Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1876-03-21
agricultural.
For he OXFORD DEMOCRAT
MaHUFSS.

ductiOn Of profitable crops, Is plentiful
supply Of good manure. No matter how
poor. WORKOUT and uniertilc a soil Is, Il
can be made 10 produce good crops II well
supplied with manures containing such
clements as are needed by the plants
which are being cultivated Excellent
specimens Of different kinds Of plants
have teen grown IN pure ground glass
which OF itself was entirely devoid OF
any plant toCd, by supplying, in liquid
form, the substances necessary TO the
growth Of the plants.
Plants of the most thrifty appearance
NAV ba grown in Jars or other vessels OF
water, if in the water are placed IN prop
er quantities, solutions Of the elements OF
plant food. The principal Use OF the
ground should be 10 uphold and supper,
the plant while it Is fed by the cultiyator,
for il crop takes from the soil elements
that are not ted to 1t, the land Is growing
pooTer and deteriorsting. No farmer can
afford 70 have his land lose its fertility,
and the only manner in which he can pre-
vent from 50 doing Is by supplying 10
his growing plants 80 much ieOd that they
will abstract nothing TO the soil. and the
food must be Of the right kind.
Just here Is where s. knowledge Of
chemistry Is particularly valuable TO the
farmer, 10 enable him 10 determine what
kind Of fertilizers are best adapted 10
supply the deficiency, but, unfortunately
farmers as a general thing have no know
edge Of agricultural chemistry. In any
other profession than that OF agriculture,
the man who would make liying-to say
nothing Of accommodating = competency
must study his business must acquire all
the information obtainable, bearing upon
his profession; must exercise all his skill
and energy in practicing what he has
learned and to keep himself posted upon
the new discoveries in branches Of know
ledge connected with his pursuit-or else
tan. miserably.
But farmers, having heretofore in this
country been blessed with fertile soil, an
active and high priced market, and not
having been subjected tOlkeen competition
have piOdded along without giving much
more thought 10 the science Of farming
than cOal-heayer Is expected to give TO
astronomy. Fortunately Tor the country
At large, We are now waking W to the
necessity OF improving our agriculture a.
We have improved all our other branches
OF industry, and As tse FIRST step in IN
proving a farm Is TO fertilize 1t, We ge,
back 10 our subject of manUres.
We.ai. recoguize-atter fashion-that
manure Is necessary 10 the production OF
good crops upon our New England farms :;
but We do not as Yet appreciate its nee
essity fully, nor the advisability Of apply
night more fully and with better judgment
Sill most Of Us would use more manure
than We now DO if We had it, or could get
It without expense.
There Is great amount Of manure
wasted on almost every farm which might
be saved with little trouble and made
profitable use Of. One Of the most com.
mon sources OF loss. Is an impertectly con-
structed barnyard-Otten constructed only
by the traupiDg OF the cattle which allows
every heavy rain 10 wash of quantities
Of IFS most valuable contents. This leak
should be stopped at once wherever it oe-
cures. \ vault capable Of containing
ali surplus liquid manure should be made
and the drainage of the baruyard con-
Quoted into II and absorbed by peat, turf,
dry earth, ashes or any vegetable sub
stance that can be procured. Anything
which Is dead Is = valuable fertilizer
unless il be tanned leather-and should
never be allowed &c decay outside of the
compost heap. All the slops and drainage
from the house should be utilized by being
conducted TO 4 tank or vault where they
can be absorbed as recommended for the
overflow from the barnyard.
Forest leaves make an excellent bed
ding for cattle and horses and constitute
the best kind Of manure when eomposted.
They can be used TO excellent advantage
in absorbing liquid manure, and the cost
Of producing them is next TO nothing
How many tons Of valuable matter is left
TO rot annually in our woods and swamp,
which might be adding to the fertility o.
our cultivated lands, and which we should
50 apply if We were not 80 studidly care
less Of cur interests.