Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1879-02-12

plaster VIII generally, II not always, act
promptly and efficiently; and thus at a
very small expense materially aid in
perpctuating the improvement. Pre-
vious to Its application in this case,
plaster was literally used; but will. no
visible effect whatever now, its action
IS as marked on the same land as have
ever seen anywhere.
Wherever lime can be obtained at a
reasonable price-say from IL TO 20
cents per bushel IN caustic state (or
at half-price, if air-slaked) with even 5
TO 10 miles hauling,-i may be used to
advantage on most if not all stiff clay
soils.
In some sections these are paid, and
it is hauled from Is TO 90 miles F; and
by a class of men unsurpassed for in
dustry and thrift. The wriler has
known no instance where its use was
persevered in, which success, TO a
greater or less extent, did mot crown
the effort and many who borrowed
money to procure it in the first instance,
have mainly by its use become indepen-
dent and money lenders themselves.
BONE composed principally Of phos-
phate of lime and gelatInous animal
matter, when crushed or ground, form
one of the richest manures. 1t acts
we'll either alone or with other manures;
and particularly valuable to aid the
growth of clover; for this reason, class
it decidedly before guano, at an equal
expenditure ofmoney, for ''renOvating
worn out lands" Although not so
prompt in acting, it is far more durable
and more likely to produce good crop
Of clover, to turn under. Glover, being
almost the only green crop" that l
have ever found much advantage from
turning in.
Iprefer its use, following the lime,
and on the oat crop, at the rate Of to
10 bushels-or as much more as the
renovator may please, for an increased
quantity will do no injury. On the
wheat, succeeding the oats, my practice
is to apply light dressing Of guano-
say so to 100 pounds to the acre, TO
manure and perfect the grain; and only
on such portions of the field as the ma
nure from the barn yard will not eX-
tend to. By the time the clover requires
the aid of the bone, it will have be-
come sufficiently disintegrated and in
corporated with the soil to give the clO-
yer vigorous start; and its effects on
the grass crops is generally more dura-
Bile than the vegetable manures.
The supply Of ground bones is linn
tied one; but when to be had at a reas-
enable price usually selling at 40 to so
cents the busheD it may be used to ad-
vantage on all crops and on all soils !;
but with decidedly less advantage, at ter
passing through the Qlembick Of the glue
manufacturer Gas l have proved-at
least to nay satisfaction y thus depriv-
hight of much of its fertilizer property.
1t is usually narrowed in with the seed
as it loses less by exposure to the atmos-
phere than most kinds Of putrescent
manures.
GUANo-This is one Of the most ac-
tive efall manures; and if the price
would justify the application in sufi-
Gent quantities it might aid very ma
terially IN "renovatlng worn-oct lands"
But considering the eyanescent nature
of its most active principal, ammonia,
and the present high market price, viz:
the Peruvian at $50 to s70-and The
more inferior kinds at ;45 to $50 for
the ton Of 2,0O9 pounds, it is much
doubted whether the ultimate advan-
tage calculated on by many will be
realized. If the Peruvian could be OBJ
tanned at about half this price-and it is
believed such would be the case with a
fair competition in the Peruvian market
the case might be different.
The writer has made liberal; use of
guano; and generally to profit, as to the
immediate return but in no case has
much benefit been derived beyond the
first crop; and rarely was any material
effect perceived after the second year.
This opinion, so different from that
entertained by some others, is not
lightly formed, DOR without several
years careful observation and also
testing the matter by numerous eK-
periments. aud on scale sufficiently
extended to prove the truth Or fallacy OF
the doctrine held by some, that it is
only a stimulant. Reference TO one
experiment may suffice, as they all
tend to the same result, and nearly 20
the same degree.
In a field of some 10 acres, one acre
was selected near the m dlle, land ex-
tending through the field, so as to en-
brace any difference Of soil, should
there be any. On this acre 200 pounds
OF Peruvian guano, at cost Of about
s5, were sown with the wheat. Ad-
joining the gusno on one side was ma
nure from the barn-yard, at the rate Of
25 cart-loads to the acre; and ON the
opposite side Separated by an open
drain the whole distance) ground bones
were applied on the balance Of the field,
of n coat of az In the acre. fhp field