Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-05-20
agricultural department.
POULTRY MANURE.

Editor Southern CuAivator This manure
being greatly superior to any other that can
be obtained about the farm, it would be we'll
for farmers to determine how to preserve and
apply it to the best advantage. Saved prop
erly, it is inferior only to Peruvian guano,
and this latter commodity is now being sold
in Savannah at four cents per pound, by the
single sack. Nearly every farlner-aud in
fact nearly every householder our South
ern towns, keep more or less poultry but the
greater portion of them, however, do not ap-
preciate the value of the manure of the poul-
try, and do not consider that it is worth some
thing more than the amount expended for
their food, as general rule.
We might present calculation, showing
how many tons of this valuable fertilizer might
be saved in this State, if it Was universally
appreciated by poultry-keepers, and an eco
nomical method of preserving it adopted.
While such a calculation might be instruct
ive-even though rough approximation, as
it would necessarily be-we defer it for the
present, and offer few suggestions relative
to its proper preservation and application.
There are two ways Of preserving it-both
good, but one so much better than the other,
we shall only speak of it. This method will
secure the manure in concentrated form,
and farmers will find it much more economic
al to secure all their manure as much as posi-
BILE in this manner; for if bulky, the labor of
applying is greatly increased. Consequently,
in a great many instances, it is not adequate
ly applied.
In the first place, the poultry house should
have tight roof. The roosting poles should
be placed parallel to each other, and 1S inches
apart. Out of inch plank placed on one side,
make plane of sufficient size to occupy the
space beneath the roosts. Elevate the rear
end of the plane Q! or feet, and have the
front side II or Is inches from the ground
From light, IL inch plank make a long mar
row box to set under the front side, into which
the drcppngs can be scooped every week or
oftener, as the number Of fowls may justify.
The scooper may be narrow board with
handle, or a hoe will answer.
Outside of the house, and exposed to the
sun, have a box 5 x 10 feet, and one foot in
depth, the north side of which should be raised
6 or 8 inches in order that the sun may have
full play on it, and so that when it rains, the
water may be turned off. A cover should be
provided out of light plank, and should be
laid on whenever rain is threatened. The
manure being taken from the poultry house
from time to time and emptied into this box,
should be sprinkled with land plaster in the
proportion of part Of plaster to 2 of manure.
The plaster will absorb the greater part of
the ammonia that would otherwise be dis
PEELED by the suns heat. Only small pro-
portion, however, is liable to be lost so long as
complete fermentation is not allowed to take
place. Water falling on it is the most i'm
portant to be guarded against, for it would
wash out the phosphates.
The manure should be forked over every
day or so, to hasten the evaporation of the
water, and when it is thoroughly dried, it
should be powdered as fine as possible and
put into barrels, and housed until wanted for
application to the soil.
1t can be powdered sufficiently by drawing
all from one end of the box, and then with
the hoe drawing it back, a little at time,
and working it over-shovelling it into the
barrel as fast as powdered. 1t should be
used as Peruvian guano, but in little larger
proportion. The gardner will want no better
manure for his corn, cabbages, squashes, &c.
When used for cotton it would be better to
mix with superphosphate and ashes, just be.
fore being applied to the soil. The ashes
being perfectly dry, no loss of ammonia will
occur. A close poultry house is more liable
to be infested with vermin than an open one,
and the following precautions should be OBJ
served
Whitewash the house inside and out occa-
sionally. Have the floor 6 or inches deep
in sand if convenient. In one corner Of the
house keep shallow broad box, constantly
filled with dry ashes, for the poultry to dust
themselves in. Sprinkle the roosting poles
and plane every week or two with a solution
of carbolic acid, using watering pot for the
purpose. There should be no nests in the
roosting division.
In conclusion we would say, that this course
of procedure involves but little trouble and
expense, and will pay for itself ten times over.
G..