Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1870-03-04
agricultural.
Grafton Farmers Club.


Russell STILEs.-We can do nothing
without manure; with it we can do ev-
erything. 1t is generally conceded that
our tillage lands are running out; in or
der to bring them up, farmers must ac-
cumulato and apply all the manure pos.
sible. Would keep manure as near tho
surface as possible. Would spread on
top and cultivate in or pillow in lightly,
by this means the plant will get the full
benefit Of the manure.
Have had some experience with SUI
per phosphate and value it highly would
apply it as top dressing to dry, June
grass land in the fall, to most clayey
land early in the spring, just before a
rain.
II. S. DAvIs.-Therc is no end of
sources of manure. We must cart in
muck leaves, brakes and turf. Turf
well rotted is as good as muck. Special
fertilizers pay. Have used gypsum with
good results. Would always SOW it
broadcast. One bushel sown broadcast
is worth more than much larger guam
tity doled out in handfuls to each hill.
Some plaster is hardly worth its weight
in sand. The best has an oily feeling,
and is Of darkish gray color. Would
apply plaster to wet land, ashes to dry
land. The nearer the surface manure is
applied and covered the better. Nature
always manures at the surface.
j. d. PErTENeILL considers grass to
be the most profitable crop which can
be raised in this town; that the more
grass we raise the faster we can improve
our farms, as the more grass we raise the
more stock we can keep, the more stock
the more manure, and the more manure
the more grass. His method of manu-
featuring and applying manure is about
as follows: lie has barn cellar and
sheds, SO that most of his manure is I'M
der shelter. He uses just alb orbents
enough, either dry muck, dry sawdust,
leaves or dry earth to absorb the liquid
portions of the manure and to prevent
much heating. He does not believe in
adding green sawdust or wet muck to
the manure heap for the purpose of in
creasing bulk and nothing more. He
lets his manure remain under shelter
during the summer overhauling it once
or twice, and carts it in the fall He
first plows the ground which is designed
for the next years grain crop, then
spreads the manure upon the surface and
harrows in, never plows manure in, con-
siders fifteen loads applied to the surface
worth double that quantity plowed un-
Ter. He has pursued this method for
i've or six years with good success. For
corn, manures in the hill, makes corn
secondary object, grass being the main
crop. AS now managed and applied
farmers lose one-half the value of their
G. S. WHTE.-Manure is the founda-
lion Of all success in farming. The man
who saves the most and applies it in the
best manner is the NEST successful farm
or. We lose great deal Of manure by
exposure. The liquid portion is as good
as the solid. We should make our sta.
bles tight and then use absorbents, such
as dry muck, saw dust, &c. Manure
should be housed Two loads we'll hous.
ed are worth as much as three loads left
exposed to the weather. Hog manure is
very valuable. One hog is capable of
manufacturing ten or fifteen loads of
manure in year. if provided with the
proper composing materials. Hen drop
pings, contents of the privy, everything
should be saved we can all make more
than we do if we try. Ny method is to
apply near the surface. break up in
the spring, harrow, then apply the ma
nure and then harrow in get out all my
manure in the spring. Sled some on the
snow. | top dress in the fall. Top dress
ing increases the quantity of grass from
one-third to one-half Superphosphate
according to my experience is as good as
barn yard manure. Would use ashes
upon dry land.
HENRY WHITE of Chester-Do not
agree with all the speakers in the idea of
applying manure to the surface; have
experimental some upon that point. One
year applied manure 10 the surface on a
portion Of field, and plowed under on
another portion and planted with corn.
Corn good on one portion and poor ON
the other, the season being dry. The
next year tried the same experiment with
exactly contrary results, the season being
wet. Believe the season has good deal
to do with the matter.
w. h. THOMPSON of Athens. Our
barns and yards should be arranged
properly. We lose from one-half to two
thirds Of the value of manure by wash