The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1880-07-08
Manures.

]
soil, directly or Indirectly promotes the
growth of plants, is a manure. Manure
directly assists vegetable growth, either
by entering into the composition of
plants, by absorbing and retaining
moisture from the atmosphere, or by
absorbing from it nutritive gases.
Manures indirectly assist the growth of
plants, either by destroying vermin or
weeds, by decomposing in the soil, by
protecting plants from sudden changes
of temperature, or by improving the
texture of the soil. The manure from
cows and all animals that chew the cud,
is considered cold and suited to a light
soil; that of horses, hogs and poultry is
hot, and best suited to a cold, heavy
soil. All new and fresh manure en-
genders heat during fermentation, and
has 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 manure of fowls, turkeys. etc., is
equal to from fourteen to eighteen loads
of animal manure. 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 animal manures
are those Of the horse, the hog, the COW
and the sheep. Of these, the horse is
the most valuable, in its fresh state, but
it should be exposed as little as possible,
as it begins to heat and lose its nitrogen
Immediately, as may be perceived by the
smell; mix it with other manures, and
cover it with absorbents as soon as
possible. That of the hog comes next
in value, while the cow IS at the bot
tom of the list. The richer the
food given to animals the more power
full is the manure. If animal manures
are employed in a fresh state, they
should be well mixed with the soil and
given to course feeding crops, such as
corn and the garden pea. Nearly all
plants do better if the manure is COM
posted and fully fermented before use.
Bone dust mixed with ashes or pull
verified charcoal and sOwn broad
cast over the ground at the rate of
three bushels per acre, is very benefi-
cial, and the most valuable for turnips.
cabbage, etc., and the quantity needed
for an acre is SO small, that the expense
is less than almost any application.
Common salt, at the rate of six bushels
per acre, sowed in the spring, on lands
distant from the sea shore, not only
promotes fertility, but it is very useful
in destroying worms and slugs. MARI,
where it can be obtained, may be sup
Piled with advantage, especially to
sandy soils. SCOT is excellent to drive
off insects ard vermin. Very little of
this can be obtained, but it should be
carefully preserved and applied in
small quantities to cabbages, turnips,
cucumbers, melons, squashes and all
plants infected with insects. Charcoal
renders the soil light and friable, and
gives it dark color and additional
warmth for early crops. Where COM
posted with night soil it become pou-
drette, and is second only to guano as
fertilizer. Leaves, straw rubbish thrown
together, and moistened with mixture 4
OF lime and salt. if kept damp until de-
composed, forms the best known ma
nure for trees and shrubs. Swamp muck, |
mixed with salt, lime, or leached ashes,
Is OF value where it can be obtained, but
of still more value is the leaf mold. or
black surface soil of the woods. For
the vegetable garden, it is best COM
posted with fresh animal manure, but
can be applied directly to most plants
in the flower garden, many of which
will not flourish unless this material is
present in the soil. Tanbark, decayed
chips, sawdust and shavings, covered
with soil are Of great advantage to po-
tatoes! Wood ashes. leached or I'M
leached, may be used with decided
benefit as top dressing to most grow |
ingvegetables, especially onions and tur-
nips. Plaster sown upon growing crops
is good for turnips, cabbages, beans,
cucnmbers,. squashes, melons and ali
broad leaved plants.