The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-04-19

letter says the Spanish troops are deserting.
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Farm Yard Manure-What Is the Best
.'.r Method of Applying Id.
Within the past few years new method
of applying manure for hoed crops has been
frequently and strongly advocated in the
columns Of the Country Gentleman both by
its editors and correspondents. This new
method recommends that the winter-made
manure be kept through the summer till
some time in autumn, and then carted on
the green sward and evenly spread, there to
remain upon the surface Of the land till
plowed in in the spring; and it has been
stated that one cord of manure so applied
will give as great yield Of corn as two or
three cords put upon the land just before the
corn is planted. The practice of many
good farmers in different sections Of the
country goes far to substantiate the cor
rectness of the above statement.
The great mass of farmers are proverbially
conservative-slow to adopt any Innovations
in their ong-established farm practices
content in these matters " to let well enough
alone -; but, cautious % they are, when
satisfied of the worth of o real improve
ment in any branch of farm culture over
the old method, they have the good sense
to adopt the new one. | will give an illus
tration Of this:
There has been in successful operation
at Sandy Spring, Maryland, for twenty or
more years, farmers club at which agri-
cultural questions are proposed aud dis
cussed, AID at the close Of the discussion q
vote is taken. a record is kept of the
doipgs of their club meetings. In 1852
the question MAS asked, What is the best
way of using barn-yard manure?" An
sRer: "PloW it under this fall for next
springs corn CROP" "Should it be left
spread on the surface, or plowed under d.
rectly 2" Club equally divided. But in
August Of the next year, the majority
favored hauling out manure on the sod now
and leaving it spread to pillow under in the
spring for corn. On this important ques-
ton the majority in favor Of leaving
barn-yard manure spread on the surface
increased from year to year, so that in
1859 sixteen out of seventeen farmers pre-
sent preferred surface manuriDg.
Now it seems to me that the experience
of these Maryland farmers does much to-
wards settling this important question rela
tive to the application OF manures for the
corn crop; and in my view there are
many other advantages connected with this
system, and only one objection that Of ploH-
ing in the spring.
Let the winter-made manure remain in
the barn cellar or under cover if possible,
and if hogs could be kept upon it the bet
ter. The manure, straw, &c., in the yard
should be put in large heaps land if covered
with muck OF loan, all the better), to re-
main in the yard till carted on the newly
inverted God in autumn, which should be
done soon after the land is plowed. The
manure should be evenly spread, and
worked into the soil with the cultivator OF
harrow. By such q course there would
be no breaking up" Of grass land in'the
spring, no carting Of heavy green manure
over muddy roads and deep-ruttcd fields in
early spring; there would be little or nc
loss Of manure by evaporation or teaching
the fertihzing qualities Of the manure
would become pretty equally distributed
through the soil, SO that every little root
let would get its share of ready-preparet
| food. The plants on such prepared soil
from their first appearance above it, ex
| hibit wide, dark green, h-iooking leaves
the reverse Of the yellow, sickly. looking
corn in an adjoining field, where all thu
manure was buried eight or ten inches be-
meath the sod. By blowing and manurinl
| flor the the corn crop in the autumn, al
that is necessary to prepare the land il
the spring ia to give it thorough cultiya
ton with an implement inot spike.
toothed harrow that will penetrate and
pulverize the soil from four to six inche!
deep. S.
But here some may ask, {" Will there
not be much loss by the teaching out of TIT
fertilizing ingredients of the manure from
October till May?" If the soil contain
fair proportion Of fine loan, and small
per centage Of clay, there would be no los
OF manure. This important fact hes beer
fully demonstrated by many carefully-con
Quoted experiments by Professors Way, Lie
big, and many other scientific Investigators
To sum up the matter in q few words, j
was found that the clay or summons por
4 tions of coils possess the power Of chemi
cally combining with not only the gaseous
mpounds of decomposing animal matters
but also with the alkalies, ammonia, pot
ash, soda, magnesia, Sc. This, said Pro
fessor Wsy, is very wonderful propert.
of soil, and appears to be an express pro
vision Of nature. "Apower," he remarks
sis here found to reside in soils by virtu
of which not only is rain unable to wash on
of them those soluble Ingredients fcrmin
necessary condition OF vegetation, bu
even these compounds, when INTRODUCES
/ erfificially nv manrIres ara laid hold a
and fixed in the soil to the absolute exclu
sion Of any loss either by rain or eyapora
tion." That the views thus expressed ar
substantially correct, I think We have tn
rot abundant proof. That bountiful pro
vision Of nature which treasures up in tn
soil, unwas.ed, for Unlimited periods Q
time, the fertilizing Ingredients so neces
sary 10 the growth and maturity Of vege
table life, marks unmistakably the wisdom
and hanifirenee of the Crentor Leyi Bart