The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1885-10-29
Pine Straw Manure.
(From the Aqtgusta OArontcse.)

the following appears:
"Mr. p. j. Berckmans says that pine
straw renders manure almost value
less. Southern farmers should know
this and be wise accordingly"
| At the August meeting of the Rich
mond County Agricultural Society,
the subject for discussion being the
"Management of Cattle" the question
of material for bedding purposes was
brOached, and in my comments upon
the very able paper Of Mr.. Staples,
who was the essayist for that month, |
stated "that pine straw as bedding
material was undesirable, as it rem
dered the manure almost valueless,
and, if used in large proportions, it
often proved an INJURY to the land"
Your reporter gave the correct
words, but by publishing them has
placed you under the necessity of re-
ceiving the explanation of the reasons
upon which base my assertions, and
if you see proper to publish these, |
will thus be enabled to reply to several
inquiries which have lately been made
upon the subject.
In an essay upon "Manures," read
in 1870 before the Richmond County
Agricultural Society, when referring
| 10 animal manurCS, said:
| "Although this term, strictly speak
ing, means only such as are produc ed
either from the eXcrements Of animals
or from their flesh, blood or bones, it
is usually applied to manures pro-
duced from the eXcrements Of animals
and the admixture of straw, leaves, or
4 other vegetable matter used as litter.
this being commonly termed stable
manure. The quality depends much
upon the food given to cattle, as we'll
| as upon the nature of the litter used
| The richer the food, the richer will be
the manure produced. Wheat and oat
straw, oak leaves, hay, grass, corn
stalks, and similar vegetable matter,
| should be freely used for litter. Avoid
| pine straw, pine sawdust, or pine
| shavings, all being injurious to land
from the resinous principles the con-
1 TAIN"
This assertion gave rise at the time
to considerable discussion and q reply
to many arguments against it was
published in the Chronicle. 1 cannot
| better answer the queries lately re-
ceivcd than to refer to my reply.
| "Pine straw as mulch Is good. AS
q disintegrating medium for very stiff
clay soils, impermeable to air, it can
be beneficial, but only for that pur>
pose. The leaf of the pine is COM
posed Of silicate Ca hard mineral sub.
stance) vegetable fibre and rosin. Both
siiicate and vegetable base are insolu-
BILE, hence not available as plant food.
The ashes Of pine straw, submitted to
analysis, give less potash as result
than the ashes of any other vegetable,
the proportion being 0.45 in 1000
parts. Wheat straw, after the grain is
formed, gives $50 of potash in ,0OC
parts, and before the heads are formed
yields 4.7O parts of potash; corn stalks
contain 17.5 parts; cow peas from 200
to 25.0 in 1000 parts; oak leaves .53
willow leaves 2.35; elm and maple
leaves 800 parts of potash in ,00C
parts. Potato vines are also rich in
potash. Potash being one of the maii
constituents of the plants VIC usually
grow as agricultural crops, 1t is evi
dent that soil deficient in it cannot
be productive and pine straw cannot
give what is required, because it can
not undergo n transformation which
would make it soluble and thus be alb
sorbed by plants.
"Referring to the analysis of soil.
of different countries, il is shown tha
resinous matter is contained in some
sterile soils, and in such rust attack!
wheat, rye or oats.
"Ehis is 80 well known in portions
in Europe where pine woods abound
and where the inhabitants are conceded
to be the best agriculturists i'm tn,
world, and as careful Of producing
and saving manures as are the Chinese
/ hak of fI,o
of raw material to bed his cow or pig
will allow any pine straw to be usec
E for that purpose Ohis article is uset
for fuel only by the poorer classes)
they we'll know that rust would be tht
result if used in tho manures. One O
our tenants covered o part of q fiel(
with pine straw, and for several year.
afterwards could not raise either Whea
or clover on it, Notwithstanding heavy
manuring afterwards.
"FiVe years ago l planted Irisl
potatoes and gave them heavy mulch
ing of pine straw, the ground boin!
we'll manured previous to planting tn
, potatoes. The straw was plOwed il
during winter and the ground plantet
in corn the following spring, and tha
portion previously mulched produces
, | SldlhS GWO lCCb SIldllCI Jildl Jllc OCDc
portion of the field which had, how
ever, never been manured before. Th
! second year the field was soWn in oats
and the difference in the yield bein,
less than half upon the mulched por
, ton.
. "The came result has been notice,
, in the vegetable garden, where severa
, classes Of vegetables, especially peas
f could not be grown successfully Whe
using manure made with pine straw
, when manure made with either oa
straw or oak leaves was used the yiel
, was always better.
+ 81 could say more, but deem thes
remarks sufficient to sustain my opin
t ion, which is tho result of persons
, experience, although it may conhic
/ with that of Others"
! Since this was written many year
have passed and nothing has occurre,
to change my opinion as regards IN
: lack of value Of pine straw for manur
material. Pine straw which has becl
subjected to the drippings of cattle ha