The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1874-10-24
Preserving Manure In the Stalls.

Preserving Manure in the Stalls.
A letter from Germany to the AMER
ICAN FARMER says:
In Belgium, Westphalia and several
other places in Germany, the dung of
cattle lies in the stables as bed for the
animals several months, just as is the
case with sheep manure. As soon as
the dung rises, the cribs are raised, so
that the dung is lying sometimes five
to six feet high under the cattle. The
bottom of the stables is little sloping
behind, so that all the surplus fluid may
run into cisterns. AS soon as the dung
is about two to two and ahalf feet deep,
all the fluid is taken up by the under
bed. There is no fear of having the
cattle lying in dirt or wet, when on
farm straw always is abundant to strew
under On our farms, where we raise
mostly rye and wheat, we produce
great masses of straw, which we all
return to the land saturated with ami
NAL excrement. BY fattening animals,
or when pastures are very rich and
fresh, this kind of preserving dung can
not be done so we'll, since the manure
becomes so liquid that no quantity of
straw is sufficient to give to animals
clean dry bed. The most of the year
round, and on most farms, it is yet the
best way to gain great quantity of
dung and of the very best quality
This treatment of dung requires, of
course, higher and larger stables than
usual, but it makes itself fully paid.
When the cattle IRE allowed to run
about in the stables, instead Of being
chained, the dung will become still of a
more equal quality, and in the proper
ly moist state. When the farmer is
ready to handle the dung, it ought to
be carried from the stable at once to
the land and spread, without drawing
the dung into the yard. 1t is noticed,
that dung treated in this way does not
lose so much of its volatile elements, as
when, after laying about week in the
stables, it is turned out into the yard,
and heaped up there for weeks again
By leaving the sheep dung in stables
for months, it is the best way to cover
the dung about every fortnight with
some inches of marshy soil or peat
This soil will catch up all the volatile
substances and keep them within.
EARLY LAMBs.-A New Jersey cor
respondent of the Germantown TELE-
GRAPH gives the following hints upon
the raising and marketing lambs:
"There being an increased demand
for early lambs, few suggestions in
regard to rearing and fattening them
for market may at this time lie appro-
pirate To go into the business pro-
perly requires building arranged for
the purpose 1t should be roomy, and
divided into compartments by rack
running through the centre, leaving
space enough at one end for a commu-
nicating doorway. Then a rack on
either side This gives roomy space
between the racks for the sheep and
lambs The racks should be construct
ed SO as to have troughs at the bottom
to catch the detached leaves of hay,
and also for feeding corn, oats, and
turnips. A yard sufficiently large to
accommodate the flock, and adjoining
the feeding house, is Indispensable
There should be cstern or well placed
in the centre of the side next the build
ing, in order to water two lots, if the
yard should be divided for that purpose
The pump house should be large enough
to contain few basins of corn, oats,
&c. These arrangements completed,
we are prepared to devote our atten-
ton to the lambs. When they arrive,
place them with their mothers into one
of the apartments, shutting off all COM
munication with the others. This ena-
bles one to overlook both lots with
greater facility. When all the lambs
have arrived, the first-born may be sep
arated from the others if necessary
There should be small pen at one end
of each apartment, having an aperture
sufficiently wide to admit the lambs
The troughs for the lambs should be
covered with a board, raised high enough
for them to get their heads into the
troughs freely, without getting their
feet in. Feed at first with cracked
corn after they are few weeks old,
give them corn and oats mixed, and
few turnips, daily. With proper care,
lambs may be made to weigh fifty or
sixty pounds by the LIST Of April