Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-01-16

1
opened tho session by few Introductory
remarks, in which the objects Of the meeting
were briefly stated and the audience then
listened to the reading of paper entitled
what Shall the Board of Agriculture do,
and what can it Hope to Accomplish 2" by
Edgar Nash Esq, OF shelburne.
This was an admirable paper, which we
hope to lay before our readers. AT the
conclusion of the paper Secretary COlier
called the attention of the meeting TO the
Importance of the question treated, and ex-
pressed il as his wish and the wish Of the
Board that those citizens who had thought
upon the subject should make known their
ideas as to the way in which the Board can
make itself most useful. He added that
the holding of meetings like this had beeu
commenced, not with tho idea that il should
be the only work of tho Board, but as be-
ginning, or entering wedge, and now it
wanted to know what the farmers them
selves thought Of the matter.
MyrOn II. Horsford Esq, OF Charlotte.
then addressed the meeting upon "The Use
Of Manures." He expressed the opinion
that ono of the greatest evils of our practice
was in not keeping up the condition of the
whole farm. Our lands, as a whole, dete-
riorate. We must iud way to keep them
up. This cannot be done by purchasing
chemical festilizers He believed the old
adage, that farmers bank is his barn-yarj
He thought the muck beds are of great val
ue, but the muck must be run through the
barn-yard before it is applied to the land
Too many farmers take all they can from the
land, and when it won t pay to till it any
longer, stock it down. This over-cropping
without enriching is what is depreciating the
value of our lands. How many of our
dairy.men have chased cows around the
yard to take a bone away from her to keep
her from choking herself and yet did not
understand that she was only expressing the
fact that the material for bone was no lon
ger contained sufficiently in the food she got
from the land. The facts thus taught us
must be understood. But many Of our
farmers are too bigoted in their old notions
to learn, even from nature.
u. f. Jameson, of Irasburgh, spoke of
the carelessness Of farmers that allowed
their manure to leach by exposure to rains
As in making tea and coffee, or lye from
ashes, the tirst solution is the strongest, so
the liquid that runs from wet manure
heap contains most of the virtue Of the ma
nure. This is the soluble part, that alone
can be absorbed by the roots of plants and
60 to build them up and bring them to per.
fection. Under old stables, where the liquid
manure settles, earth may be found that is
worth as much, barrel for barrel, as a good
phosphate. We should have manure cellars
under our stables, where liquid matters may
be received and composted. He did not be-
lieve barn cellars properly managed would
produce any gases injurious to animals or
feed in the building above. In regard to
muck he thought that when composted with
manure the whole pile is worth as much for
iertilizing as pure dung.
Mr.. j. S. Shaw, of Charlotte, wanted to
know how to supply animals with what bone
they require.
MIR. John Quinlan, Of Charlotte, OBJ.
jected to underground manure cellars. He
thought manure could be kept out doors
without teaching if properly managed, and
thought the emanations from manure in eel.
lars injure both the cattle and the buildings.
He advocated the use of leaves as a bed
ding and an economical means of fertlliza-
tion. Also the use of clover as a green ma
nure. BY relying upon our own resources,
and using them, we can keep our land up
without foreign manures.
Prof Collier, in reply to question
about the uses Of lime and muck, said moth
ing differed more widely in its value than
muck, different beds Of which is made of
very different materials A peat-bed lying
where it cannot be eached, preserves its val.
ue, while if running water passes through it
its soluble matter is leached away. In re.
gard to the use of lime, nothing is more
valuable where you want to produce de-
composition, either Of animal or vegetable
matter. But when mixed with manure con-
tanning ammonia it will set it free and al
low it to waste. He thought commercial
fertilizers, if OF a proper character, would
be found to have their use, and an impor-
tant one on many farms.
DR.. Hoskins, Of st. Johnsbury, said ho was
interested always in the means Of fertilizing
the soil, and has Investigated the subject of
muck. Muck is an accumulation of veg
etable matter and manure is only an aocu.
mutation Of vegetable matter. Muck in
crude, raw state is often not Of apparent
benefit but when it is used as an absorbent
or mingled with manure it is valuable
Muck is not neat bedding for cattle l
prefer sawdust Muck is often put upon
the yard or cellar bottom for the cattle and
manure to rest upon. 1t should be dried
before used as an absorbent, as wet muck
can hold no more water. If muck is
mixed with manure the manure causes chemi-
cal changes in the muck that make it more
valuable. Muck mixed with ashes or lime un-
dergoes similar changes and becomes valu.
able. Ashes are best IN the mixture, as
potash is needed more than lime
Mr.. Chas d. Prindle, of Charlotte, had
used muck, and considered it good article,