Year: 1861




The corn crop often fails to come to ma.
turity for want Of an early aud vigorous
start in the spring. The tender plant needs
something about its roots, to push it along
and bring out its broad leaves for atmos-
pherie influences to act upon and perfect it
betore early frosts occur. We want some
thing that Is cheap and portable, that every
farmer may have il to drop into the hill
before covering the corn, to impart warmth
70 the seed, and quicken it INTO vigorous &C
ton. Que valuable source Of manure for
this purpose is found in the droppings from
the hen roost. II one has a supply Of dry
muck 10 scatter over the droppings two or
three times . week, adding also a sprinkling
Of plaster, it will need no further prepare.
ton at planting time than the mixing il will
receive In loading and unloading, and its
transfer to the hill. If this is not done,
very good compound can be made at plant
ing time by using the same materials, mix
ing the muck, plaster and droppings, after
removing the latter from beneath the roost.
A small handful to each hill, covered slight.
ly with soil, and the corn planted upon it,
viii produce the desired effect. Another
fertilizing compound may be prepared from
night soil, with charcoal dust and dry muck,
added from time TO time in sufficient quan-
tity to absorb the liquids, and render the
mixture inodorous. A thorough working
over will be necessary, so as to incorporate
the different materials we'll together; they
may then be placed In heaps and covered
with muck or dry soil uutil needed for use.


Hog manure, cOmposted with muck and
fresh horse dung. aud placed in heaps for
several weeks. would make strong fertili.
ser for this purpose. Il would require due
attention TO mixing the material in proper
quantities-at least one-balf muck and one.
sixth horse manure-and in proper condition
e % moisture, and depth and compactness
Of the pile, which experiment alone would
fully determine, to produce the best results,
without loss by overheatiug or from imper.
feet Decomposition Of the mass. By turning
and remixing once or twice, q fine compost
could be made valuable for this or any
other purpose for which such material Is re-
quired. Any barn yard manure sufficiently
rolted. can Be used for applying in the hill,
varying the amount and manner Of dressing
according % is strength and condition. 4
dhovellnl Of common farm manure would
b no more than equal TO good handful Of
either Of the two first named, or half the
quantity Of the third in order. In using
barn manure compost, we have only tried
Il BY applying L 10 the surface after plowing,
and then covering or rather mixing it with
tie surface soil BY the use Of the Wheel-cul.
ilrator and harrow. The effect Of light
dressing g-say eight or ten loads per acre
was very satisfactory, and leaves the ground
b better order for the following crop.


TIE following simple and efficient hill
fertilizer is within the reach Of every far
msr. and should BE- neglected by no one.
Take 60 old cask, such rs molasses hogs
hra1 mix bnsliel of plaster with old muck
enough 10 fll Il, and satuFate the whole
with urine from the farm cellar, or from any
Other source. Continue to pour on the
urine freely from day 10 day, until the es-
ope Of ammonia Is detected, and then dis.
continue IT, The contents Of the hogshead
may then Be taken out and the operation re-
plaltd 10 any extent desired. n this ope
lfalIon the snlphuric acid in the plaster viii
combine with and tx the ammonia escaping
iron he wine, and the mass will be Q ports.
BE. active and highly fsrtilizipg agent-one
dat every farmer may have.