Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1878-02-20

dug IN the summer and intended for
this purpose, the dryer portions should
be taken to the barnyard and placed
under shelter; and in piling it up it
would be well to mix it thoroughly with
small quantity of lime, to prepare it
for quick decomposition. Another add
vantage of such treatment is that a
larger quantity Of it can afterward be
added to the manure in the compost
heap. If then composted in proportion
to five loads of muck to one Of manure,
the absorption of urine and the reten.
ton of gases, together with the ele-
ments of the muck itself, will render the
whole mass as good as an equal bulk of
uncomposted manure. The most expe-
dltlous way to prepare muck for use is
to mix with it quantity of lime, in the
proportion of from three to five BUSH
els of helatter to cord of the form
er. The lime to be used for this pur-
pose should always be fresh Stacked;
and if it is thoroughly blended with the
mass its effect is invariably more pow
erful than if spread in alternate layers.
as some advise. Work the heap over
in about ten days, and it will be ready
for application to the land in three or
four weeks; or it may be used as an alb
sorbent of animal manure after three
months, for this interval at least should
always be allowed to intervene between
the application of lime to muck and
the use of the mixture in the stable.
Muck may be advantageously COM
posted with barnyard manure in any
proportions, from one load of each to
five or the former with one of the latter:
but the nearer the compost approaches
to equal proportions Of both the more
satisfactory the results. The heap
should be built in alternate layers of
from six to eight inches, and care
should be taken that the muck is wet
when composted, to promote fermen-
tation and the diffusion of alkaline in
gradients. 1t should be worked over
occasionally, and if the heap is so con-
structed as to permit this to be done
with the pillow, it will insure consider
able saving Of labor. Under certain
conditions, after partial decay has taken
place, further decomposition ceases I'M
less promoted by alkaline applications.
The decaying vegetable matter contains
several acids. as gallo and tannic,
which are developed by fermentation
and the tibers in the muck become
coated with n species Of asphaltum or
pirchy matter, which prevents the
necessary access Of air to the inner
portions, and SO prevents decompo-
sition. Under these circumstances, the
contents of the heap should be freely
exposed to air and warmth and an
alkali (lime, potash, or soda) should be
applied. to neutralize the acids and dis
solve the sphaltic coating. In this con-
nection the application of ashes is
generally very effective; for, although
there is considerably more alkali in a
bushel of lime freshly Stacked than in
one of ashes, yet the potash in the
former is much more soluble, and, con.
sequently, more readily diffilsed
throughout the heap. Mari, shell-sand
and soapsuds, thoroughly mixed with
the compost, are also promotive of
fermentation, as they are also rich in
alkaline properties. Finally, the best
use of muck is an ASSORTMENT in the
stable, pig-pen, shcep-fold and barn
yard In these its own fcrtilizing pro-
perties are best developed, while it col
lects and retains much of the urine
and ammonia, which would otherwise
be wasted. Properly decomposed, its
effects are good on all soils, even on re-
claimed swamp-land; but it is most
beneficial on light, sandy ground