Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1871-08-03


the cattle from cold wind and storms
the size and the divisions to be adapt
ed to the stock which is intended to
feed. Excavate the center, or some
other part OF the yard, placing the
earth removed upon the border, which
may be ten to fourteen feet broad, or
| upon the lower sides, whore there is a
descent, 30 that the liquids will run to
the center, and the borders, which
should be left gently inclining, will
remain dry and firm, for feeding
the cattle upon. The center may be
from two to five feet lower than the
borders The labor may be done prin-
cipally with the pillow and scraper, and
smoothed off with the shovel and hoe
We were employed two days and half,
with two hands and team, in giving
the cattle yard the desired shape.
When the soil of the yard is not suf-
ficiently compact to hold water, or is
not likely to become so by the tread of
the cattle, or the pudding effects of
the manure, the bottom should be bed
ed with six or eight inches of clay, we'll
beaten down, and well covered With
gravel This is seldom however neces-
sary. Our yards are upon and-loam,
and yet the liquids never sink into the
earth.
| When the yard is prepared, the first
thing done should be to overlap the
whole bottom with six to twelve inches
of peat or swamp earth, where it is at
command; and where it is not, with
earth from bitches, the roadside, or
| other rich deposits. 1t is then fit for
| the reception of the cattle, and of
| straw, coarse hay, corn stalks, and 9TH
er litter of the farm; and subsequently,
/ as they may be gathered, the weeds,
potato and pumpkin vines, and other
/ valuable matters. These materials will
absorb or take up the urine and other
I liquids, and becoming incorporated
with the dung, double or treble the
ordinary quantity of manure. Du-
ring the continuance of frost, the
excavation gives no inconvenience and
when the weather is soft,
the borders afford space for feeding the
cattle, and for dry passage to the
barn. In this way the urine is saved,
and the waste incident to rains, &c,
prevented. The barns and sheds
which adjoin the yards, should be pro-
vided with eve-gutters, which should
discharge outside of the yard, so that
the waters from the roof may pass off.
As further precaution against waste
! by rains, cistern or tank may be
sunk near the yard, into which an I'M
derdrain may be made to conduct the
liquids, when they are likely to ac-
cumulate to excess. These liquids
may be pumped into casks upon carts,
and employed to great advantage upon
grass or arabic crops. The Flemings
call these liquids the cooked food for
their crops.
To guard against the wasting infu-
ence of the sun IN summer, roughly
constructed covering, supported by
posts, may be erected over the central
depot This is seldom necesessarv I'M
der our mode of management, which
requires a thorough cleaning of the
yard every spring for the corn, pota-
toes and other root crops. The cattle
should be constantly yarded in winter,
except when let out to water, not only
because if suffered to run at large,
they poach and injure the fields and
meadows, but because they waste their
dung; and the yard should be fire.
quently replenished with fresh litter.
Upon this plan, from ten to twelve
loads of manure may readily be OBJ
tanned every spring from each animal
wintered in the yard If the manure
from the horse-stables, and from stalled
neat cattle be added, the quantity will
not only be proportionally increased,
but the quality improved. Whenever
the yard is thoroughly cleaned for
spring crops, it ought to be again bed
ded with fresh earth and well Uttered.
The HOG PEN.-Hogs are excellent
animals for manufacturing manure, II
they are furnished with the raw mate
rial, as peat earth, straw, weeds, &c,
and a suitable place for conducting the
process. The composts of their forma
ton are among the cheapest and best
that are used upon the farm The Stops
of the kitchen, the weeds of the garden,
the refuse fruits of the orchard, and the
offal of the farm, are readily converted
by the swinish laborers, into meat or
manure. Hogs are profitable laborers,
and should be employed to as great an
extent upon the farm as the proprie-
tors circumstances will permit.
Domestic Recipes