Middletown transcript., 1898-03-05
Of Interest
to Farmers
SOIL FERTILITY.


The great fertilizer factory of any
farm is the barns and stables and the
machines are our farm animals. If we
run the machine well, that is feed lib
orally on the best Of foods such as glu-
ten, linseed, cottonseed, wheat bran
and like concentrated materials, to-
gether with the coarse folders pro-
duced on the farm, the value of the ma
nure heap is of certain and known
quantity and quality.
Upon the full use of such absorbents
as may be at hand must the average
farmer depend, to save the valuable
liquids which are in many cases greatly
wasted. When available good dry
swamp muck used in the stables ranks
first. If that cannot be had, loan sand
and even sawdust is used with the
other bedding. A liberal use of such
material will double the manure pro-
ducing capacity of each animal fed and
in my experience the manure will be
fully as strong in fertility as where no
absorbants are used, and am inclined
to think the mechanical condition is
better. ! always keep a number OF
good vigorous hogs in the manure eel
lar whose business it is to level and
work over the manure under the scut-
tie. The sink drain from the house
has an outlet near the horse stable and
it keeps this manure quite moist. From
the results of using this with the horse
manure, should be 10th to take the
sink water away. Now and then give
the hogs load of sods or vegetables
to work over into this greatest of farm
products.
By following the above methods |
have never failed to produce crop of
manure that paid big interest on the
hand labor bestowed. In the hog
house concrete floor, loan, leaves bed
ding, the refuse of the garden, pur-
chased stable manure more strawy and
dry than valuable, are all made into a
fine manure. Visitors speak of the
bright green of crops to which it has
been applied.
Some years ago used to make COM
post of hen droppings,two parts Of good
fine soil to one part of droppings using all
the land plaster that seemed to be re-
quired by the strength of the droppings
and when this mass got warmed up in
good shape I gave it another mixing.
II there was much smell, 1 added more
soil and plaster, then allowed to stand
again few days, after which 1 would
work over for the third time. This
would make fine dry lot of fertilizer
which I used in the hill for corn,
squashes, cucumbers, etc.
have gotten bravely over all that
and now the way l do it is to keep the
floor of the henhouse Uttered with
leaves. Chaff from the barn, coarse
sand, coal ashes and any other thing
of dry nature will answer. Be sure
to cover all the dropping under the
roosts. I daily scatter wheat or corn
among all this litter and the fowls do
the remainder. The droppings are dried
like guano. The hens seem just as
happy as ever, and for myself, it saves
quite little work. 1t may be slack
but it is very convenient. When ap-
piled to the land this product of the
hens is broadcasted and treated like
other manure.
Night soil has come in for attention
in the compost heap. Some years l
have had over 20 two-horse loads.
This was composted the same as the
hens manure, with the addition of as
much more soil, say four parts Of dried
earth to one of the material, and even
more If it be moist. Some of this was used
in hills the same as the other, and the
residue applied to Hungarian grass. In
the vaults large amount of good ab-
sorbents is used-enough to soak up all
liquids.
A general compost heap is sometimes
maintained with stable manure as the
base. In making this up, first put
down a layer of manure about a foot
thick, then the same depth Of potato
tops, turnip tops and any other vegeta-
ble waste. Here the dead animals find
resting place. After time this mass
is shoveled over and If properly reduced
is then put onto the land.
All my manure and composts are
spread broadcast over the fields aud
either thoroughly narrowed in, or in
case of strong field, plowed under.
| The problem is not 50 much how to
use, but how to make manures. On
general principles, use all manure
made before July / to assist in
producing some crop that YER.
The result is my barn is not large
enough to hold easily the increasing
crops Of fodder. My present method
of using composts may seem wasteful
70 some, but on our good granite soil
we do not have to worry about leach
ing and take care to quickly cover all
-. :, .--..z=.<a Tar .,ea L.,
the bill prefer chemical fertilizers, as
they are more quickly and conveniently
/ applied and fully as rich In fertility as
compnsts. Farmers who make and
use the greatest amount of manure of