The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-08-25
Saving and Applying Manure.

1t is recommended, says a correspondent OF
the Country Gentleman, to keep stock to make
manure. No one disputes the excellence or
this advice, but how is it done? The manure
is made, and then, ill the the great majority of
cases, it is suffered to waste. The urine, the
better part, containing more than half the val
ue of what is made. is allowed to be lost, even
when it may be readily saved. 1t only re-
quires sufficient bedding ofsome fine material.
The best absorbent is leaf-mold, which can
always be obtained from the woods, and large
quantities gathered in a short time, as it is
light and easily scraped together. The labor
to do this and apply it in the stable is more
than twice paid for in the benefit it has upon
the soil, and both act upon the land, chemical
ly and mechanically, especially upon clay and
sandy SOIL 1t should not be used upon peat
soil. What has been said of leaf-mold applies
almost equally to muck, with the difference
that it has to be handled once oftener, by
throwing it up to dry But the advantages
are much greater, as it makes excellent tilla-
BILE land ola waste and a nuisance. s..
Sawdust also is quite good, not for its fertil-
ity as it has little, but is an absorbent and be-
cause it is fine, and therefore convenient to
use anywhere and at once, the effect OF the
urine being immediate. OF course as an aD-
sorbent sawdust must be dry. Leafmold has
the advantage of both sawdust and muck in
that it will be dry enough in a day or two
after rain, and the farther advantage that it
may be gathered at any time during the sum
mer. Besides, the stables are kept Clean so
that milk will not be tainted while drawn,
which is not the case when the air is charged
with foul odors, to say nothing of the effect of
such foulness upon the health and comfort of
the stock and the mixer Well bedded with
fine, soft material the stable floor will afford
comfortable dry place for the animals to lie
and stand upon. .f,.-, ..
This is what is meant by keeping stock to
make manure for the farm. But more is meant
the manure is not to be thrown out carelesslv
and allowed to be washed out by the rains
and evaporated by the heat, though it suffers
less from the latter than the former, charged,
as it Is, with vegetable material. In all cases
it should be applied on the land as fast as
made, or as soon after as possible; otherwise
keep it under cover. This should be doEe for
early fall manuring, when it will do grass the
most good fortitying it against winter, and
tavoring an early spring start The same APP
plies also to wheat, which needs good start
in the fall, not high growth, hence late rath-
er than early sowing on well prepared ground,
1t is important to spread manure evenly
and at once when drawn, so tina. the entire
surface of the field gets the benefit. If some
parts are poorer apply more manure, but
equally even. Then the growth will all come
alike, and no full crop can be grown without.
Always apply brush-drag OF harrow to even
it. Care IN saving manure must always be the
chief element in farming, and not merely max
ing it. Are these requirements hard? They
should not be, as they are all a benefit; and
would the farmer go against his own interest!
Let there be less of other work undertaken
The doctrine of success is to do well what you
do. There is no other successful practice in
this age of close competition. er asst