Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-01-01
Aaritnltnral department.
From the Southern Cultvator.
BARN.YARD URE..COMPOSTS AND
GREEN CROPS.

From the Southern Cuvator
BARN.YARD MANURE. .COMPOSTS AND
GREEN CROPS.
In a previous article we advocated the con-
ceutration Of stable manure, for the sake of
diminishing the cost of carting and applying
it. The method proposed was to allow the
manure to accumulate in the stalls, without
using litter, throwing the drier portions from
the edges upon the central parts which were
moistened with the urine. The advantages
claimed are, small bulk, comparative dryness,
avll-regulatcd fermentation, Saving Of all the
urine, minimum Of handling, and an article of
the very best quality. Even in France and
Germany, where labor has been mparatively
cheap, this plan is extensively practiced, and
is constantly gaining in public favor We
might add, that, should the odor of es-
Gaping ammonia be at any time observed, a
sprinklng ofstrong copperas water will at
once prevent loss by fixing it. Copperas is
recommended in place of plaster, because the
latter will fix ammonia only when there is a
plenty of ,uater present-in substances simply
moist, the requisite chemical changes will not
take place.
We proceed now to discuss the best method
of treating manure, which is daily or fire.
quently removed from the stalls. When this
plan is adopted, litter has to be used to absorb
the urine or else this substance must be con-
Quoted into tanks or allowed to run off and
waste. No intelligent farmer would permit
the last to occur; practically it is question
therefore between the use of litter or tanks.
The Southern farmer, with his present sur
roundings of deal, unsystematic and uncon-
trolable labor, would not hesitate long in
choosing the littering arrangement. AS an
absorbent, straw is the best material to be
had-an equal weight Of leaves will not take
up near so much fluid. Dry saw-dust is good
us an absorber, but not equal to straw or leaves
in the elements which its contributes to the
manure. Whatever material is employed,
enough should be used to absorb all the urine,
as the value of the urine furnished by cow
in year is almost equal to that of the solid
excrcment dropped during the same time,
and that of the horse is half as valuable as
his excrement. Not onl so, but the elements
in which the solid excrements are deficient,
abound in the urine and vice versa, SO that a
mirture of the two approrimates complete
manure.
However thoroughly stalls are Uttered, if
the manure is removed daily, strong ammo
niacal odor will always be present. 1t is ad-
visable therefore in such practice to make
frequent additions of some substance that
will fla 1t. Plaster or copperas is to be pre-
ferred Insufficient moisture is present for the
former to act and remove the smell, it should
be selected. (This is easily tested by trial.
If it fails, the copperas will not-let small
quantity reduced 10 powder be sprinkled in
the wettcst part of the stall, just after it is
cleaned out and before more litter is added.
TREATMENT AFTER REMOVAL FROM THE
STALL.
Pens, to receive the manure, should be loca-
ted on high ground over which no water runs,
and if possible in shaded situations. They
should be as large as possible to admit of ma.
terial being thrown from the side to the Gen.
tire, and should be from four to six feet high.
The object in having them large is to diminish
the amount of surface exposed to the air in
comparison with the bulk Having selected
spot and determined the size, excavate to
the depth of few inches, and ram the bot
tom we'll. This serves as reservoir to catch
any DRAWINGS which might run through and
be lost. Let the dirt removed be placed
around the edges, so as to elevate them and
prevent water running in. The sides of the
pen should be boarded up tight, to prevent
the edges from becoming dry. lfrails or poles
are used, these should be notched and let
down on each other as closely as possible.
Everything being ready, the manure from
the horse stable, the cow stall, the pig pen,
&C., should be placed in uniform alternating
layers ola few inches in thickness clear across
the pen-and firmly trodden down. If taken
directly from the stalls, the materials will
usually be moist enough for we'll regulated
putrefactive fermentation to 60 on. (Ihere
ought to be about as much moisture present,
as in land in good ploughing condition) If
less than this is present, water should be
sprinkled over the mass. Instead of pure
water epeak solution Of oil Of pitrol would be
preferable-using the oil at the rate of about
20 pounds per annum to each horse and COW
whose droppings are added to the pile. The
acid would not interfere at all with the fer
mentation, but would most etfectually fc and
retain all the ammonia generated.
ADDITION OF OTHER SUBSTANCES TO MANURE
It is best to mix no other substances Of a
bulky character with the manure taken from
the stalls, because here also concentration is
highly desrable-the most value in the
smallest bulk is the desideratum. If great
pains are taken to regulate the fermentation
and oil Of vitriol added to prevent loss of am
monia, concentrated and valuable substances,
such as cotton seed and bone dust may with
advantage be added to the pile. Cotton seed
may be put in layers of half the thickness Of
that of each substance from the stalls and al
tcrnating regularly with them; thus-horse
manure, cotton seed, COW manure, and so on.
Bone flour or phosphates should be sprinkled
on the layers of horse manure. Remember
that moisture and even packing down in every
part, are essential to we'll regulated fermen-
tation and to secure loss from over-heating or
fire -fanging If water from roofs does not
fall on the pile, there is no absolute necessity
for covering manure pile. Shade is desira-
bic, however, and if roof can be cheaply and
conveniently thrown over it, let it be done
possibly during excessive rains, some drain
| ings may run off laden with valuable mate
rials
HOW LONG SHOULD THE MANURE REMAIN IN
TIE HEAP?
We answer until thoroughly decomposed; /;
our reason for so answering is, that after COM
plcte decomposition, the bulk and weight are
only about half what they Originally We're
Much is gained therefore in the cost of hand
ling and applying, while little is lost but hu-
mus forming substances, which it is contended
oo, bo f,rn;sbol ohnanor hv other mpans-