Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1875-07-22
Liquid Manure for Growing Crops.

A jovial story is told respecting a
farmer and Horace Greeley in relation to
the use Of guano on potatoes, which sug-
gests how indefinitely we are accustomed
to speak of the ordinary affairs of life.
The farmer desired to know how Horace
liked guano on potatoes? To which he
replied that he had never employed that
material for such purpose, as he felt GER
tain that good gravy was preferable to
guano.
LIQUID manure, such as flows from a
compost-heap or ponds in barnyard, is a
tirstC lass appliance to any root crop. Ii
strong it should be applied before rain, as
it may be diluted and ditfused through
the soil. The cropmay easily be kept clean
of weeds if frequently brushed over with
the hoe before the weeds get a deep root.
If the crop is too thick in the row hoeing
crosswise of the row facilitates thriving
and wedding. WurZels are the hardest
plant and will yield larger than beets, but
the root is not as rich as the beet. The
potato Is an exception To a general rule OF
manuring other root crops. Such manure
Us will give out its strength slowly and
keep the soil loose is the best for potatoes.
Spent an-bark mixed with one-tenth part
of QuiCklime, and one common shovelful to
Il hill dropped on the seed and covered,
will operate as preventive of rot and i'm.
prove the quality of the potato for table use.
All Stops about the premises should be
carefully utilized. The CcSspool, the
stable and the refuse heap ought to serve
the useful aud appropriate purpose of aid
ing in the production of the household
vegetables and fruits. But, on the con
trary. il is doubtful if they are So utilized
completely in any establishment, even
where the means exist. Partially they
have in some few cases been made 10
serve their proper purpose with the best
effects. 1t Is in den>cly-populaed coun-
tries that liquid manuring has been
brought into use and these valuable ma
terials made serviceable. Without going
so far as China and Japan for examples of
this economy it may be stated that Bel
GUM, the most thickly peopled country of
Europe, offers the nearest and most con
spicuOus example of the preservation of
every kind of animal manure. both solid
and liquid, and its manipulation in tanks
for the purpose of applying It's so
luton or uilutiOn to gardens and small
farms. In many parts there Is an
arrangement of house drainage, combined
with garden irrigation, recently brought
into use that has been tested with satiStac-
tory results. and that Is full of promise for
It's future general adoption. This grew
out OF the successful application of the
system of earth closets 10 some cottages in
village in the county of Essex. The
vast superiority OF these over the common
filthy ce>~pool, makes more conspicuous
than ever the inconvenience, insalubrity
and waste OF the usual slop-holeS where
the LIQUID waste of the house was disposed
Of For sanitary purposes a method was
devised to dispose OF this waste, and for
economical purposes plan of utilizing it
was adopted.
In years past we have made use of
great many tons Of liquid manure by dip
ping il with pall from depression at
one side OF the yard and pouring ii in a
hoEshtad resting on stone boat The