Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1879-03-26
AGRICULTURE:

COMPOSING MANURE.-Few farmers
have an idea how much manure can be
saved when the proper means are taken.
In the fall, stable manure may be cart
ed directly TO the field and spread as
made, with less expense ia handling
and waste than in any other way. But
there are accumulations with which
this cannot be done. These are best
put into a compost heap, which should
be started with thick layer of sods,
or road-dust-better if the ground
stratum is OF clay. Have ready TO hand
road-dust to form layers with the ma
nure, which is derived from different
sources and of varying composition
from the privy or earth closet, the pig
pen and the fowl roost; there are also
ashes, leached and unleached, kitchen
slops, garden weeds; the night urine,
and broken bones. Some peel sods
along fences and other useless places,
and all 60 into the compost heap. not
heaped high, or into a conical form,
which sheds the water and induces
ire-fang. Make it fiat, few feet in
thickness, and as wide as is convenient
TO work, then add to the length as the
material accumulates, occasionally fork
ing it over and mixing as it rots, keep
ing il covered with coat of road-dust.
Ii will be surprising at the end OF the
season how much has been gathered.
and how rich the material. All the ele-
meuts of fertility are present, the more
valuable well represented, so that IL Is
entirely reliable, fit to be applied to
anything: just the thing for garden,
and especially suited TO meadows, Civ
ing an even covering, which will start
a growth black and thick, the stimulus
helping to sustain the plant during the
winter and starting it early in the
spring. Such dressing with soil IN
iI)is more lasting, and will invite the
roots UP into it the land thus being
added 10 instead of being lessened as
with the usual culture. There is moth
ing filthy about il any more than about
so much soil; it is comparatively light
and dry, and pleasant TO handle. The
difficulty is, there is so little of ii,
when there might be so much by saving
the materials that now 60 to waste.
RAISING DUCKs.-Many farmer has
realized far more from breeding ducks
than he could obtain from his chickens,
for they are very hardy, and lay re-
markably well during some parts OF the
season. As soon as they commence to
lay the eggs should be carefully gather
ell and put away. As soon as hen (not
a duckl wa Is 10 set, put her upon
ducks eggs, and let her hatch and care
for the brood until they are able to take
care of themselves. A hen will care
for brood of ducklings far better than
will an old duck. If the ducks think
they have laid eggs, and show unmis-
taxable signs of wanting to set, put
them into convenient coop, put one
of your most yigOraus young brakes
With them, and they will soon be Will
ling TO shell out eggs again, which
should be set under hens as fast as con
venient, so as to bring as many out at
time as possible, thereby lessening the
cost OF attending to them. A shallow
tub, kept well-filled with water, will
afford plenty of bathing room for the
ducklings until they are two or three
months old, and perhaps longer.
THE value of manure should be ser
ious consideration in feeding. By
using concentrated foods we are actu-
ally LAYING in supply of the most val
liable artificial fertilizers at the lowest
possible cost. 1t is, in fact, making
two profits from the same outlay; one
in the shape of useful food. and one