Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-11-13
THE HABIT OF OBSERVATION.


field in going to and returning from his
work; clergyman of the name of Meyer, To-
Gated in the neighborhood, soon observed a
much greater luxuriance in the grass on
each side of this path than elsewhere in the
field. This result he traced to the gypsum or
plaster dust shaken from the workman's
clothes on his way over the field. This sim
pie observation laid the foundation for the
extensive use of plaster as fertilizer, since
the middle Of the last century.
Agriculture presents an immense field for
observation, and it has the largest corps of OBJ
servers, 100000 proprietors of farms, who
might by a proper system Of observation, in
few years, settle most of the vexed questions
that now distract this occupation; but the
great mass of them travel the same road, year
after year, like the German workman in the
quarry, without noticing anything on either
side, leaving the practical instruction to be
drawn by outside observers.
Look at the immense progress made in
some departments of agriculture, when under
the eye and hand of skillful observer. In
stance the breeding of Short-horns by Bates
Colling, of Long-horns, cart horses and sheep
by Bakewell The sole foundation for their
success beyond all breeders before them, was
acting upon the hints suggested by close OBJ
servation. Rarey masters the widest pas
sions of the horse that no other hand could
curb or guide by putting in practice the SIM
plest observations. Thomas Jefferson, in d
short tour through France and Germany, oc.
casionally observed the shape of the mold
boards of their plough, and soon mastered the
mathematical principles upon which it must
be constructed, and from his mechanical des-
cription, written at that time, have come all
the modern improvements.
The habit of observation, developed in the
general farmer, is the one thing most needful
now in the progress ofagriculture. Every far
mer has it in his power to add something to
the general stock of definite knowledge of his
occupation. The reader of agricultural jour-
nails often finds experiments given which
would be of great value all the circumstan.
ces were noted, so that he might determine
whether it would apply to his case. But the
writer has, perhaps ommitted to state the most
important point, and for the want of infor-
nation, the experiment has no value. Soils
are almost infinite in variety Of texture and
situation, and an experiment with a given
crop, to be of any value to the distant reader,
must not only give an intelligent description
of the soil, but the latitude or temperature,
the point of inclination or aspect, the pre-
vailing wind, etc. What creates such utter
confusion and contradiction Of experiments, is
the want of proper observation of all the cir
cumstances that must affect the result. The
farmer needs to be induced to observe, and
there is probably nothing that will contribute
more to this, than the formation Of clubs for
discussion. Here he finds other minds who
take note of his statements and point out
their defects. He learns to think differently
aud accurately, and the parent of thought is
observation. If he proposes to make any
statement about the yield of butter from his
COWS, he sees the necessity of noting the
amount of milk required to make the butter,
that it may be seen whether large yield is
due to large quantity Of milk or to its extra
quality.
Let every farmer observe the exact yield
of each cow for one year, and how many OF
his herd will be for sale; take note Of the pro-
duct of field, and the management of many
will be changed the second year, accurately
note the time of planting or sowing each field
of grain and the state Of the weather, and he
will soon know more about the proper time
to plant and SOW; let him in short, observe
accurately everything relating to the man
agement of his farm and stock, and he will
soon admit that the time used in making these
observations has paid him better than his
hardest labor.-Liue Stock, Farm and Ftreside
Journal.
PREPARING BONES FOR FERTILIZERS.
Ofall agents that can be employed for de-
composing and dissolving bones, the best and
most practicable are wood.ashes. They are
generally plentiful in country places, they
prevent any unpleasant odor from being given
off, and, above all, cause rapid and complete
decomposition. The bones are converted into
fine powder, which, mixed with the ashes,
furnishes an excellent fertilizer, very rich in
potash and phosphoric acid. The method, of
using them is as follows: A trench three or
four feet deep and of any desired length, is
dug in the earth filled with alternate layers
of ashes and whole bones each layer being
about six inches thick. The lowest as we'll as
the top layers are of ashes, and each layer OF
ashesis thoroughly saturated with water. At
distances of three feet poles are rammed down
to the bottom of the ditch, and every eight or
ten days they are taken out and enough water
poured in the holes to saturate the ashes. At
the end of two months the whole heap is
thoroughly stirred up with a fork, so as to
mix the ashes and softened bones, which are
then left to ferment again, water being added
as often as necessary. In about three months
after, the heap being worked over twice or
three times more, the decomposition of the
bones will be so complete that only few Of
the largest remain, and these are taken out
and put into another heap.
Where wood ashes are scarce, recourse must
be had to horse-manure The bones are soaked
few days in water and then placed in rec
tangular pits with alternate layers Of horse
manure, each layer being drenched with the
water in which the bones were soaked The
strata of bones are three inches thick, and
those of manure foot thick. The pit is COW
cred with earth, so as to be tightly closed.
The decomposition of the bones will require,
in this case, about ten months, when the mix
ture is ready for use as fertiizer.-Journal
of applied Chemistry.
We have never seen the experiment of dis
integrating bones with ashes, tried exactly as
described above, but are inclined to think the
time given rather too short, unless the bones
are fresh, and therefore disposed to ferment
and decay.-Ed. Southern Culttvator.
LAME MARE.-I have an eight year old
mare that was taken lame about one year ago,
with stife. Sometimes you would hardly no.
tice that she was lame, and the next day she
will hardly touch her foot to the ground.-M.