St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1886-10-23
MAKING MANURE.
A Few Points on the Application OF Aka
lies and Muck to the Soil.

lies and Muck to the Soil.
Alakalies and muck are within the
command of almost every farmer.
Lime is not within reach. and, besides.
requires no small skill in its manage
ment. In the preparation Of manure
price is every thing. Muck may be
called worth 80 cents cord, and the
labor of digging say 81; mix through
the cord of muck sixty pounds of soda
ash, the cheapest alkali there is at the
present time, costing from ] to cents
pound according to quantity pur-
chased two pounds of soda ash are
equal in alkaline strength to three
pounds of potash), making cord OF
muck equal in value to a cord of COW
dung at a cost of from $40 to $40,
to which is to be added the cost of
labor for mixing. Many have used
lime with muck to neu,raIize the acid
contained in it, and have been disap-
pointed in the results of its application
when used on the land. consequently
condemning it. Lime in excess rem
ders muck insoluble, granting it to
have been in soluble state.
Lime changes vegetable fiber into
soluble GENE. or vegetable matter, but
being applied in excess it forms an in
soluble salt. Now, by the supposition,
there was no great excess of vegetable
matter. and the lime, rendering only a
small portion of that soluble, is itself,
then, always in excess, and though it
converts, it at the same time locks up
the vegetable matter which it had con-
verified.
If lime is used on muck, salt should
be used with it. In doing this. lime is
converted into perfectly soluble salt.
The soda is eliminated caustic, acts
On the vegetable matter, renders it
soluble.
During the exposure to the volumes
of carboaic acid evolved from the muck,
the cauStic odor becomes carbonated.
The carbonate of soda Immediately de-
composes the soluble salt of lime, and
an insoluble salt of lime, with a soluble
salt of soda, is the result. The effect OF
these various actions is. first the vege-
table matter is made soluble. ammonia
evolved. which is converted into a
nitrate. carbonate of lime produced,
which acts as that does in spent ashes,
and IA soluble salt of soda, or common
salt. remains in the mass, producing
still further good effects when its alkali
is let loose by the action of growing
plants. Here are rounds of changes
taking place, which, though the farmer
NAV not readily understand, he may
produce with lime and common salt.
Bv mixing quicklime with common
salt its soda is let loose. the acid COM
bines with the lime. forming soluble
salts of lime. and as long as the soda
remains caustic it has no effect on the
muriate of linn: but as soon as the
soda becomes mild or carbonated. de-
composition of the muriate of lime IS
produced. and the common salt is re-
generated. Commencing then with
the uuicklime and salt, we pass on to 3
soluble salt of lime and caustic soda.
and from that t. mild soda. and to car
donate of lime and the original COM
mon salt. and these in decaying soil are
mutually deeomposed. and reform car
Donate of soda.
This explains the beneficial effect on
adding lime to the muck from salt
marshes, so different from adding lime
to the muck from fresh water swamps.
Salt water muck mixed with lime has
been very successfully used. The
muck being saturated with salt water
from its natural position. is dug out,
partially dried and mixed with about
one-seventh of its bulk of Stacked lime.
1t soon heats. ferments strongly. anc
when used soon after as manure pro-
duces excellent effects. Making ma
nure is 3 fine art too little studied BY
farmers. Post.