The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-11-24
Restoring an Old Orchard.

A correspondent of the Rural Ne'o-
Yorker gives the following statement
showing the advantages of manure and
cultivation:
Many years ago Mr.. Gerrish owned a
large farm in Bo:cawen, N. H., on which
he set out what at that time was the
largest orchard in Merrimack county.
Afterward he divided his farm between
his two sons, the dividing line running
through this orchard, cutting it into
nearly equal parts. Both parts were
treated alike-with neglect. Subse'
quenty the county bought the southern
farm, on which is now located the aims
house. Two years ago, when the pres
ent superintendent took charge, this
orchard was forlorn looking place,
grown up to bushes, the trees being COW
cred with moss and dead bark, and for
years the crop had hardly paid for har.
vesting. The superintendent took hold
of this matter with energy, cut the
bushes. trimmed the trees, plowed the
ground and applied unleached ashes at
the rate of seventy-fvc bushels per re,
and seeded with grass. The result was
astonishing. The difference in the color
of the foliage of that part so treated and
the remainder could lie distingui he'd at
a long dis an"c: and while several hum
drcd barrels of iirst-class fruit were
gathered from the part 50 treated, on the
other part there were but few apples, and
those of cider quality. The superin-
tendent says that if there is never an
other spear of grAss cut or another apple
gathered from this orchard, the county
has lost nothing, for one years crop has
more than paid the whole outlay. The
soil is a gravelly Ioam, undcrlaid by
hard-pan-moraine clay.
Value of fSwamp-Muck on the Farm.
Much has been written, both for and
against the value of swamp-muck as u
fertilizer. But in spite of all OF. ections
to it, the fact remains, that swamp-muck,
of on average good quality. consisting
mainly Of decayed vegetable matter, con-
taias one and ahalf per cent. o. nitrogen.
1t is true, that this nitrogen is inert, and
it is necessary to take action to make it
available. To do this, is the business of
of the farmer, who rarely finds the mate
rial with which he works already pre-
pared 10 his hand. One and half per
cent is equal to thi,ty pounds per ton.
Thirty pounds of the CHEAPEST nitrogen
the farmer can procure, is worth three
dollars. If swamp-muck, by the en-
penditure of little labor at this season,
can be made worth three dollars ton,
or one cubic yard, what is it worth per
acre if three feet deep2 We forbear to
say any more than this, lest our realcrs
might think us extravagant. We would
impress upon the mind, Of farmers who
own swamps, which are left to remain
un lightly and unhealthfxl eye-sores upon
their farms, the hard fact, that they are
not only wasting a valuable opportunity
of improving their lands, by neglecting
to drain these marshy PLACES, but are
leaving unused the valuable material,
which might fertilize the upland, to make
/ it doubly productive. The writer speaks
from his own knowledge and experience
in this respect, having for some years
dug and used, annually, several hundred
tons of swamp-muck, in the form of COM
post with lime and barnyard manure. He
has used it, when dry, as litter, as an
absorbent in the manure cellar, cattle
yards and pig pens. and has found it to
be worth all that the chemists have
claimed for it.-Amatr'can AQricuhHralts'.