West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1884-08-22
Preserving Manure.

The value of manure depends upon
the manner IN which il is preserved and
the luality of the material from which
1T Is created. No two manure heaps
are alike in composition. nor are the
results from manure uniform, "a many
suppose. Farmers NAV not always be
in position to control the quality of
the feed they allow, but whether il be
good or bad IL is important that all
manure be carefully preserved in order
that 1t may benefit the crops and en-
rich the soil. On nearly all farms the
manure and litter are thrown IN heap
in the barnyard, the cornstalks and
straw being added to increase the bulk.
and to assist in absorbing the LIQUID
and volatile substances.
1t is n well-known fact that no ma
nure can supply plant food until it UNI
dergocs a change and returns TO It's
primitive elements. In assuming its
first forms the original substances com
bine, creating salts and volatile
mater. In the soil the salts de ON
pose and the volatile matter is either
absorbed or assists in creating
salts. AS the manure must undergo
these changes in the BARNARD the
energy of the materials i'm assuming
new forms is made manifest by the
presence of heat, which implies decom-
position, but dccomposit on is not
only the tearing asunder of the
atoms, but the creation of new
substan es thcrefrom. In the crude
condition such materials rs cornstalks
and straw are of no value until deco H.
| posed, as they are insoluble i'm water.
/ All plant food must become soluble 20
| be available. The object in heapin9
the materials, or spreading them in the
barnyard to be tramped, is to have
them become fine and thoroughly dis
migrated. Nature, through chemical
agency, by the interchange OF atoms,
| performs her work IN a much better
manner than can be done artilic ally,
ana the process OF decay is the farmer j
method of rendering materials for the
manure heap fine, soluble and ready
Tor use as plant food.
| But while the manure is made fine
/ and soluble it must not be overlooked
that the process is q gradual one, and
hence every rain that saturates the
| heap carries downward the soluble
| parts as fast rs the manure is decom.
/ posed The Jet black liquid which
| flows off from the heap is the riches OF
the farm, and as it passes away the
ready plant food which is dissolved in
1t is lost, leaving behind a mass of
matter. often supposed to be the most
| valuable because of its bulk. but which
really is not worth the labor of hauling
to the fields. Unlese the manure,
the efore, be carefully preserved it will
he valuelcss. 1t should be protected
| from drcnching rains and the influence
OF the heat from the direct rays of tho
sun. Plenty of absorbent material
should be added 10 absorb the volatile
material. and water is beneficial TO the
heap also. provided it does not drench
or How of. ] he coarse material should
always he prepared by first being
passed through cutter, or made fine
IN some other manner, rather than by
spreading in the barnyard 10 be
tramplcd. II should also he worked
over once in while i'm order To prevent
re- angling This may require add
tional labor, but the saving Of the as
seniiaI elements of the manure will be
more than - compensation for the time
50 expended The principal rules TO be
observed are to prevent loss by rains.
prcsc walton of volatile matter with
mo sture and absOrbcnts. rendering the
manure fine, and ondcayoring to have
1t thoroughly dccomposcd - FarDt.
run an I Ido.