The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1880-01-03
Ghe Saruler.
MAKING THE MANURE HEAP,

As the time Of the pcnniug Of the stock
draws near, il is well for the farmer to
have his plans maiured for the winter.
Among the objects which should claim his
early attention, and not the least important
only Is proper disposition Of the manure
which constantly aceumulates about the
stables and yards Ia the older States
where the SHINING process has been in
operation a number Of years, the manure
heap is the one question Of fundamental
importance. The skinning process is 10
full operation on every farm 10 the new
west where the manure IS neglected aud
allowed to 60 to waste. This prodigal
practice has brought thin soil and scanty
crops as the heritage Of the children whose
fathers wasted the substance Of the land
By allowing the manure to DO bleached by
the sun and leached by the rain. The
manure Of the stock yard and stable
will always increase the yield in the corn
crop, aud improve the quality aud multi
ply the quantity and force early ripening
Of wheat on all upland, and cause the sod
on the grass field to thicken aud the grass
to come thick and fine. The garden and
root patches should always be supplied
with fine stable manure, If thrifty vines
and abundance of vegetables are expected.
Ifthe farmer saves his manure, the manure
in turn win go far toward saving the far
mer from his most dreaded ordeal, light
crops, and total failures.
The best mode to manage the manure
is perhaps that Of piling it in a broad, fiat
heap, as it aeeumulates through the win
ter. Lay out your manure heap in con-
venient spot where the stock can be kept
from running over it. Make the bottom
of the heap six feet wide, the length may
correspond to the number of stock kept.
Wheel or cart the manure from the yards
and stables directly to the heap, and pile
on the fresh supplies as fast as they accu-
mulate, The stables should be cleaned
daily, and that in the yards should be re-
moved as often as once week, the long
litter being put aside and used to bed the
stock, and the droppings and short stuff
carried to the heap, which should be kept
uniform in height and fiat on top, with
the sides sloping merely enough to keep
the mass compact and the sides from
crumbliug down. Care must be had to
keep the heap moist, and if there is not
sufficient rain through the winter for this
purpose water should be thrown on but
not enough to cause it TO leach through
aud if inclined to heat too much settle the
pile BY tramping and frming it, so as to
exclude too free circulation OF air through
H. II refuse salt can be had, which costs
small sum in the neighborhood of pack
ing houses, little sprinkled through the
heap as it is built up will aid IN keeping
it moist. Keep the heap moist and fer
mentation viii gradually proceed in the
coolest weather, and the coarse material
viii be reduced to fine manure by spring,
the bulk diminished by one-half aud the
whole pile be in the best condition for
scattering over as top dressing to wheat
or grass land, or using on the vegetable or
corn ground Saving the stock yard OF
stable manure is one Of the elements OF
enlightened and successful farming. By
its own chemical action reduce it to the
best and most convenient condition for
immediate appropriation by all crops, and
for handling. -Kdasds Farmer.