The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-03-11
Editorial NOtings.

Editorial NOtings.
WE have lately received quite num-
Der of letters, making more enquiries
about the Rigby potato digger, and
have corresponded with Mr.. Burleigh,
who is interested in its manufacture, in
reference to points of enquiry. 1t is
certainly an important thing for our
farmers to get an implement of this
kind that will do good work, and not
be so costly that common farmer"
cannot afford to own one. AS to its
efficiency, it satisfies us; and we have
before us a note from William Dumont,
trustee of the Shaker Society at Sab
bath Day Lake post-of1ice, Cumber-
land county, Maine, who seems equally
well pleased He says he used it about
two hours each morning, and dug out
all the potatoes that ten men could pick
up and put in the cellar the rest of the
day. He adds: would not part with
the digger for any price unless [ could
get another, for l think ii has already
paid for itself, and yet without any
visible wear" Mr.. Burleigh, in reply
to a suggestion from us, says he will
ship to one of our subscribers in each
town a digger at the wholesale price,
S25, if the money is sent to him before
June l. Send him copy of the paper
with the mailing slip on it, showing
your name as paid-up subscriber, if
you wish for this special favor. Adj
dress Rigby & Burleigh, Houlton,
Maine.
THE Montreal Journal Of agriculture
asks us: " How shall we employ our
ashes on the light lands for potatoes?
If we mix them with the dung, they
promote the expulsion of the ammonia;
if we SOW them on the manure in the
drills, it is generally the second week
in May before it can be done and the
years crop is not benefited by them. l
think, after all, the best plan would be
to store them in dry place, and broad
cast them over the autumn furrow." If
you will allow us, Brother Fust, we
would like first to discuss this ashes
and ammonia question, as regards
stable manure. 1t is true that if we
dissolve sulphate of ammonia in water,
and stir in some unleached ashes, there
will be free escape of gaseous am
monia. On this fact chemists base
their dictum that ashes should not be
mixed with stable manure. But the
conditions are far from being the same.
In fresh manure there is absolutely no
ammonia. The combined nitrogen of
manure only takes on that volatile form
when the manure ferments, or " heats"
as farmers say. Does ashes promote
such fermentation? We think not. If
anything, the reverse is more likely.
But if the manure does not thus fer
ment, ashes simply helps on decay of
the crude vegetable matter in it. If
sulphates or nitrates are formed in the
course of that decay, potash will take a
part in these combinations, and may
replace ammonia in some of them.
But this is slow process; and unless
the manure is quite dry Gin which case
the fermentation will stop, what free
ammonia is formed will be taken up by
the water in it. The practical farmer
knows that ashes is not needed to free
the ammonia in manure. Its escape
takes place at least equally well in fer
mentation, when no ashes is present.
In any case it is only necessary to wet,
or otherwise cool off, the pile to arrest
and hold the escaping gas. We think
there can be no mistake in believing
that practically there is no harm done
by mixing ashes directly with stable
manure. The only thing needed is not
to allow the pile to get hot; and slight
escape of ammonia is useful in warning
us when such is the case. AT any rate,
as it occurs without ashes, the only
effect of the latter is good one-the
more rapid disintegration of the coarse
vegetable matter in and mixed with the
dung. When the two are simply mixed
in the furrow, or drill, the danger is
even less. But as a practical matter,
broadcast sowing of the ashes is usu-
ally to be preferred to drilling, or
spreading it in the rows, as too direct
application of ashes may injure the seed.
OUR old and valued correspondent,
j. V. r. Kent, of Calais, VT, writes to
US, saying he thinks the manure on
swing platforms will be apt to freeze
up, and the snow will also prevent get
ting it out regularly. So we fear. In
regard to the sugar and syrup question,
he is " for the syrup, every time" He,
TOO, as well as Mr.. Foster, has kept his