The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1879-05-10
Making and Handling Manure.

Of all the fertilizers yet invented, says the
Cincinnati Commercial, none equals the we'll
handled bain.yard manure. The quality OF
this article is by no means uniform owing to
the different ways of managihgit. Toprevent
the immense wastes made by exposure to sun
and rain some farmers have advocated keep
ing il under cover. The simple fact that ma
pure has been kept under cover is no argu.
ment in It's favor The most worthless lot of
manure we ever saw was made uner cover. 1t
was the result of stabllng 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 manure that
had been packed by wheeling 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 different method has
been pursued The litter has been kept level
and packct tight 10y arranging the stable and
barnyard SO ihe drainage of the yard runs into
the manure shed or pit, and having sheep
tramp over il ard keep il solid. One load OF
manure from tins covered manure pit is con
sldered worth three made IN the open yard
There is no eeching nor odor arising from
this shed until the mass is broken into when
hauled to the fields.
If the virtue of harnyard manure Is to be cs-
timated by the intensity Of odors, this surely is
aprlme article.
We can see little to commend in tho prac-
tice Of storing manure IN the basement of sta
bles, but much to condemn. There is, how
ever, one desirable feature IN this method. 1t
does not freeze and can be hauled afield when
the ground IS frozen, and men and teams can
not be otherwise employed 1t is method
however, that cannot be adopted, because few
have barns suitable.
The waste in barnyards generally is to be
deplorcd. When the litter and stable clean
ings are piled IN u little mound at the door Or
window of the stable we have an excellent de
vice 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 a
little while the center is tilc-fanged, and de-
struction Is complete.
The neatness of even barnyard may be Sc
cured, and it pays here rs well as on other
parts of the farm. If at IL place convenient for
receiving the manure from the stables al open
pen be built for storing manure, it may be kept
from scattering and making % mess and mud
over every foot Of the yard. The manure should
be kept lowest IN the middle and we'll tramped.
If The drainage of the roof BE- occasionally turn
ed or this, all the better. This mass can be
loaded more easily into wagons and will be
found Of greater bulk and strength than If al
lowed to scatter over the yard, exposed to sun
and rains. Just at this time when the ground
is setting so manure can he moved to the fields,
fortunate is the provi lcnt farmer who has
turned his manure pile twice, and now has it
tine and reduced IN bulk 1t is in condition
TO be at once appropriated as plant food, and
can be taken to the field with half the labor re
quired had it not been torked over 1t can be
spread evenly on the wheat or meadow lands,
while the crude manure is thrown off in chunks
or forkfuls, to smother plants and be nuisance
fIn r,,na hoe oil N oln
of farmers who have a mania for making ma
nure. Another class look on it as "a necessary
evil, and think themselves fortunate to have
stable and barn-lot on u hillside or water
course, that Will carry off the nuisance. Max
ing manure for the sake of manure Is little
like paying dollar or two per cord for it and
hauling it several miles to the farm. In gen
eral farming this will not pay. 1t may do for
the gardner or vegetable grower, who can take
two Or three Ciupo season from the soil, and
sell them at Il convenient, paying market. But
few OF us are near such market, and it is folly
tor the producer of corn, wheat, oats and hay to
conclude that because the market gardner can
pay such a price for manurcs they must be of
equal value to all. The general farmer can
best keep up his soil by rotations, and clover
and hops, better and at tar less expense than
by buying or making manure TO haul to his
fields The labor is immense, and hundred
cords of manure moved annually, will not treat
all parts Of a hundredacrc farm once in ten
years; whereas by clover and hops, or cattle
every third or fourth year the entire farm may
be well fertlized. Our conclusion, tten, Is
that keeping stock for the sake OF making ma
nuro is unprotitlh... 1t is, however. proia-
bic 10 save all me manure that can be made
from the animals needed to cultivate and con-
su,ne the corn and fodder raised on the farm
In the matter of manure, as IN all other things
reduced, let none go to waste but keep all in
good shape.-Ct;,, .an0tt COnsmerciW