The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-11-14

ly make poor land rich. 1t also
requires some judgment when and
so what extent it should lie carried.
Lands that ale to be plowed much
deeper han usual should be broken
up IN the fall, no crop should be
seeded the ensuing season that
does not admit of frequent plowing
or narrowing, and if practicable
give 1t a dressing before planting,
unless previously prepared for the
operation, by lining a year or two
in advance, Of lime, or some other
kind of manure.
APPLICATION OF MANURES.
We will 10Y proceed to a third
important step in the process OF
''renoyating worn out land" The
proper kind, and the application
of manure: viz, stable manure,
and vegetable matter produced by
the farm; lime, mari, bones, ashes,
guano, plaster, and turning in green
crops.
1t may be considered almost an
axiom in farming operations that
no one should 60 IN debt for any
kind Of manures, unless in favored
situations where the price is very
low, and the transpOrtiOn cheap,
Except perhaps for lime, without
first having fully availed himself
of all his own resources; and his
manure heap, too, should be his
first care. No farmer need ever be
at a loss for profitable employment
for himself and hands in adding to
his stock of this all-important re-
quisite to successful operations;
and in preventing the loss and
what is already accumulated. When
not necessarily otherwise engaged,
the time is well employed in many
situations by hauling the rich earth
and decomposed vegetable matter
which has accumulated IN the
marshes leaves, weeds, etc., and
Incorporating them with the con-
tents of his barnyard; independent
of their own fertilizing propert es,
they are valuable as absol bents, to
receive and retain the more valua-
bic ingredients that otherwise
might be lost IN the process of fer
mentation and decomposition; a few
bushels of plaster may be used
with much advantage Tor tie same
object.
1t was the maxim of a wise man,
who began the world with nothing,
and became independent--and that,
too, without the charge of dishon-
esty or extortion ever having been
alleged against him-that "a penny
saved is two pence gained" 1t is
emphatically true, with regard to
the saving and judiciouS applica-
ton of manure.
MARL.-I can say but little from
experience, In the use of calcareous
manures; but am fully satisfied
both by information derived from
others, and from personal observa-
ton, that wherever it abounds, it
might be made a mine of wealth to
the proprietor and the adjacent dis.
[ trIctS which admit of water trans.
portatiOn.
LIME.-After many years eXpe'
t rience IN the use of lime, | woulC
advise in all cases where it can be
: accomplished to spread it on the
surface from l to 3 or 4 years be
t fore the land is broken up. The
effect of a single winters frosts anc
+ rains will more etfectually dissolv,
G and bring it into action, and bene
e fit the succeeding crop, as also the
3 land itself, than is attained in {
!, longer period, by blowing it in a
: applied. In this way, also a mucl
f larger quantity may b. cas- y appli
; ed to the same land at a single dress
: ing. With a good sod of gras
roots to receive it, 100 or even 15t
: bushels to the acre will do no harm
v but on stiff clays, with little soil 0
: mold on the surface, so bushel
# would be a very liberal application
Y as a first dressing, if put on imme
diately after blowing. 1t would b
# better to apply a less quantity a
first, and renew it as soon as a
i increased growth of yegetatio.
l. could be obtained.
When line is apple in yer
large quantities, and immediatel
'e incorporated with a poor soil, hay
d ing little II no vegetable matter i
lie it. the effect is to combine with tn
r silicious particulars, aboundin
d more or less in all clay soils,-an
p form hard compact masses, tia