The Delaware farmer., 1883-08-24
AGRICULTURAL.
MANUREs.


the barn-yard manure in the cOuntry was waste
through neglect and ignorance, we think W
should be considerably within the mark. It i
useless TO expect success in farming unless ther
is plentiful supply of manure iberaly suppliet
TO the soil, and 10 such way and at such season
as will produce favorable results. 1t is manure
or its equivalent, in a naturally rich soil whicl
produces the crops, and these are always in pro
portion to the quantity used under any system o.
good cultivation. Hence il is OF the greatest i'm
pOrtauce to husband every material that has ans
fertilizing powers, and so prepare it that it will
produce its greatest effects. Il is the raw mate
rial from which all crops are obtained, aud he
who wastes it commits financial suicide, and can
never reap the proper fruits of his labor and cap
ital.
OF all substances containing fertilizing powers
none is equal to the eXcrements of animals, for
they contain all the elements Of plant life, but not
always IN the proper proportions for special crops;
therefore they need to he combined and prepar-
ed for the particular crops to which they are 10
be applied. In the preparation Of them it is nec'
essary to bring them into less concentrated
form than they are naturally, and at the same
time preserve the gases they contain; these gases
being the principal elements in plant food, being
taken up by water and absorbed by the roots Of
the plant.
Communion OF the mass is brought about by
fermentation which is only another name for
combustion. This we see in horse manure that
has been piled up and allowed to become over
heated, that when such pile is opened, we see
he ash.
es of the manure, the rest OF the material YOtal-
lied or dissipated into the atmosphere in the
form OF various gases, these composing the great
er part Of its mauurislvaue. Il is the same pro-
cess as that which takes place iu the burning of
coal or wood, Onlyin less or slower degree, the
product, heat, being tie same in either case.
These gases, either by themselves, or in COM
bination are fetid, aud commence to be evolved
as soon as the eXcrements are voided. When
therefore, manure gives out offensive OdOrs, we
may be sure that its gaseous parts are escaping,
and that it is losing its fertiizlng powers. To
prevent this, or to recover them as they are CIV
en- off, is to economic and add to our stock OF
fertilizng materials. A similar loss ensues from
the evaporation OF the fluid parts OF the manure, (
for the water It contains, III evapOrating, carries
with it large quantities of these gases which it
absorbs as they are evolved, and retains even |
when in the form of vapor Leaching also pro-
duces the same effect,-hence the benefits result |
ing from the use OF liquid manures.
Manures should therefore not be exposed to
the action oil the weather, for then they lose from
one.hall to two-thrds of their strength. They
should be kept dry and mixed with such mate
rials as will absorb the gases thrown off in the
process of fermentation, or which will produce
such chemica! changes as will reduce them from
a volatile state to fixed state. To this end it is
true and money-makng economy to provide
good-sized open shed, in which the manure
should be kept and prepared for use. Not to do
so would be equivalent to the folly Of a chemist,
or of manufacturer not providing a suitable
building in which to carry on their operations or
to protect their raw material.
The best absorbeats for the gases arising
from the decomposition OF the manure arc dry
earth, peat, muck, charcoal dust, leaf mould,
spent bark, and dry sawduSt. OF these dry earth
is one of the best, and can always be obtained
in summer time, when it can be laid under cover
for winter use. Peat and muck are generally to I
be had on farms of any extent. They should
never be used when fresh dug, but should be {
thrown into ridges, and exposed to the action of
the air and frost to puiverize them. They should
then be comDosted with mixture made Of lime I
and salt, as directed in the next paragraph, US
ing four bushels of the mixture TO one cord Of the
peat or muck. This should be done under cover, Il
70 keep off rain, which would cause the mixture u
% leach and 50 reduce its strength. It should v
be allowed to lay for a month or six weeks, when u
I may be used i'm mixing with the manure, the P
lnantity to be used depending upon the charac. u
er aud quality of the manure; enough must be u
lsed to prevent the escape OF any offensive Odors u
which as we have already stated, indicates the tr
scape of the fertlzing gases; but as a general n
ule, one third of green or fresh manure TO two
birds of the prepared peat or muck will be dl
proportion. 10
To make the dssOlying mixture referred to "a
bOve, take three bushels of lime as freshly burn W
d as possible, and slake it with water in which Of
ne bushel of salt has been dissolved, using only !"
lSt enough of water to dissolve the salt Mix it III
Te ano keep under cover, letting it stand ten o'
fifteen days before using. Lime alone will de- Ju
1mpOse peat or muck but it is farless powerful w
ian when combined with salt. Lime should al.
ays BE applied in fresh state as it is almost use
IS for this purpose when airslaked.
Unleached wood ashes applied at the rate of m'
Veny.hve bushels to cord of muck will also de. gr
impose it. The sparliags or refuse OF potash ou
arehouses applied at the rate Of from twenty. mt
-e to hundred pounds to a cord will also have ser
like effect. the time depending upon the nuan. far