The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1880-01-22
SOUTHERN FARM AND HOME.
ManuIea.

ID. M. Ferry & Co., in their ew cata-
logue have the following: A lything,
which being added to the soil. directly
or indirectly promotes the g owth Of
plants, Is manure. Manur directly
assists vegetable growth, either y enter
ing into the composition of p ants, by
absorbing and retaining moisture from
the atmosphere, or by absorbing II from
nutritive gases Manures indirectly as
sist the growth of plants, either hyde
stroying vermin or weeds, by decompos-
ing in the soil, by protecting plants from
sudden changes OF temperature, orby i'm
proving the texture of the soil. Thema-
nure of cows and all animals that chew the
cud is considered cold and suited to a
light soil; that of horses, hogs and poul-
try is hot, and best suited to cold,
heavy soil. All new and fresh manure
engenders heat and has a tendency to
Tighten the soil, while old, rotten manure
is thought to render it more compact and
firm. The manure Of birds is richer than
that of any other animal. Three or four
hundred weight of the manure of fowls,
turkeys, etc, is equal in value to from
fourteen to eighteen losds of animal ma
nure. Guano is manure of this class.
1t is well to apply about two hundred
weight per acre, with one-half the usual
quantity of other manure. Guano should
never, in fresh state, come in contact
with seeds or the roots of plants, as it is
sure to destroy their vitality. A thick
coat of hog pen or barn yard manure,
spread on the garden and turned in every
spring, will enrich, warm and tighten
the ground better than any application
of other manures. The principal ami
NAL manures are those of the horse,
the hog, the COW and the sheep OF
these ,he horse manure is the mos. valr-
able, in its fresh s. ate, but it should be
expHed as little as possible, as it begins
to heat and los 3 its nitrogen inmedi-
ately, a. may be perceived by the smell;
mix it with other manures, and cover it
with absorbcnts as soon rs possible. That
Of the hog comes next in value, while
the cow i, ut the bottom of the list.
The richer the food given to animals, the
more powerful is the manure. If anmsl
manures are employed in fresh state,
they should be well mixed with the soil
and given TO coarse 'eeding crops, such
rs corn and the garden PEA, but nearly
all plants do better it the manure il
compostsd and fully fermented before
use. Bone dust, mixed with ashes or
pulverized charcoal, and sown broadcast
over the ground at the rate of three
bushels per acre, is very beneficial, and
the most valuable for turnips cabbage,
etc, and the quantity needed for an
acre is 50 SIN II that the expense is less
than almost any other application. Com
mon salt, at the rate Of six bushels rer
acre, sowed in the spring, on lands dis
tant from the sea shore, not only pro-
notes fertility, but is very useful in dcs-
troying wo ms and slugs. Mari, where
it can be obtained, may be applied with
advantage, especially to sandy soils. SCOT
il excellent to drive off icsects and
vcrmin. Very little of this can be OBJ
tanned, but it should be carefully pre-
served and applied in small quantities to
cabbages, turnips, cucumbers, melons,
and all plants infected with insects
Charcoal renders the soil light and fra
Uic, hilu gives ~ u uaIh ColoT iHl auul-
tional warmth for early crops. When
composted with night soil it becomes
poudrctte, and is second onl ~ to guano as
fertilizer Leaves, straw and rubbish,
thrown together, and mostened with Il
mixture of lime and salt, if kept damp
until decomposed, forms the best known
manure for trees and shrubs Swamp
muck, mixed with salt lime, or leached
ashes, is of value where lit can be obtained,
but Of still more value is the leaf mold,
or black surface soil of the woods For
the vegetable garden, il is best compostcd
with fresh animal manure, but can be
applied directly to most plants in the
flower garden, many oil which will not
flourish unless this material is present in
the soil, Tan bark, decayed chips, saw
dust and shavinga, covered with soil, are
of great advantage to potatoes. Wood
ashes, eached or unlcachcd, may be used
with decided benefit as top dressing to
most growing vegetables, especially tur-
nips and onions. Plaster, sown upon the
growing crop is good for turnips, cab
bagcs, b ans, clcumbers, squashes, mel
ons and all broad leaved plants.