Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1875-02-12
ayrlru(tural.
From the American Farmer.
WORK FOR THE MONTH.
February.

minds the farmer OF the approach OF
his season of active labor, and it is inn
portant that now whatsoever his hand
finds to do shall be forthwith dispatch
ed. in order to leave him free to un-
dertake other duties which will soon
be pressing upon him.
MANUREs AND CoMPosTs.-The
gathering together of materials for
making manure is work which ought
not to be neglected when opportuni-
ties offer at any season. If we dwell
frequently and earnestly on this SUBJ
ject, it is because its Importance justi-
ties the prominence and emphasis with
which we treat it: and, as for the sea-
son now at hand supplies must soon
be gotten ready, our suggestions will
not at least be untimely. The cOllec-
ton. manipulation by turning over
and commingling with richer material,
of all refuse organic substances; the
preservation from teaching by rain
falls of the most valuable ingredients
of the manure pile and compost heap:
the occasional dusting over the fer
menting piles of plaster to absorb or
fix the valuable but evanescent ammo
MIA constantly escaping;-these things
can be done at all times. Compact
YOUR manure: do not permit it to lie
over the whole yard. Ifimpracticable
to keep it under cover, which it would
pay you to make some provision for
doing. at least do not let stream of
water run through it. Dig out hol-
low where the liquids will run to the
centre. AMI see that all the urine from
the animals does run there, and not
TO waste.
Nothing Of organic origin, whether
animal or vegetable, should be allow
ed to decay on the farm anywhere
save in the compost heap. Leaves,
sods. trimmings of the garden walks,
rubbish from the fence corners. road
scrappings, bones, spent ashes, pine
skaters, slops from the house, dead
animals. all may be added, with profit.
to the heap. If the bulk of these ex-
traneous substances is supposed to be
worthless on account of their largely
consisting of vegetable fibre, that car
bon abundant always in the air, a great
mistake is committed. Its addition
to the soil enlarges its proportion of
humus. and, it may be, adds directly
to the plant food present.
OF course. us the basis Of all COM
post heaps, that which gives the ae-
tivity to the whole, good strong stable
manure, must be present. The fer
mentation which begins in it spreads
to and includes everything else which
is added. Hence will be seen the ne
cessity for as thoroughly as possible
incorporating the various substances
intimately together. As necessary
condition to the putrefaction of the
heap, moisture must be present, but il
must not be too abundant. Water
not only aids in the decomposition OF
the crude matters, but, by dissolving
some Of the products of their chang
ing shapes. it keeps them from vola-
tilizing. This is especially true o.
carbonate of ammonia, which is abun-
dantly formed in decaying manure
heaps. Both this substance and free
ammonia are very liable to escape into
the air unless some pains is taken to
fix the volatile element. This is the
office of the plaster or sulphate OF
lime, which, added to the heap, results
in a double decomposition, leaving car.
Donate of lime and sulphate of ammo
MIA, the latter salt not possessing the
volatile nature of the carbonate. Di.
luted sulphuric acid added to the pile
effects the same purpose, probably more
effectively, but the agent is one dan
gerous to handle.
We might summarize the proper
treatment of manure piles and com.
post heaps, or both combined together
as follows: Do not allow.them to be-
come waters soaked, but see that mois
ture enough is present to facilitate
fermentation and prevent tire-fangins
or burning; occasionallymix the whole
mass together us far as may be practi.
cable. putting the straw and other car.
bonaceous matters into us close con-
tact as possible with the fresh dung
and alternately; from time to time
sprinkle plaster over the whole heap:
and, as not less important than any OF
the above, see that all organic substan-
ces on or about the farm, around the
out-houses, from the dwelling, are
added to and thoroughly incorporated
with the heap.
SOWING CLOVER SEED.-The plan
of sowing clover seed OH the snow,
when there is any on the grain fields
this month, is one which has many
advantages. The seeds can be distri-
buted very regularly, and the snow in
melting carries them down into the
crevices of the soil, where they are rea-
dy to germinate. If not so sown, it is
preferable to wait until the frost is
out of the ground and lightly harrow
them in, and roll. On most soils a
bushel of seed is sufficient to SOW fiye
acres. In the South, fall sowing is
believed to be preferable. A good ar.
ticle from practical hand was given
in last months Farmer on getting a
set Of clover. which it will be worth