The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1884-12-10
FARM MATTERS.
btaxtasg Cuttings-A Lesson In Grape Col-
tuRe-HOusehOld Hints-Farm
Notes.
Vgintsr ManaEement of rfanure.

philadelphia Record.
Ii is safe TO claim that on the majority OF
farms there is q larger quantity Of manure
lost than saved, and this, too, in the face OF
the fact that the winter is the most appro-
pirate period for converting the raw mate
rial into manure. AS q rule, the making of
manure is not so much Of that which
is added to the heap, but what is
saved by using it for such purDose. To man
age the manure in winter 1t must be in
creased in every possible way, and when
once obtained should be brought to the most
available condition for use at the proper
time. There are two methods in vogue that
cause a greater loss to farmers than any
other operation OF manure making The
first is that they place too much faith in the
supposition that all kinds Of coarse mate
rial can be rotted aad rendered suitable in
the spring, and the second is that they do
not use the proper precautions to retain all
The fertilizing elements that already exist in
the crude materials at the time of adding
them to the heap.
10 mix the materials in a manure heap
properly is very important The method OF
first laying bottom OF coarse straw, or even
of earth, as a foundation for the purpose of
absorbing the liquids. is well enough 10
certain extent, but it avsils but little so far
81 tue entire mas is concerned. 1t IS Gus
4
and when this is the case the finer portions
viii ieTment sooner than the Goa Sc matter,
abs result being that in many cases fire
tanging" takes place before the farmer be-
comes aware that the heap has heated To
AVOID this loss the manure should be well
mixed with sbsorbments in q uniform man.
ner and the heating be under the control of the
farmer, which is easily done by occasionally
satuTstiDg the heap with the liquids from
the stock. As soon as decomposition Sc Is in
the heap should be examined daily, even
with the aid OF q thermometer. When the
interior has sufficiently heated the head
should be sboveled over, the matter on the
outside being placed in the center, and the
whole heap thoroughly saturated with
erine- In fact, the liquids ara really of
more yalue than the solids, and not an
ounce of such should be lost. Solid manure,
made without the addition OF tie liquids, IS
always deficient in some eiemen Is OF plant
food and although it is claimed for barn
yard manure that it combines sll the nee
essay elements, such claim is only true
when The manure is composed OF both the
bGlids and the solids, as either portion
without the other il incomplete.
The absorbent material should be as fine
rs possible. IL Will always pay 70 cut up all
coarse substances, such as straw and stalks,
TO be used either as food or bedding before
adding 10 to the heap, as the facility Of sp-
plying the manure 70 the land in the spring
Glll be increased. The greatest loss, how
eyer, occurs from the lesching Of the heap
By water. AS fast as the manure becomes
decomposed certain portion becomes sol
ublP, and the rains wash this out complete
ly. All manure, therefore, sheUld be under
cover. and should be SO situated as to pre-
vent the flowing off of the urine. As fast
as sn access Of liquids exists there should be
added again to the same heap or used for
new heaps. in order to save all the volatile
matter. 4 heap Of well-msnaged manure
Ia worth four times az much as that made by
throwing together the MANURE from the
etsbles, stalks straw, leaves, etc, and allow
ing the mass to stand until oYerhested in
come parts before decomposition has begun
in others. and upon which the heavy rains
fall and carry off the soluble and most valu-
able elementk