The weekly sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1886-1887, 1886-10-14
FARM EXPERIENCE.

FARM EXPERIENCE.
Wasted Fertility That May Prove Fatal
the Farmers Family.
The farmer who wishes to make as
much money as possible out of his bust
ness must take better care of the home
manure supply, and make better use of
it. Those living on new, rich prairie
land may think themselves exceptions
to this rule. and perhaps they are for
the present, but they will not be long.
There are few farms in the older States
where good stable manure, properly
applied. will not double the yield of
corn wheat, potatoes and hay. fyou
do not think so, just compare the aver
age yields of your State with those of
your best farmers. For example, here
in Ohio, fifteen bushels per acre is
about the average of wheat, perhaps.
Mr.. ID. +. Fem, of Summit County,
has raised nearly two and a half times
that quantity, on the average, for a
term of years. One and Il half tons of
hay to the acre is Il large average yield,
but we have plenty of men who have
taken poor farms and brought them
up until they produce three or even
four tons per acre, in two or three cut
tings. Heavy manuring will tell still
better on the potato crop. OF course
when | say that manure will double
the yield on certain farms, it is under
stood that the land is to be under
drained, if it needs it, and is to be suita-
bile for the crop. and that the crop shall
be properly cared for.
/ think that at least One-half of the
manure made is wasted, in one way or
another. Go with me on n visit to a
few average farms. What do we find?
Nearly ALWAYS the liquid manure
quietly draining through the cracks in
the stable floor. A farmer who is .'too
poor" to take a paper will let one hum
dred dollars or more slip away from
him in this manner during the winter.
Then perhaps he will buy one hundred
dollars worth of commercial fertilizers,
the money for which goes into the
other fellows pocket instead of into
his. Often we will find the horse ma
nure thrown out by itself and quietly
sending its most valuable part into the
air, as the result of too much heating.
The liquid having drained away under
the stable, and the ammonia having
been sent into the air by too great fer
mentation, and the rains having
washed away at the poor remainder.
how much finally gets onto the landP
The farmer may consider himself lucky
if this wasted fertility does not iniure
the health of his family by finding its
way into the well-water or contami-
Mating the air around the dwellings.
We will often find ton after ton of
this liquid manure or barn-yard drain
age going down into the earth and the
farmer using well or spring in close
proximity. The penalty will have to
be paid sooner or later. Providence
will never save one unless he regards
the laws of health. Again, many barn
yards will be found draining directly
into creek, and very likely no water
conductors on the barn. Well, perhaps
the fertility might better be carried
away by the running water than soak
into the earth all in one place. as is
often the case in level barn-yards. An
other thing we find is stock going quite
Assistance to get water in the winter.
perhaps to some pond or stream, where
Aho1e is cut in the ice for them to
drink. Any observant farmer knows
that much manure is lost at such times.
to say nothing of the poor economy OF
allowing animals to drink ice water.
On some farms the cattle are allowed
to stand around outdoors, in lanes or
fence corners. much of the time in
winter. Well, there will be less manure
to clean out. ''less trouble" but there
will also be less profit.
!, Now how had the good, business-like
farmer ought to care for manure? He
certainly ought to saveit almost entire
difficult but that it will pay him well.
cd h,, - =
The way will vary on different farms.
For one thing, all stable floors should
be absolutely tight. Water should be
furnished in the yard or barn. Where
land is level, and no danger of washing
sway, the manure may be drawn out
to the field and spread as fast as made,
absorbents enough having been used to
hold all the liquid. If it is to be piled.
mix horse and cattle manure, SO as to
prevent the excessive heating that is
apt to take place if the former is piled
alone. If your stock trample on the
pile, it will not be likely to heat too
much. If it does, with a hose from
your pump put on a little water A
pile may be built in the yard and so
managed and cared for as to lose very
little of its value. although not covered
by a roof, but one will heed to be con-
stant1y on the watch. / have done this
way for many years, and by careful
tests 7 Low have not lost much fer
tility, but l believe there is a better
ray.
In year or two l hope to build a
new barn, with all the stable floors of
stone and cement, ands arranged that
he horse and cattle manures can be
asily gathered into one small yard.
hen will put roof over that yard,
connected with the barn, and spread
the manure all around and let the stock
exercise on it The stock will not need
TO go out from under cover in all
winter. The manure will be safe from
Loss until wanted OF course, I will