Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1888-08-30
MANAGEMENT OF MANURE.
Common-Sense Methods Against High
Sounding Theoretical Plans.

Common-sense Methods Against High
Sounding Theoretical Plans.
There are numerous theories which
read well, sound well when presented
in club-room or "institutc," are pcr-
haps applicable in exceptional cases,
and yet have no economical value in
any general sense. But many men
catch at such things rs eagerly as
trout at fly, and often with quite as
disastrous result. One Of these is that
Of continuously stabling animals on
their droppings and litter. l prac-
ticed the method n great many
years with calves and swine, and for
merly 10 some extent with sheep.
have tied up II calf at two days old
and kept IL on the same spot In the
barn until there was an accumulation
OF cord and half Of manure under
its feet, trodden as completely solid n
II II had been run through the most
powerful compress In any cOtton-ship-
ping port There was in that heap all
the manurial elements OF n ton OF litter,
mostly dry straw, though some green
weeds and some refuse fodder went into
IL; more than 7O0gallons Of milk, more
than 1900 pounds Of dry mill-fced,
cottonseed meal and cornmoal and all
the dry hay and wator the animal
chose to take. II was practically i'm
possible TO supply litter enough TO hold
all the liquid, and IL became necessary
TO employ dry earth TO absorb leakage
from the heap. / have fed several
other baby beeves," but never un-
dertook to keep another upon Che heap
from beginning to the end prefer
placing them In a stall where the sur
plus liquids can run of into trench
and thence into the general manure
heap, and 10 clean out the accumulu.
tion quite often.
CPerhaps in large breeding establish.
ments whore cows are kept in boz
stalls and men are always in attend.
ance TO keep the droppings carefully
covered. and movable feed-boxes and
racks are used, the method may be
employed 20 some advantage, but II Is
inapplicable 10 common dairy practice.
Where animals are kept loose In yards
and sheds, or loose calves are wintered
In stables, It's usefulness is unquestion-
able. But in the more exclusively
dairy sections one insuporable objec-
tion 10 any such system Is the scarcity
Of straw and other cheap litter. In n
well-arranged stable, with n suitable
| drop behind tho animals 20 let tho
manure fall out OF their reach whilo
lying upon the loor, a much smaller
| quantity OF litter answers every pur-
pose, and II requires only infrsquent
renewal. The waste Of manure, II any,
under this system results from made
quate protection after It's removal from
the stable. That there Is any saving
by the treading-down system has never
been shown, though often asserted.
The long and short Of II Is, the treading-
down system Is only lazy mans de-
vice 10 avoid labor. and In practice I,
confirms the old adage that lazy men
In tho end take most pains. Neatness
and economy In stable management &C
hand In hand. The best place for any.
thing which may contaminate the air
OF the stable Is Ia a compact heap In a
separate apartment and well protected
from the weather. do not quite be-
lieve that any man who has once thor
oughly tried the treading-down method
IN the stable will stake his reputation
by advocating is economy In any par
ficular, except IN cases have named
or IN others quite akin 70 them. 20. S.
BlE.r q ~ J. 4'lsgcs.