Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1868-12-02
ANrictt(tura1.
Management of Manure.

Some persons ASSERT that frcsh barnyaTd
manure Is in many instances injurious to
vegetation, Proof to the contrary might he
readily obtained. 1t is enough TO mention
that in the grazing and folding Of cattle and
sheep, the dung ard urine pass directly into
the soil of our pastures and fields with a
very beneficial effect. Unquestionahly fresh
manure in excess IS injurious ID vegetation,
but the same may be said in regard to ar
excess of the best fermented manure.
NJ. GazZeri, an Italian chemist, has devoted
himself to inquiries having for their object
TO show that the general custom of leaving
manures 20 become decomposed before ap-
plying them to the soil, is attended with a
considerable loss of their fetilizing ingredi-
ents, and that it is therefore advantageous
TO use them in the state in which they come
from the stable. TO remove all doubts
which might vet be entertained upon the
effect Of uniermented manure, Gazzeri
showed that wheat could be successfully
grown in land which had received an extra
ordinary dose of pigeons dung, which is
regarded as one of the most active of ali
manures and horse ~droppings taken quite
fresh, mixed with earth in proportion of
one-fourth of the whole bulk, had no inju-
rious effect in the growth of cereals.
To ascertain the amount Of loss which
fresh manures suffered by fermentation. he
placed certain quantities, ascertained by
weight. to putrefy under favorable circun-
stances, and the decomposition being COM
pleted, he weighed them again. In this way
he ascertained that horse manure in the
course of four months, lost more than half
of the dry matter which it contained before
Its putrefaction.
Davy had already shown that there is a
loss of volatile principles during the decom-
position of fresh manures. that must De
useful to vegetation. Davy's experiment
consisted Of introducing manure into a re-
tort, the extremity of which communicated
with the soil under the turf, and he found
that in the course Of a few days, the grass
which was then exposed to the carnations of
the retort grew with great lux~uriance.
Although it appears certain that in con
Quoting the preparation OF manure IN the
heap with prudence, the volatile and ammo
niacaI Ingredients which are evolved in the
course of putrefaction, may be retained, it
is, nevertheless, unquestI0nable that the
employment Of manure directly and without
previous fermentation, would most efectually
prevent the loss Of valuable ingredients.
Thaer, Schwertz. Mr.. Coke. and others,
have, consequently, admitted the advantages
of the latter procedure, but after all it is
evident that on the greater number of farms
manure heaps must be made as 4 matter of
necessity
Manure is only available at certain sea-
sons, and it cannot always be carried ont
aud applied to the soil according rs it is
made. In Alsace in France, it is carried
out to the fields in which it is to be spread,
whenever circumstances will permit, and
without regard TO its more or less advanced
state of decomposition. When manure IS
partially decomposed it is easily ineorpo-
rated with the soil, and its fcrtilizing ingre-
dients arc already in that condition which
enables them to act within a limited time
with greater energy than they would if the
manure were entirely fresh. Fresh manure
always acts more slowly than that which has
reached a certain point Of decomposition, and
the advantage which the farmer gains by
forcing his crops viii generally induce him to
use manure which has ripened in the heap.
In warm, moist countries, it is almost a
matter of Indifference whether the manure be
put into tine ground quite fresh or partially
~decomposed the heat and moisture Of the
climate Will cause its decomposition rapidly
enough. But it is otherwise in cold climates
where the temperature which ezcites and
maintains vegetation, is often of short dura-
ton, and must at once be taken advantage
Of Western Rural.