The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1884-02-02
FARM.ERSl.lGl5y0EUMN.
Barn-Yard Economy.

A dark stream, oilen OF golden color, al
ways Of golden value, flows to waste from
many an American barn.yaJd. This liquid
fertility often enters the side ditch Of the
farm lane, sometime Of the highway, and
empires into brook, which removes II be.
yond the reach Of plants that would greatly
profit by Il. Mice may gnaw hole into
the granary and daily abstract small guam
tity grain, or the skunks may reduce the
profts'oi the poultry yards, but these leaks
are small in comparison with that from the
poorly constructed and :llkept barn-yard.
The most valuable part of manure is that
which is very soluble, and unless il is rs-
tained by some absorbent, or kept from the
drenching rains, it will be quickly out Of
reach. Manure is manufactured product,
and the success Of all farm operations in
the older States, depends upon the quantity
and quality oil th is product. Other things
being equal, the farmer who comes out in
the spring with the largest amount of the
best quality Of manure, will be the one who
finds farming pays the best. A barn yard,
whether on a side hill or on a level, with
all the rains free to fall upon the manure
heap, should be 81 arranged as to lose none
of the drainage. Side-hill barn. yards are
common, because the barns thus located
furnish a convenient cellar. A barrier Of
earth on the lower side of the yard can be
quickly thrown up with team and road
scraper, which will catch and hold the
drenchings of the yard above, and the
coarse, newly mode manure will absorb the
liquid and be benefited by it, It would be
better to have the manure made and kept
under cover, always well protected from
rains and melting SHOWS. Only enough
moisture should he present to keep it from
fermenting too rapidly. An old farmer
who let bis manure take care ofitself, once
kept some of hs sheep under cover and was
great y surprised at the increased value OF
the manure thus made. In fact, ii was so
"strong" that when scattered as thickly as
the leached dung Of the yard, 1t made
NNo''hS' NSih " oCe'Si gam Nho itiu
The testimony was so much in favor of the
stall made manure, that this farmer is now
keeping all his live stock under cover, and
the farm is yielding larger crops and grow
ing richer year by year. II it pays to stop
any leak IN the grauary, 1t is all the NOR,
important to look well to the manure that
furnishes the lood, that feeds the plants
that grow the grain, that Glis the grain bin
At this season the living mills are all grind.
ing the hay and grain, and yielding the by
products Of the manure heap. Much may
be saYed in spring work by letting this
heap be as small as outdoor yard feeding
and the winds and rains can make il, bul
such saving IS like that of the ecnno n ic
sportsman who went out with the idea oi
using as little powder and lead as possible.
In farming, grow the largest possible crops,
even though il takes week or more OF
steady hard work to get the rich, heavy
well prepared manure upon the fields.
More than this, enrich the land by throw
ing every stream of fertility back upon the
acres which have yielded it. Watch the
manure heap as you would mine of gold.
Am Ag,'iculturiSt