Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1872-05-04

FdTH anu WaTueHs
Results of Thorough Manuriaq. ex
| chanle SAYS One of our neighborS. with
land not any toe good, barely able tc
support family, tried upon advice the
exp rimcnt of applying manure to "heat
spread on The surface. 1t was compost
also made upon recommendation, and
applied evenly on the land just before
$ wing. Only part of the lot WAS thus
treated. The wheat was sown, and the
land well narrowed. At the end of the
fall the difference was so great that a
distinct line marked the manured part.
In the spring there was still the differ
ence; whitish and partly green hue
pervaded the manured part. The rest
was merely barren. Here and there on
the manured part where the land was
wet, the grain lay on the surface. This,
however, only in few small spots. In
short time the manured part was a
dense green, the rest struggling and
backward and most discouraging to all
who saw it. Toward the last this, how
ever, broughtup some in comparison with
the other. The manured part grew less
rank and matured well, yielding over
200 per cent. more than the other. An
estimate was made of the expense of the
manure and labor. and there was some
thing nice in ia, or of the application.
But the best, perhaps. is not yet told.
The land had been seeded down early
in the spring, and it was recommended
to use plenty of seed, which was but par,
TALLY followed out. Still the manured
part of the lot showed not only good
~, hot
stand, growing well, and continuing late
in the fall. The rest of the lot was as
usual, poor thing, not paying for seed
ing; there was not the catch and not
the growth as in the other
This satised The year following the
difference was still greater lin the two
crops which it was advised to cut), not
50 much before harvesting as in the
crops secured Then it was found what
a little manure did-that it brought all
the seed, while the rest had lost much
Of it that did not come, and did not
grow so we'll. In the spring following,
upon advisement, the land was plowed
and put to com; the difference being
even greater here, if possible, than i'll
the preceding crops. This was followed
by harley and oats mixed, continuing
the same difference large crop on
the manured part, and ordinary on the
other. Seed was sown, and nearly the
same variation was observable. But be-
fore this last was reached other land
was treated similarly, only that the
manure was applied to the whole field.
The neighbors took the contagion-all
but the indoent-and there is gen.
eral improvement.
Why is it that this thing is not done
more? So repeatedly is it advised to
top-dress with manure land that is sowr,
if poor and intended to seed down. And
yet people are not doing it, only the
few. 1t pays in the grain, and still
more in the grass crop which is to fol-
low, and in alter culture. 1t is the
manure that helps the grass Tor clover
to the nutriment of the atmosphere,
after first being established in the soil,
getting not only a catch, but q thick
stand Then, aided by little plaster,
there can be no failure, especially with
clover.
Ho,o to Raise Celery-A correspondent
of the Jomnalo Of Agriculture says " There
is no need of hot-bed for starting
celery plants. In April, as soon as the
ground can be thoroughly worked, SOW
your bed. Keep the weeds out and use
a little patience, as celery is slow to
make its appearance. TO insure stocky
plants the tops should be shorn off once
or twice before transplanting. About
the m ddle of June prepare thoroughly
the plat of ground you desire the celery
to grow upon; transplant in rows three
feet apart, setting the plants five to six
inches from each other in the row. The
ground should be moist at the time of
planting; if not, press the earth by the
side of the plant, gently, with the foot.
After this keep the weeds down and the
ground mellow until August. During
this month, for fall use, the bleaching
process should lie commenced. To do
this il is best to use the hoe in drawing
the soil up against the plant, and then,
with the hand, press close around each
plant the soil, the leaves may be held
firmly in an upright position. Draw up
more soil as q support and finish by
breaking up, with the soil between the
rows on each side, to the top of the
plants. In this way the celery will be
ready for the table in September"