The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1877-01-13
CONTINUED FROM FIRST PAGE.

advantage as fertilizers. l would, how
ever, rather reserve them for the benefit of
the peach trees than apply them as manure
OF German origin, has lately claimed no.
tice. If it be of value as manure, it must
be like the mari of our country, kept rather
close to the place where found. 1t does
not appear that either will bear the expense
of much transportation. The same may be
said of many articles found in natural de-
posit, or turned out by factories i'll certain
places. The sea weed thrown on the coast
of New England is, to the farmers within
reach Oft, a source of manurial wealth. The
menhaden" fish, caught in large masses
on the shores of Connecticut and New Jer-
sey, constitute, after the oil is expressed, a
rich munure for the soil. The farmers in
those States, who may obtain this in COM
minuted state at $40 to Sl5 per ton, may
do well to employ it. But whoever attempts
its use, at the prices paid for bone or the
richer guanos, will find his money wasted.
l have had it to benefit two successive crops,
and again have had it to not reach into the
second year so as to improve the wheat for
which it was applied.
have had great result in grass from
an application of the refuse chemical
works, chiefly silicate of potash. 1t lasted
but for one crop, and hence should be val
ued at little by the ton. The glue fac
tories, the abattoire slaughter houses, and
many other places turn out refuse of much
value. Some of them. like the silicate OF
potash, producing, at first, striking effects.
Some of our phosphate makers have
taken advantage of their access to these
heaps of refuse to compound substance for
farmers use, which the name ''phosphate,
and charge of $40 per ton, dignity to tie
rank of commercial manures.
Farmers may have access to all sources
of manure, be they near at hand or more
remote, and it were doubtless the part OF
wisdom, after judicious selection of what
they will employ, to do the mixing them
selves.
All the foregoing has reference to i'm
ported manures-those of a source foreign
to the farm. Whoever has land not already
in the most productive state, would do well
to look around him, and consider whether
any of them are so at his hand, Or of such
value as to claim his attention. | noticed
when on a trip through some of our West
ern States and New York, two years ago,
the general inferiority of the crops, even
on their deep black loans, which are deemed
excellent land. was convinced the farm
ers had worked out some needed element
of fertility though comparing results only
with each other, and with the years jus.
previous, they seemed unconscious of it.
In central New York some farmers had
lately init oduced Moro Phillips phosphate.
They had found that 200 pounds of this
per acre, would add perhaps twenty bush
els to the crop of wheat and one ton to the
subsequent crop of hay. So true it is that
in rating the comparative value of ma
nures, each one must consider the demand
in his particular case. 200 pounds of Phil,
lips phosphate would not do much on ar
acre for us, and | think | was Informed
that an application of bone did little on the
soil of western New York.
In considering the resources for manure
foreign to the farm, poudrette or the pro
duct of the cesspoos of our cities or vii
lagos, should not be overlooked. Its value
is immense. But in our country, where
labor costs money, the matter of rendering
it available must be taken into account
It is not so durable as bone, nor so conve
nieDt in its preparation; but the supply Of
the latter, when demanded by all the broad
acres now producing cattle, must at once
fail and the question of utilizing the former
will have to be met and solved in the af
firmative by a not distant generation.
| have theory that the consummatior
to be reached by American farmers in al
good soils is to keep their fields self-sus
tanning. Stable manure, when from well
fed animals and not allowed to waste, con
tains most of the ingredients to supply Tho
loss to the soil by cropping. In attempt:
to get along without purchasing, however
no source of manurial deposit must be over
looked. Every creature that partakes o.
the good things of the earth must return
the excess to the soil or there will be deple
tion. There is reason to believe that wher
soil has been duly replenished with lime
bone, or potash, or any element specially
needed in that case, the effect of barn. yarc
manure itself will be more decided and
more enduring. Hence between the lead
ing materials for maintaining the fertility
of the soil there can be no controversy
One is needed to the proper development o
the other, and when, through their united
action, our lands may be found teemne
with crops that gladden. the beholder anC
cause our well-fed heards and ilocks to liz
down in contentment, we will, as matter
of course, have the soil SO shaded Will
clover and grasses, that these too shall ado
their undoubted effect to promote the gen
eral fertility.