St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1874-09-18

nures, this is well. so far us mineral in
gradients are considered, but there Is Il
deficiency of organic matter. Mannres
must be III large quantity, as well as OF
good quality; there must he organic
matter-animal or vegetable, Ol both,
and there must be enough to affect the
physical condition of sOils-to render
heavy soils light and open-so that
roots can penetrate easily and the air
circulate freely. and to give light. sandy
soils loaImy cast that will enable them
to retain water.
Hence. the value of swamp muck. III
I rightly manipulated and wisely applied.
it will prove itself of considerable value
not solely as IL feeder of plants. but
mainly us Il modlicr of soils making
both sandy aud clay soils easier to cul-
tiVatc and more productive. and that,
too, somewhat permanently Ignore so.
ut least. than is tue of most fertilizers.
All analysts agree that old, black
swamp muck contains Just about the
same ingredients is the solid cNcrc-
mcnt> of horned cattle. when hay or
grass fed. except that the soluble aka
lies of the former-potash and soda and
il little common salt have been washed
ont, while they remain in the latter
This shows for swamp muck IL very
considerable value, since the addition
of IL little wood ash, very little common
salt. and little lime to ueutraizc its
acility all costing but il tritle make
it almost precisely the equivalent OF
manure from under the stable window.
But we appeal from Il scientific to II
practical view of the subject. Many
suspect the deductions of science, as if
true every where else. hut false in agri
culture: while few will doubt the tcSti
Iuony of sound. practical. successful
farmers. Thousands Of such have used
f swamp muck freely, and. though cost
: ing something for labor and for desira
bile additions, they have found it To pay
better than any fertilizers they have
purchased. We know many who tcsti
. fy to this effect. and we believe THEN
testimony is reliable. as il agrees strict
: " with the scientific views on the sub
icct.
As to the soils t" Nhich it is adapted {:
4. OF course il need not he applied T." low.
I swampN Land. Thrs" already contain
cnough of it. and to add more would
he like carrying coal to Newcastle. BN
the way, ON the sandy Lands of New
Jersey Strawberries are grown more hv
, the aid of swamp muck. wherever it
can he had, than of all nilIcr fertilizers.
and are such i'll quality Us cannot he
| beaten.
| Next: on turf land. and on land ire
/ qucntlN altcrnatcd with grass. and con
: Sequemtly well supplied with organic
/ matter, swamp muck cannot he expect
, ed To he a. immediately useful ~ on
To- worn soils. where the organic matter i
! deficient. On all mpland> sandy.
+ loamy or clay it is sure To report il
self taVnrahly i'll the crops. and. hr>idr~
t" effect Il permanent improvement al
soils having too much sand or too much
clay.
t For gardening. farming and nursery
purposes to all of which ii i we'll suit
= eel. better. perhaps. to the nuISrrN than
t to tn" Others it should. if possible. he
, dug The Nr:n previous to It's Use. rs
+ early Is August 81 September. and ill i
dry time. If thrown int" high piles.
=. the water will he drained out and il
. viii Iot again he saturated. and will he
lighter To remove. " much IL can hc
used. as an ahSoihrnt of the liquid r<-
crcmcn> of the animals. should h, car
rird t" the stalls, folds. yards and pens
t in a> dry Il state ;S possible. to hc used
lpi lHil IHil'>t. ne >dll> Ill Inc
| liquid cNcIrmcnt> will supply just " hat
the muck Aant> t" make it a> good :i>
the manure heaps: and III His east. u"
addition of potash. lime and salt will hr
required.
Bnt il not brought To tine barn and
mixed with the barn manure hv the
feet of animals. it i we'll (" mix with it
one hU>h,l of wood ash, one ct lime.
and and one of some cheap agricultural
salt To each cart load. That will make
a> good is the Average of barn manure
for corn. grass. potatoes. nr almost any
other crop. For corn it i excellent
for POTATOES. nothing l. better: it will
insure Il good crop. and Il good quality.
| very little liable Ia the rot. if placed Il
small >l"Ncltul i'll the hill and covered.
. with the seed. tour inches deep. 1t
applied to grass land. the same addi-
tIon ~ above can he recommended.
But if applied To "raS> land. with no
addition. and without cnmpo>tin" with
manure. il should he dug at least n
Nr;ir beforehand. and then spread "h III
the fall, To have the benefits of he win
ter troStS. SHOWS and IaiI~. The water
from SHOW and rain contains consider
able ammonia and swamp muck is
one of the most powerful ntaincr> of
ammonia for the use of crops.
For Indian com there il nuthn" bet
ter than harm Wand manure, into which
dry swamp muck. equal in quantity to
the manure itself. has been thrown du-
ring the fall. winter and spring, and
there thoroughly mixed and com
posted under the feet of animals If
applied while in Il state of active fer
mcntation all the better. as it will then
: bring up the seed in Il very short time.
and produce Il most vigorous growth
In this WAY the contents of the yard
are doubled and. ut the same time. the
, quality Is fully kept up. We say this
last H. Il result of ON own experiences
confirmed 10y the testimony of farmers
i'll whose Judgement we have entire
confidence.
The best fields of corn that we have
ever seen were grown by barn manure.
with an equal quantity of well prcpar-
l eel muck, twenty to twenty five loads
OF this mixture to the acre, yielding. in
several caSeS within our knowledge.
over Il hundred bushels of Shcllcd corn
per acre.-pen and PiOT.
Hu@~k