Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-11-07
Farm and Household.


At the recent Farmers Institute in Sheffield,
Mass, Alexander Hyde of Lee gave an &C.
count Of his experience with composts, es-
pecially those in which muck is an important
constituent. There is a school of agricultu-
rists, he said, that may be called homUo-
pathic. They teach that it is best to procure
fertilizing agents in their pure chemical form,
and apply a little to the soil for each crop of
the exact kind that the crop requires. In
this way few barrels of potash and phos-
pilates will answer the purpose of big ma
nure heap. But whatever be the truth in re-
gard to medicine, practical farmers have
found that homeopathic agriculture has IA
tai defects. Manures need some bulk to keep
the land light and porous, and induce the air
to pour in its fertility Hence the utility of
composts-of mixing the barnyard and other
fertilizing materials with such substances as
will act on the soil in the manner desired, ev-
en- if they add little directly to its richness.
When Mr.. Hyde took possession of his
present farm, it was completely worn out,
and unproductiye. BY treatment with COM
posts, he has brought it into such condition
that it now yields him three crops a year reg
ularly, two of hay and one of fruit. This
success he attributes in large measure to the
use of muck, which he has drawn regularly
from his swamps for many years and COM
posted with barnyard manure, kitchen slops,
and other refuse that the farm affords Eli
EUR Smiths farm, which is confessedly one
of the best if not the very best in Berkshire,
is a fine example of the success of the same
treatment He has brought it up from q
worn out state by liberal use of composts
composed of muck, mari, refuse sizing from
the paper mills and barnyard manure.
Muck is of little immediate worth when
used alone 1t will indeed in time loosen the
soil and aid it in absorbing moisture from the
air but its best effects are secured only as it
ferments and decays. To hasten the fernen-
tatiou is the great point to secure, and there
is no other way of doing this so enectual and
so rapid as by composing in alternate layers
with manure.
1t will not do to use muck too freely on
damp. clayey soils. 1t will make the land too
wet and cold But when the soil is naturally
dry and sandy or grayelly, nothing will bring
it into such excellent condition as an album
dant use of muck or some equivalent of de
cayng vegetable matter. Vegetable mold
and leaves from the woods are an admirable
substitute for muck when the latter is not to
be had readily. Farmers can well afford TO
spend several days every fall in gathering a
very large heap of leaves to be used as bed.
ding for horses and COWS during the winter
and then put into the compost heap.
For cold wet land where muck will not an
swer, the best basis for the compost is alluyi-
al soil taken from the river banks. 1t can be
taken out in any quantity desired without
making a permanent unsightly appearance,
for the spring freshets will always fill the pits
with fresh deposits. Such soil contains q
great deal of fertilizing matter that is exceed
inglY valuable
Among other substances that should be
carefully husbanded for the compost heap
are wood ashes, salt and brine. Very few
substances produced on the farm are worth
so much in proportion to their weight and
bulk as wood ashes. Salt and brine, if used
in too large quantities. will kill vegetation
but in moderate amounts they are very use
full. Lime should not be used very freely il
this section. Limestone abounds in the hills
the water of the streams is much of it hard
and accordingly, most of our soils contain a
much lime as is desirable The most valua
BILE of the common animal manures is heI
manure, and nothing is better to spread Oh
the hen-house floors to absorb and mix will
it than the coal ashes which are so difficult Il
utilize in any other way.