Mr.. Richardson had found
Nothing better than bones and bone manure for
young fruit trees.
Mr.. Underwood and w. G. Pierce spoke high
ly of the use of wheat bran for corn upon wet
lands, and had noticed surprising effects from
it, tf
Mr.. Kimball gave some interesting items Of
information upon various fertilizers which are
now used in different parts of the country, giving
the materials and cost of these. The following
called up especial attention. Cheese-scraps, hog
scraps, beef-scraps. He gave a statement of TIL
manufacture of dead hog-scraps and their deliv
4 cry by the car load, at one TO two cents per ID
Plaster was valuable for meadow lands. Bon
dust was now manufactured very fine, and in sucl
state of communion that 1t was contended tina
it would readily be taken up by growing plants.
Super-phosphate of lime was not general,
recommended by the farmers, though some spok,
OF it very highly applied in the hill
1t was generally recommended by the farmer,
TO immerse the seed corn in hot or boiling SOAP
/ and then stirring in plaster until each kernel be
comes well covered and assumes the size of ,
/ chestnut, the corn is planted by hand Th
combination of soap and plaster gives the corr
IN early start, and enables it to stand the sprin.
! sNds. nna ata
This method Of preparing corn has been gen
orally practised for several years in Westminster
FROM the remarks of the club the See. gets a
the following points as reasons Of application G
inannres to the top or deeper in the soil.
~ Food for plants should be at once aud Away
available; hence the manure should be on tn
top and as deep, and wherever the roots extend
The rootIets and fibres seek food upwards, dowr
I wards and from the whole soil which is filed wit
roots to almost any extent that the soil is mad
light and penetrable. Hence the more evenly Ii
manure is mixed with all the soil, the better
! the growth of the plant
| Plants drink but do not eat. Their food mu
I be in soluble form. Hence solid excrement an
s.-axv r,us, farnenf decompose and become So