The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1875-03-16


Take two loads, or about seventy-6ve
bushels, of fresh horse dung as free from
straw as possible, and mix with it, by |
shovoling, ten bushels Of bonc-ash Throw
the mixture into tight bin made of
boards, on the ground, without bottom,
and tread it in pretty firmly. The object
Of this bin is to have the mass heat equal.
| ly, as it will DOT do in conical pile The
size should be six or seven feet square and |
high enough to hold the compost. Then
wet the compost with the richest fertiliz
ing liquid you can obtain. Chamberlye
is the best, or the teachings of manure.
pile, or the liquid manure from the stable
if it can be easily collected. Soapsuds
from the wash will answer 10 part, but
we should prefer to set up manure leach
and run the suds through that in order to
make it richer, as this richness in nitro.
genous matter is very important in order
to produce the right kind of a fermenta.
ton. The liquid should be carefully ad-
ded to the pile, distributing it evenly over
tho mass, so as to wet it all alike The
quantity required will vary some, accord.
ing to the moisture in the manure, but
usually from one to two barrels will be
absorbed. Do not put on any more than
the pile will retain without teaching.
In few DAYS the pile will begin to
heat, and will soon become very hot, &C.
companied with a strong smell Of ammo
MIA, or "hartshorn." As soon as this oc.
ours, throw about five or six inches in
depth of good soil on the heap, level it
off, and beat it down moderately with the
back of the shovel. This is to absorb the
ammonia, and prevent waste. Ia about
week, if there has been strong heat,
throw the contents Of the bin out upon
the ground shoveling it over and mixing
it thoroughly, and then shovel it back,
trsading it as before, and again wet it
down. Go through with this process
three times, when if it has been rightly
managed, you will have fine black mass,
small handful of which 10 hill OF corn
or potatoes will have all the effect of the
best superphosphate So long as it re
mains moist this mass will still have a
tendency to heat, which should be guard.
ed against by frequently shoveling it over
protecting it well from the rain until you
want to use it.
The value of this compost,in our opin.
ion, is fully equal to that of ton and a
half Of the best superphosphate, and the
following estimate will show their com.
parative cost
IL tons superpho.phatc. at $50
per ton SIS 90
COMPOST
ton of bones, (Which when burnt
will produce tea bushels of bone
ash,) Mt ! cent per lb 500
Two loads horse manure, at 81 ! 90
Another lead to leach for the liquid ? 90
Labor, burning aud pulveri,ing
bones 90
Labor making the compost 100
--S}2 90
Profit Si3 20
Very little fuel, and that Of cheap
kind, will be required for burning the
bones, as they have enough combustible
matter in them to burn themselves, after
they get started. They should be burned
white, in which condition they can be
beaten to powder with ease. We have
put down the cost in the above estimate
at the highest figures, since the boys in a
neighborhood will always collect bones
for one cent pound, and often for less.
Old rotten manure is better than fresh
for teaching, to produce the liquid. Any
old cask, or common ashleach, answers
the purpose for this, and the manure
should be pressed in as firmly as it can be
and allow the liquid to run through.
AS "run-out' land is quite likely to be
weak in potash, as well as in phosphoric
acid, it is highly probable that for the
best results, dressing Of ashes should be
applied to the same crop with the fertili-
ger. IT there is reasonable doubt on
this point, part may be ashcd and part
left without ashes or three strips may
be made the first with the compost
alone the next with ashes alone, and the
third with both. One thing should al.
ways be remembered in applying phos-
phate-which is that it is not complete
manure, like animal dung. If a soil is
deficient in potash, you may apply phos-
pilates foot deep without getting crop;
if phosphoric acid is wanting, you may
apply any quantity Of potash with the
same result But animal manure con.
tains both, and will, consequently. give
good result alone. Ignorance or neglect
Of this fact is the reason why we so often
hear OF failure in the use Of artificial fer.
tilizers, even when of the best quality
Plants will not flourish unless all their
wants are fully supplied II. Watch.
man a1M Journal.
SECOND MEETING OF THE CONNECTICUT
VALLEY AGRIcULTURAL lNsrITUTE.-A
large and enthusiastic meeting of this In.
stitute, was held at Middletown, Connec.
ticut, on Wednesday Of last week Ad-
dresses were made by Prof Levi Stock.
bridge Of the Massachusetts, Agricultural
College on the cultivation Of tobacco in
the Connecticut Valley.
Hon. Richard Goodman Of Lenox,
Mass, now TO make New England farm
ing successful, and the value OF expert.
mental stations, and the needs Of estab.
fishing one in Connecticut was presented
by Prof o. W. Atwater of Middletown,
and Hon. T. S. Gold, secretary of Con
necticut State Board of Agriculture.
These addresses and discussions together
with the opening address of the President
Of the Institute, Gov. f. II. Hyde, we
shall report in our next issue. The Mid
} dlesex County Agricultural Society of
} which o. V, Coffin, Esq, of Middetown
is president, gave the Institute a cordial
, welcome with hospitality to the extent of
, furnishing public banquet dinner and
sumner and having all the exnenses OF