Orangeburg times. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1872-1875, 1873-11-27

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the spreading being down hill, is easier.
The main principle of this process, is
the well-kpown quality which The earth
possesses cf fixing" or holding and re-
tanning gases, n property now, applied
bencfcially ill earth closets, Sc. The
earth retains these gases which are the
vital fcrtilizing properties, nntiithe plant,
root comes iii contact with it, This fer.
tilizcd earth is very durable, MS "npthing
is lost'-indeed, its effects have been
plainly visible OH the spot where it had
been spread 30 years before. q,
BY this process conceive that every
possible objection in the treatment Of
barnyard manure is obviated, every leak
stopped, and every advantage gained.
When the compost is thoroughly cook
cd' or rotted, the weed seeds MUST be
killed, and the manure is fit food for the
plant. Made according to these dircc-
tons the compost heap generally sheds
the heavy rains even in the spring. But
If it should wash, being on the upper
part of the field, it only washes to the
lower and isnot lost. 1t is n mannre fit
for any Or all crops. For plowing under
and top dressing we have the high au-
thority Of Professor Johnston for saying
that when q compost is made of more
than one constituent, the MASS is equal
or superior to its BEST part From this
it would follow that the e5wholc of the
compost heap is at least as good MS the
best ingredient which came out of the
stable, and the quality of the WHOLE is
improved.
The writer was induced to "work up"
this subject many years ago-before
earth closets had been beard oi-by tic
grcat difficulty Of procuring sufficient
manurc to1MpRoyE his land Situated
at a distance of SIX or seven miles from
any village or town, and finding that
even ut that distance around, tho manure
from the stables WAS engaged ahead, it
was necessary to consider what else could
be done TO improve. the farm. Chemical
experts said that manures cost the ftirmcle
twice rs much rs they were WORTH
Barn-yard manure then was surely the
most cconomical-but how to get enough
ont? The quantity we produced barely
kept the farm from deteriorating, and
that quantity cost us $500 or $500
year-tllat is, the profit for sfattening
cattle did not amount to MS much, by
that amount as we could have sold the
feed for; and unless the land could be
made to improve with an accelerated
rate. n costly form was nearly or quite
worthless.
The quantity of manure at our dis
posal was only sufficient to fertilzc one
seventh Of the farm, and that was lust
standing still and hardly holding our
own, and amounted to no profit at the
years end. Could two-scvcnths be fer
tilted each year instead of one-sevcnth,
what difference would ten years show!
The additional manure would give US
mere food for stock; increased quantity
of stock give increased manure, which
again would rc-ac, with accelerating
ratio-.that desidcratum which means
wealth to the farmer. But how to get
the first step taken?
Some C, mmon sense brain.work was
done Very many practical farmers were
called Oh for suggestions, and it was as
tonishing TO find how they differed, and
how ignorant of common chemical prin-
ciplcs they were. Still here and there a
valuable hint or suggestion was caught.
Next TO the books and newspaper writer's
what says Boursingault /? Why that
barn-yard manure is so precious n COM
modify to the farmer, and of so cvancs-
cent character, that it should be carried
day by day to pits Of masonry in each
field; and when they are full and tramp
cd down, an arch OF masonry should be
turned over the mouth of the pit, and be
Theoretically sealed till wanted to bc
usp1 This mipht nnSSihlr nov tl,o f,,,,,o,,