Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-07-24
NO. l73.
AND APPLYING MANURES.

Every successful farmer will make this
subject specially, and first it is necessa.
ry that we be careful to collect as much
material as possible, which should be de.
posted in suitable farm or barn-yard, il
farm-yard, place should be selected
or prepared by excavation, that would re-
tain the liquid that might accumulate by
the rain falling upon it, &c.; if barn
yard, the drainage from the roof should
be carefully carried away. so as not to
come into the deposit, lest it might become
full OF water, run over and drain off the
strength of the manure. All the rough
forage used to feed stock should be fed on
this yard, or in the stables adjacent. These
yards should be enclosed, so as to keep
the stock directly upon them, only turned
out to water and turned Immediately back,
and though have not adopted the prac-
tee 1 have long since been convinced of
the advantage of employing at least one
hand, with horse and cart to be constant
ly engaged gathering all sorts of deposits,
vegetable matter, leaves, &C., and hauling
into these yards. And it would also be of
the greatest advantage occasionally to
cover it over with lime to aid in decom-
position, the deposits about the woodpile,
'ANSu itu liiuCy 10 dlSO d NcIy tdludUlCS
manure. last spring threw up the chip
beds about my wood-pile into ridges, mix
ing with alternate layers of unslacked
lime, let it remain until fall, when it was
all beautifully decomposed. / then top
dressed portion of my wheat land, and
the effect is highly gratifying: The best
way, in my judgement, of applying stable
manure is to haul it out Immediately from
tho Stahlac II, tho oxxysn onA ~ n
top dressing upon the wheat; this can be
easily done when the ground is frozen,
and no injury will be done to grain or
land. To apply straw as a manure when
it is not wanted for feed l prefer spread
ing it upon the land as it is thrashed; this
mode recommends itself for economy as
to time saved, as well as the beneficial eff
fects upon the land by shading, as well as
imparting to it its own fertilizing proper
ties. Two hands can easily apply the
straw as fast as any machine will thresh,
in the following manner: Take pole ten
feet long, bore five holes in it at equal
distances apart, into which fasten five
other poles ten feet long, into the other
end Of these poles put, say three upright
sticks two and a half feet long, thus form
ing platform upon which one hand can
place the straw as fast as it passes from
the machine. one horse being attached will
draw it away, and one hand can spread
the straw evenly upon the ground. 1t is
necessary, however, to have two of these
platforms SO that one may be loading
while the other is unloading.
Every farmer should provide for HIM
self compost-house, wherein to deposit
all his ashes, slaked or unslaked, hen ma
nure, and other fine manures, such as the
deposits from the pigpens, &c. Keep il
perfectly dry, and should he have any
waste lime during the year deposit it there
also. and when ready for seeding the crop
of wheat in the fall, let this compost be
made fine, mix with it more or less gyp-
sum, say equal portions, and sow with
your wheat, with good wheat-drill If
all our Virginia farmers would adopt this
method, thousands of dollars would be
saved in the purchase of Northern COM
mercial fertilizers, many of which are al
most worthless, at least not as good rs
that made by yourself, as described above,
and thousands more would be made in the
increased yield and quality of the wheat.
More anon upon the subject of manures.
-CorrespondeM Of Southern Planter and
ENfJDer