The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1889-12-06
HANDLING MANURE IN AUTUMN.

HANDLING MANURE lN AUTUMN.
The best practice among those not pro-
vided with abundant barn room, is to
select a level piece of ground, and stack
the thrcshcd straw there year after year.
The straw can be converted into we'll
rotted manure by using it literally for
bedding in the stables and by turning
the cattle To the stack; and all things
considered, this is the most profitable
disposition of the straw where that not
eaten by the cattle in the stack yard is
converted into manure, and well cared
for. The straw thrown under foot by
the cattle will likely be tramplcd down
so solidly that if left to itself it will not
be converted into manure in the desired
time; and part of the stack may have to
be cut down and strcwn over tho yard,
making necessary some effort to hasten
the rotting of the straw. AS there is no
need of handling wet manure, il is ad-
visablc to have the mass stirred every
day for some days before it is taken to
the fields, that it may dry out To ac-
complish this it may be necessary to use
II manure hook like Il two -prongcd hoe.
1t may be made by any blacksmith
better one, in fact, the best for manure
not wet, is to have blacksmith bend
the shank OF four or five tined manure
fork, making Il hook shaped like potato
digger. 1t is sometimes difficult to make
the shank hold in place. Take the length
of the shank; measure back from the cod
of the handle the distance less one inch;
at this point put screw through the
handle, having it pass through the centre
of the hole bored for the shank Ohc head
and poinT Of the screw may be filed off
even with the surface Of the handlc);
then drive in the shank with its point
heated to rcd head; as the point
reaches the screw it will be DETECTED and
enlarged and will make a way for itself
in the wood, getting hold that the
strength of one man will not overcome.
The handle of n manure hook should be
quite heavy around the shank, to give it
strength, and the weight is really needed
there.
All the manure should be removed
from the yard before the grain is threshcd,
that the new straw may not he stacked
upon it; and the usual method of putting
it upon the winter wheat ground is a good
one. If strcwn over the ground as it is
powcd. the narrowing necessary to put
the seed bed in proper condition will
thoroughly fine it and incorporate it with
the soil, while it will not BE- below the
roots of the wheat. II is best to strew it
over the Ground as it is hauled out. This
saves one handling Hauling manure in
it so fOuls wagon box that il is best to
have another box for this and similar
uses. This is best made of loose planks
pine, two inches thick and from nine
to twelve inches wide. They are made
much moro convenient 10 handle by shav.
ing down the ends to three inches vide
If end boards arc desired. grooves can
be cut in the side OF the handles on the
ends of the planks, and will be strong
enough to hold the boards. Itdcsired to
make the box higher than the standards,
and the latter arc not provided with
rings to receive pieces, staple rings into
the planks forming the sides of the box.
Passing pieces of wood through these
rings will hold the upper boards in place.
The lowest side planks must lie on the
bolster, the planks forming the bottom of
the box fitting closely inside Of them.
The manure crop year properly begins
in the fall and a; this time the yards,
stable and sheds should be made clean
and ready forthc next year S crop making.
American A9ricuHrist.