Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-04-03
For the Waterman a Journal
SawduSt.

For a profitable bedding to farm stock
there is perhaps nothing better than sawdust
when it can be easily obtained. A profitable
bedding should be a good absorbent and
clearly.
Straw is not good absorbent; water pass
es through it rapidly, aud it only keeps cattle
dry by its thickness, being like small sticks or
boughs of trees that separate the sleeping
animal from the dampness beneath
The experiment can be easily tried by
pouring an equal amount Of water upon an
armlul of straw and upon bushel of saw
dust the straw absorbs but little water -
the sawdust is saturated
Dried muck is good absorbent, but not 80
clearly for milch cows and horses as sawdust.
Sand is used in some stables have seen it
used 10 Rhode Island where the farmers have
access to the beach others get it from some
sand bank near by. Sand is not good alb.
sorbent as its PARTICLES are Just small stones
and cannot be penetrated by moisture, there
fsre all the liquid sand can contain is the
thin coating that covers each grain; it may
act iavorably upon the manure pile by in.
creasing its bulk.
Sawdust takes up liquids, increases the
bulk Of the manure very lavoraby, causing
ii to heat and commence decomposition much
sooner than it would if it was clear re.
Gently called at the place of Mr. Arson
Stebbins, who owns a steam saw mill in Der.
lin, near the road from Montpelier to North.
field. He is well known as an euterprisinl
lumber man, as well as one Of the best far
mers, and has the best barn in the vicinity
and fills it by having heavy crops on few
acres
The meadows along Dog river are highly
valued by all farmers that own them; yet ID,
good management Of Mr.. Stebbius render
his farm conspicuous among the many goo,
ones. saw in his barn bin Of sawdust
and find he has used great quantities Of it, o.
bedding for horses and cows, then with tn,
manure it is thrown to the hogs whose quar-
tiers are between the other stables after it j
worked over by them it is in good condition
for any crop. Mr.. :. told Of an experimen
tried the past summer where clear sawdust
fresh from the mill, was used as a top dressing
for fodder corn being spread an inch or NOR
in thickness upon the surface. This apPlica
ton did no good, and no hurt, the crop beini
about the same as where no manure was ap
piled. But as a bedding, and an addition t
the manure pile, it is always beneficial. TIL
quality is mostly hemock and spruce
The experience of Mr.. s. comedies wit
that of H. c. Cleveland, President Of Or
leans County Agricultural Society for abou
fifteen years he has been engaged in breedu
Short Horn cattle. Some of them are KEEP
in the stable summer and winter, aud tn
white color Of some does not show to adyar
tage unless they are clean For this purpos
sawdust is used whenever it can be obtained
lie has room where he can store sevoro
hundred bushels at once He uses abou
three thousand bushels year, aud has az
piled the compost to all crops and all soil
without damage in any case, but with cor
slant and uniform good results. His crop
are annually increasing Ia 1870 crop {
400 bushels Of marketable potatoes were her
vested from an acre Of ground MANFRED wit
this compost Of manure and sawdust and III
potatoes were sold at fifty cents a bushels a
the depot Other instances might be ner
toned Of the use of sawdust to a less extern
but with as good satisfaction. | would &C
wise its liberal use wherever it can be easil
and cheaply obtained zE.J.
Irasburgh, VT.