American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-10-18
Saving Stable Manure.

Most farmers allow large portion OF
the volatile and soluble parts of their
stable manure to be wasted The editor
of the J0urudL Of Chemistry says, that g
film of earth no thicker than the rind of
an orange, placed over a lump of manure,
will effcctually prevent loss of manurial
products, under all possible circum-
iances. 1t will be agreed then, that a
harrow is equally as effective as a pillow
in protecting manure in the open field.
II is better to have the manure near the
surface, as the rains can reach IT, and DIS
solve the soluble salts, and by precola-
ton carry them down TO the hungry roots
| of plants. In the process of soapmak-
ing, it becomes necessary to set up a
leach. Now, the farmer will not attempt
to exhaust the tub of ashes of its potash
by forcing wafer in at the bottom and
dripping the liquid Off from the top. The
natural percolating or eXhausting process
is downwards, in accordance with the
laws of gravity The soluble alkalies
and salts are driven downwards, and in
the case of the leach we must have a YER
sci ready to receive them at the bottom,
and in the case of the same substances
leached from manure, we must have the
manure so placed that plants Will be at
hand to absorb them before they pass be
yond their reach. Manure is never so
valuable as when it is fresh or not fer
mented. 1t then holds in association not
only all the fixed soluble substances nat
ural to the solid eXcrement, but much
that is of great value, found only in the
liquid. 1t is in a condition to quickly
undergo chemical change, and the case
Gus, ammoniacal products secured are
double those resulting from that which
has been weathered in heap out of
doors for several months. Whatever may
be offered in favor of spreading manure
ON the surface, untcrmented manure will
always enrich the soil more, if it is plow-
ed under. The best method for using
stable or barn-yard manure for corn or
potatoes, is to haul il fresh from the cellar
in the condition in which it rests in the
vaults, spread il upon the plowed field,
! and harrow it in. This is what is
called ''lcng manure" ana is a form
which, according to the opinions of many
armers, is unfsuited to immediate use
also it is objected that in spread
ing fresh manure upon plowed fields and
covering it only specifically with earth,
much of it is lost by evaporation; or
more correctly speaking, certain volatile,
gaseous constituents rise on the breeze
and are waited away. In our view, both
of these notions are incorrect. The eXcre-
ment of animals must undergo a kind of
fermentation, or putreiactive change, be
fore it is assimilated by plants, and it is
better that this be carried forward in the
field as there it is in contact with the
soil, which is greedy to absorb all the
products of the chemical change Crca-
tive power has bestowed upon dry earth
prodigous absorptive capabilities. If a
| lump of fresh manure as large as a peck
| measure is placed upon plowed field I'M
covered and allowed 30 fermcnt or decay
in the open air, the ahsurptive powers of
a lnt vi .itf of I,
wards il ammoniacal and other gases, and
thus rob the atmosphere Of its natural
volatile principles. Yet, it must be borne
in mind that wheat for example, and
some other sorts Of corps should not be
cultivated where raw or unfcrmcnted
manure has been applied until it has de
composed in the soil.--Ne1o York Uor0ld