Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1892-12-23
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.


muck on his farm, wishes to know what
if ANYTHING. he can do with it iu fertilizing
his land. There is a wide difference i'm the
value of muck as found i'm different local.
ties This difference arises first from its
state of decomposition; it is all vegetable
matter. In some cases decomposition has
not so far advanced As to have completely
broken down the plants of which it is com
posed and the mass is loose and will fall to
pieces, showing plainly the form of the
grass, weeds, roots and rotten wood of
which it is made up. In other cases it is
completely broken down into fine, com
pact mass this latter is much the better
article.
Secondly it differs in its contents Some
muck contains as high as two or three per
cent Of nitrogen, tnsOlubc it is true, but
there all the same, while in others there is
found scarcely trace of tertilizing materi-
al of any kind. Vegetable matter, humus,
is an important constituent OF all produc-
tive soils. 1t retains moisture and holds
the soil in a light, friabe condition favor
able to the admission of air and heat.
Long continued cultivation with cropping
eXhausts the humus in the soil and reduces
its capacity for producing bOuntiful crops
This is more plainly seen on the light,
sandy lOams where, unless the treatment
has been generous, the crops are much less
than when first reduced from the forest
Muck, then, has a value for the purpose
of mingling its vegetable matter with an
exhausted soil; it also-that is, some muck
has the additional value of the nitrogen
contained Although this nitrogen is not
available when the muck is first removed
from its bed, vet it. becomes so by exposure
to the air, 10y composing with other ma
nures and by use in various ways as an alb
sorbent of liquids Hence any muck may
be used to advantage on any farm where it
is available. The best course is to use it
in a dry or partially dry condition as an alb
sorbent Of the material about the barn and
yards which would otherwise 60 to waste,
and as an admixture of barn manures for
the purpose of absorbing the liquid parts
that would leach out and be lost.
In this way it adds humus to the soil the
nitrogen it may contain is made available
and at the same time it absOrbs material
that would otherwise be lost Thus all
possible advantages from its use are Sc
cured. Used after this manner it may be
made to add materially to the fertility OF
the farm and will pay well for the cost at
tending its use. In our own FARMING oper.
atouS we have used many hundreds OF
loads with marked advantage Applied di-
rectly to the soil in a raw state from tn,
bed we nave never known case where
any immediate effect was realized Maine
F0rmer.
The way one Man Raises Potatoes.
NV plan is to select some good, rich spot
near my house 30 X 90 feet. cover thi,
spot one inch deep broadcast with compost
of stable manure and rotten cottOn-seed
Now it is ready to plant ! use any GOOD
turning plough, and begin on the Outsid,
edge, going all around with one furrow
In this furroW | drop my potatoes ter
inches apart run another furrow thai
covers the first; drop in that furrow a.
the first, and continue this way until ! &C
over this spot; it is now planted. | mex
90 over this spot with a good harrow Il
level and pulyeriZe the ground; next ! @
to the forest, rake and haul leaves ant
straw, and cover this spot twelve inches
deep broadcast. 1t now requires no cult
walton whatever. Do this in January anC
it makes the spring crop. Now for the fal
crop. BY the last week in July the vine
are all dead; if not, | wait few days long
er. then rake all these leaves and straw
vi 'lfdii W tIlN EibNIlNs pun HP bll' b'o
and largest potatoes leaving the little ones
next use the same plough as did in Jan
uary, picking up again such as want, an,
strew the little ones III the furrow. WheI
got over it, it is planted for the fall crop
Next, / put the same straw and leave
back broadcast. Now ] have guarante,
for all the potatoes ] want until can max,
another spring crop. My fall crop is yer,
good; the vines are nearly two feet hgl
and are very green, and have an abundanc,
of large new potatoes, have not bough
any seed potatoes in twelve years. / have
an Early Rose and Peerless mixed. plan
every year in the same place; J nevC
use any more manure for all the time t,
come; the leaves and straw rot and max,
the land richer every year, 1t will requir
twelve large wagon loads of straw anc
leaves for patch Of this size.-Home an,
Farm.