Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-11-26
(Original.]
MAKING MANURE.

During the months Of December and Janu-
ary very little work can be done in the fields.
The ground is not in condition to be plowed,
and almost every other kind Of farm work is
suspended on account of the weather. Per
haps, in no way could the time be more profit
ably spent, during these months, than in COL
lecting manure. The leaves, which accumu-
late about the yard, should be collected and
thrown into the horse stables and COW houses.
By this process double purpose will be SUBJ
served. The domestic animals will be more
comfortable, and very large pile of good
manure will be accumulated by the first of
March. This plan of keeping stock in houses
with an abundance Of leaves, is much better
than to haul the leaves into the barn lot and
have them tramped up by the stock during
the winter. Experience proves that the uric
acid is that which gives stable manure its vir-
tue. Where stock are fed in the open lot the
strength of their droppings is washed away by
the rains. To keep COW out in the rain in
muddy lot, during the cold stormy weather
of winter, is sin, and most miserable econ
omy. A COW, we'll stalled and supplied with
abundance of bedding, will half pay for the
food she eats, with the manure she makes
This is low estimate. The manure will be
worth, in the spring, nearly as much as all
the food she consumed.
A vast amount of manure may be made by
hauling leaves and putting them up in pens
If the leaves are thrown up wet, they will
heat and in short time become decomposed.
Leafmanure is not exceedingly strong, but if a
portion of top.surface is mixed with the leaves,
it makes a most excellent manure. Every
one who has covered Irish potatoes with leaves,
knows this to be a fact. Pine leaves are bet-
ter than oak In fact, pine leaves put in the
drill and bedded upon, are as good as the best
guano. If our people would only appropri-
ate it, there is a fortune in our old pine-felds.
In some countries the farmers use what
they call lime-pits, for the purpose of making
manure. A large pit is dug in the ground,
and vegetable matter of all kinds, such as
weeds and leaves, is thrown into it. With
the vegetable matter lime is thrown in. This
hastens the decomposition, and in time the pit
becomes full of rich black manure.
Vast quantities of manure can be made by
hauling the vegetable deposits from the creek
bottoms When bitches are cut through bot
toms, often large amount of the richest ma
nure is thrown on the banks to waste Some
times this is necessary to form kind of levee.
Wherever it is not required to prevent an
overflow of the water, it should he hauled out
and spread upon the cultivated fields.
1t is much less expensive to make manure
and enrich old worn out land, provided it is
not washed into gullies, than it is to clear the
forest and put it in a state of cultivation. 1t
may be said that under the present circum-
stances, very little land can be manured in
one season. This is true, but little or much,
it pays better in the end to make manure than
it does either to work unmanured land or to
buy commercial fertilizers. Manure, espe-
cially vegetable manure, is food for the land.
It gives it permanent strength. Fertilizers
are simply stimulants. They act upon the
land as intoxicating liquors act upon the
human. 1t makes it strong for period and
then leaves it exhausted. Fertilizers are val
uable but they do not supply the place of
manure. They are valuable, because they
make manure act promptly. The tendency,
at present, amongst our farmers, is to depend
upon fertilizers, and neglect the making of
manure almost entirely. This is wrong. 10
buy small quantity of fertilizers and make
large amount Of manure at home, is a safe
practice; but to make small quantity Of
manure on the plantation, and buy a large
amount of fertilizers, is hazardous mode of
| procedure,