The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1882-03-01
Rnlk in the Manure Heap.

And yet there is as much variation in the
composition OF the manure in the farm
hs4ps as there is in the different grades of
animals on farm. Take a ton of well-rot-
ted manure, as it is usually found ON every
farm, and it will consist of about $50 pounds
of organic matter snd about sixty pounds OF
mineral matter. This is, in round num-
bers. coo pounds of dry matter. The re-
manning 1,4O0 pounds is water. And to still
further reduce the actual value, as far as
the smallest AMOUNT will demonstrate, there
is much valueiess matter in the dry 900
pounds, for OF that amount only twelve
pounds are potash. eight pounds phOsphoric
acid and thirteen pounds nitrogen, giving
total of only thirty-three pounds. This
shows badly against the farmers prospects
and hopes from his ton of well-rottsd barn
yard manure; but nevertheless this conclu-
sion mas been arrived at only after careful
experiments.
And t. still further detract from the value
of she neap, it is To be observed that the
above applies only TO good manure-that
has been well comps Sced, protected and
managed. In manure heaps that have been
exposed to the heat OF the sun and drench-
ing rains the amount of mineral matter Is
still less. These twelve pounds of actual
potash are valued at 81, the phosphOric acid
at eighty cents aud the nitrogen at 50 2s-
total value OF the ton of barny2rd manure,
$4O5 These prices of course, hdc.uate.
and may be at times higher or lower. The
actual potash is derived, in commercial
salts, from the sniphate and msriate. the
acids in the salts merely add ne TO the bulk,
bat being combined with the potash, ust
be used with il. SD with the phosphoric
acid and nitrogen.
There is in the manure heap. how
ever, small proportions of matter
that are not sold among cONmer
cial fertilizers, such as mag
nesia, iroI, common salt and carbon. The
latter is in the manure heap in good guam
tity, but is not considered valuable. Chio-
rne is bought in the maria!e Of potash, ana
even in lime we find magnesiG. The iron il
not desired. But these articles are not sold
as such IN the usual commercial fertilizers
and farmers do not expect to find then
there.
Then there are anycOmpounds formed
by the vegetable acids in the manure heap
entirely unknown. constant movement
of the particles Is in progress therein. and
new compounds are formed daily. Still, If
the proper ingredients are not added 20 the
heap for the manufacture of frst-class
manure, no chemical process can create IL.
The true value and efficiency of the manure
are derived from that which the farmer adds
TO it. 1t is n mistake 10 suppose thar any
thing will make good manure. Anything
will increase the bulk and assist in retain
ing the nutritive qualities, but after bulk
has been acquired We must eXpend labor to
haul it to the fields.
The preservation Of manure Is one of the
most important matters for the farmers at
tentiOn. Ii is usually the method with him
to haul everything 10 the barnysrd To b.
tTampled by cattle, and there remain until
1t is ready o be heaped. After being heaped
he thinks he has dpue his DUTY until ready
to haul it out. During this interval a few
drenching raing will deprive il of all that j.
valuable and the scOrching rays OF the sun
will assist in this deteriorating process Ali
manure then Should be kept under shelter
not n very tight, close rOof, but in such mau-
ner as 70 protect il agsinst being drencned
A few leaks here and there that will admit
some water are beneficial, care being re
quired to guard against teaching only. As
to exposure to the sun. that should never be
done under any circumstances.
The black, disagTeeable stuff that flows
away in the drains after heavy rains carries
off the wealth OF the farm with it. leaving
the dross for him to haul To the fields. Bur
a. the bulk still remains the farmer contents
himself with the reelection that he has
added so many loads of manure TO his fields,
and when harvest arrives he is ready to de
clare that farming does not pay. He has
but 10 guard against loss in his manage
ment, and half the battle is won. Protect
the manure heap, for it is your bank that
contains the wealth of the farm.
Fighting the CutwOrn.
How to get rid Of the cutworm is an in
.quiry that is often made, for il is one Of the
most destructive enemies with which we
have to contend. Saltpeter. common salt
SCOT and many other things have been tried
but all 10 no good result. Place q cutwOru
# l,ax lah ,oH
sprinkle SCOT on hina and he will not vince
But he does not like frost Cold kills him
and he scOa yields 10 a cold application
What should be done for his determination
is TO plough early. Turn over the grounC
in the fall if possible, but as 1t is too lat,
now for fall PlOughing, must plough il
the spring Is soon the ground will permit
Plough deeply, and do not roll or harroS
until the ground mas had one or two freez
ings. If this plan does not rId the land o
them, then the following fall-very late II
the season-the ground should b
ploughed and allowed to FemaiI
till spring, when it should b.
plOug led the crossway. One or two seasons
OF such treatment viii kill them out etfec
tualy. There i another consideration in th
matter. The frosts will assist in pulverizinI
the soil end add to its fertility. constan
freezing and thawiug will enable the soil Il
give off particles Of matter for plant ioOC
that would De otherwise dormant or inert
Even without the cut-wOrm- feil and earls
spring plOughing is very beneficial
The cutEorm is more destructive II
fields that we're formerly sod than those
that have been planted 70 corn or sowed viii
wheat When grass land is turned over earl,
IN the fail IL enables ITS thousands of occH
pants (cutworms) 70 get down very deep
but later liz the season pioughing find
them slowed away tor winter and bring
then to the surface-this time, however, il
a condition unfavOTable to their security
After a frost, the worm, if exposed. is to-
much under the influence of tempera
ture u bury hiz3self for the winter. Man.
OF them are killed at the time. But wheI
the fall ploughiBg is followed by an earl,
spring turning of abe soil they are caught b.
the fr0Sts at once. Itrequires but q singl
season 70 clean theel out of cultivated field
with this treatment. and two seasons vii
get then out OF land that has been in grass
The praetice should be continued ever
year, not only precaution against tn
cutworm, but also for the benefit gained b,
the soil from such treatement. A farme
who was once afflicted with cutworms il
bis soil, in his endeavor to get rid Of then
by this process, was afterward forced TO ad
NIT thatin his case the worms had taUgh
him lesson ia compelling him to turn owe
his land late in the fall and early in spring
practice he has since rigidly adhered to