The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1872-09-27


The Michigan Farmer devotes consid-
cradle space to prove that farmers can
not afford to use wheat straw as an alb
sorbent in preserving liquid manure;
that the ammonia in urine can be re-
tanned inst as well by diluting with an
equal bulk of sodter, and that nearly as
cheap are earth, loan, and sods.
We will not stop to discuss the ques-
ton OF the cheapness of addingan equal
bulk of water to urine or liquid manure
in order to fx'the ammonia, but we al
Jude to the matter to express our sur
prise that in discussing the subject the
authority from which it quotes should
not think of swamp muck. Where it
can be had, it is one of the best of all
absorbents. besides having merits of its
own independent of its qualities in that
direction. On light or sandy soils it is
especially valuable, as it holds moist
ure, tends TO make the soil heavier, be-
sides furnishing plant food from the
mass of decaying vegetable matter of
which it is composed. To do the best
service as an absorbent, it ought to be
made as dry as possible before using,
because, like dry sponge, it will then
retain SO much more of the liquid ma
nure into which it is to be placed. Of
course its power to absorb must be
greatly limited if it is put into the ma
nure heap full of cold, swamp water,
and sour with the appropriations of
perhaps hundreds of years but it
should be first placed where its moist
ure can evaporate, and where the effect
of a dry atmosphere, freezing, ETC., will
cause it to crumble. Thorough freez-
ing for one or two winters, and dry
exposure afterward, will very thoroughly
pulverize it, and it is then in excellent
condition not only for an absorbent, but
for direct application to many plants,
particularly grapes and evergreens.
As deodorizer dry muck has proba-
bly, no superior. In this condition it is
far lighter to handle than dry earth, OIL
loan, or sods, its absorbing capacity is
greater, and it will hold its moisture
better when spread for fertilizing. Its
occasional application will free stables,
manure cellars or privies of every fou
odor, and " fix" the escaping ammonia
until by the increase of excrements and
urine another application is needed. Nc
barn cellar need injure stock by its fou
vapors where muck is used literally
Mixed with fresh horse manure in the
right proportions (which experiments
will soon test a moderate instead of {
burning fermentation will go on, which
will soon place the pile in the best pos
sible condition, improving all the ingre
dients. There will be little labor In {
stable, and no waste of ammonia where
plenty of dry muck is SO placed that the
urine and droppings of stock can fal
upon it. 1t does not make as clear
bedding as sawdust or sand, because
when absorbing moisture there is gen
orally clay enough in it to make it sticl
to the hair of horses and cattle, but tn,
other purposes of bedding it meets ad
mirab1y.
1t is matter of surprise that farmer
generally are SO slow in appreciating til,
great value of muck. Many farms cal
supply thousands, and sometimes ten
of thousands of loads, and yet, not un
frequently, not a spadeful is used from
year to year, and liquid manare in larg,
quantities is constantly allowed to rul
to waste, while patent fertilizers are q.
regularly purchased as if it were re
igious duty! Barns and sheds ar,
built without cellars or cave troughs
the manure is exposed in adjoining
yards to the sun, wind, rain and snow
and when the yards become about i'm
passible, drains are opened and the bes
part of the manure is allowed to flow of
into uncultivated places. A little fore
sight, little extra expense in cellar
digging at the start, in providing iquit
manure cisterns, in carrying off or utili
zing the water from roofs, and in usint
muck instead of patent fertilizers
would revolutionize the yield and tn,
receipts of many a farm, and yet it
owner is 10th to change. Instances o
this sort are becoming less common eacl
year, but enlightened as we are, ever,
neighborhood has its abundant samples
1t is one of the rerroaches of farm life.