The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1870-03-05
About Manure.
From Walks and Talks on the Farm in
the american Agriculturist.

From Walks and Talks on the Farm in
the american Agricultural.
A farmer in New England objects to
what | said about drawing out manure
in winter He prefers to pile it and let
it get thoroughly rotted before applying
it to the land So do l. But labor is
so high and so uncertain, that | prefer
to draw out manure when we have
leisure, whether it is or is not the best
time for securing the greatest benefit
from its application. On land subject
to foods, of course, it would he unwise
to spread manure in winter And on
very steep hilsidcs the rain might wash
out much Of the goodness of the manure,
and carry it off from the land. But, on
ordinary, levil land there is less danger
from this source than one might mag
inc who has not looked into the matter.
The soil, especially if in grass, will
absorb the rain and melting snow, and
with all the soluble matter washed out
of the manure Where land is under
drained, this is certainly the case
And there is no way of applying ma
nure better than in the liquid FORM
When manure is spread out on grass
land in winter, the best portions of it
viii lie washed out and carried into the
land distributed through the soil in
such way as TO be readily taken up
by the roots of the grass. The portion
left on the surface will serve as pro-
lection from the cold winds of spring,
and the grass will start earlier and
also act as a mulch in summer
| said, | preferred to PILE the ma
nurc rather than to draw it out fresh
as made during the winter. The rea-
son is, simply because | use great
deal of straw, and when manure is
piled, it is reduced more than half in
bulk by fermentation, and at the same
time its plant-food is rendered more SOL
ublc. And when VIC use so much straw
there is not the slightest danger of los
ing ammonia by fermentation. The
! acids produced from the fermenting
straw, will hold all the ammonia formed
in the heap. This spring if bonc-dust
can be obtained at reasonable rates,
propose topile my sheep manure, which
contains a large amount of straw, and
mix honc-dust with it. Put layer of
manure, say foot thick, at the bottom,
and then spread bone-dust over it at
the rate of fifty pounds to each ton of
manure. Then put on another layer of
manure, and spread the bone-dust over
it, and so on until the heap is finished
If few loads of muck or soil are put
on top, it will be all the better The
bonedust will greatly accelerate the
fermentation of the manure and decom-
pose the straw, and the acids, produced
from the decaying straw, will hold the
ammonia formed from the organic mat
ter of the bones, and prevent its escape
The bones will be softened and olsen
degraded, and rendered much more SOL
uhle, than if applied directly to the soil
If this work is done in March, and the
heap is turned two or three times, the
manure will be in capital condition to
apply to root crops in May or June
But if not needed for these, it will not
injure any crop to which it may be
applied. If you want to see cabbage
and caul1owers grow. dig in liberal
allowance of this manure, and sprinkle
a teaspoonful of super-phosphatc in
the hole when the plants are set out,
and then keep the ground thoroughly
cultivated and hocd. Put little of il
in the celery trenches, and mix it with
rich surface soil If your evergrcens
on the lawn look yellow, fork in bar.
rowful of it around each one, and if it
Injuries them, let me know Those for
lorn looking currant bushes would be
grateful for few shovelfuls. If you
want some good melons, put a wheel.
barrowful of this manure, hot from the
heap, under each hill; cover it with
some rich soil and sprinkle on it tcf
spoonful of super-phosphate. Then
plants, especially if protected for a
week or two with box covered with
glass, will not know tnat they are in a
farmers garden;"--thev will think
they are enjoying the care of some in
telligent mechanic or professional mar
in the village or city and grow accord
ingly If any of the manure is left
spread it on the meadows, or grass
land, whenever it is most convenient.