The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1879-05-01
Making. and Handling Manure.

Or all the fertilizers yet invented,
says the Cincinnati Commercial, none
equals the well-handled barn-yard ma
nure. The quality of this article is by no
means uniform, owing to the different
ways of managing it. To prevent the
immense wastes made by exposure to
sun and rain some farmers have advO-
Gated keeping it under cover. The
simple fact that manure has been kept
under cover is no argument in its ia
vOr. The most worthless lot of ma
nure we ever saw was made under
cover. It was the result of stabling
two horses and two COWS one year.
The manure had been wheeled from
stables to this shed. One side of it
was open to the west, and here the ma
nure that had been packed by wheel
ing in, and had been kept wet by the
rains for about two feet from the edge,
was excellent. All the rest was fire.
fanged and light, and worthless as so
much chat. Since that year a differ
emit method has been pursued. The
litter has been kept level and packed
tight by arranging the stable and barn
yard so the drainage of the yard runs
into the manure shed or pit, and hav-
ing sheep tramp over it and keep it
solid. One load of manure from this
covered manure pit is considered worth
three made in the open yard. There
is no teaching nor odor arising from
this shed until the mass is broken into
when hauled to the fields.
If the virtue of barnyard manure is
to be estimated by the intensity of odors,
this surely is prime article.
We can see little to commend in the
practice of storing manure in the base
ment of stables, but much to con-
denim. There is, however, one desir-
able feature in this method. It does
not freeze, and can be hauled afield
when the ground is frozen, and men
and teams cannot be otherwise en-
ployed. 1t is a method, however, that
cannot be adopted, because few have
barns suitable.
The waste in barnyards generally is
to be deplored. When the litter and
stable cleanings are piled in a little
mound at the door or window of the
stable we have an excellent device for
destroying the value of manure. The
center of the pile is the highest, heats
first, and the draft carries off the gases
perfectly. In alittle while the center is
fire-fanged, and destruction is COM
plete.
The neatness of even q barnyard
may be secured, and it pays here as
we'll as on other parts of the farm. If
at place convenient for receiving the
manure from the stables an open pen
be built for storing manure, it may
be kept from scattering and making a
mess and mud over every foot of the
yard. The manure should be kept
lowest in the middle, and well
tramped. If the drainage of the roof
be occasionally turned on this, all the
better. This mass can be loaded more
easily into wagons and will be found
Of greater bulk and strength than il
allowed to scatter over the yard, ex-
posed to sun and rains. just at this
time when the ground is settling SO
manure can be moved to the fields,
fortunate is the provident farmer who
has turned his manure pile twice, and
now has it fine and reduced in bulk. 1t
is in condition to be at once appropria-
ted as plant food, and can be taken to
the field with half the labor required
had it not been forked over. 1t can be
spread evenly on the wheat or meadow
lands, while the crude manure is
thrown off in chunks or fcrkfuls, to
smother plants and be q nuisance on
the meadow or wheat field. There is q
class of farmers who have q mania for
making manure. Another class look
on it as a necessary evil, and think
themselves fortunate to have a stable
and barn-lot ON a hillside or water
course, that will carry off the nuis-
ance. Making manure for the sake
of manure is q little like paying q
dollar or two per cord for it and haul.
ing it several miles to the farm. In
general farming this viii not pay. II
may do for the gardner or vegetable
grower, who can take two or three
crops q season from the soil, and sell
them at . convenient, paying market.
But few Of Us are near such market.
and it is folly for the producer Of corn,
wheat, oats Md hay to conclude that
because the market gardener can pay
such . price for manures they must be
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