No. 63.J 207 



yarded in the fall, their droppings are trod and mixed with their fod- 

 der, the sea weed and other contents of the yard. Some who have 

 peat on their farms, cart it into their barn-yards and make a layer 

 over the seaweed, while others use muck from swamps and ponds for 

 the same purpose. When the horse dung accumulates at the stable 

 door, it will heat even in winter, to prevent which it is scattered over 

 the surface of the yard. Those who have a stock of hogs clear out 

 their pens occasionally, and spread the contents, as in case of the horse 

 dung. Thus is made a mixture containing most of the elements ne- 

 cessary for the growth of plants. They are intimately mixed by the 

 poaching of cattle, remain till spring accumulating, but without heat- 

 ing, and must then be drawn out, heaped and set into a state of fer- 

 mentation before they are applied to the soil. 



In a barn-yard so prepared, we have the benefit derived from the 

 manure of cattle, horses and swine; together with decomposing sea 

 weed, straw, cornstalks, hay and peat, muck or the soil of roads and 

 side fences, to absorb the liquids of the yard, and to be converted in- 

 to soluble humus. 



Such, however, is not the general practice. Most of our farmers 

 neglect their barn-yards, because of the facility of procuring street 

 manure, when by a little exertion they might make all, or nearly all, 

 their lands required. Mr. William A. Seely, who has been enthusi- 

 astically devoted to agriculture, on a large farm in Southfield, near 

 the Great Kills, has purchased no manure during his residence in the 

 county; but by the course above described, has made annually an 

 abundant supply, thereby improving his farm and putting his fields 

 into a high state of cultivation. 



Dr. Dana, in his " Muck Manual," estimates cow dung as the low- 

 est in fertilizing qualities among animal manures, horse dung next, 

 and hog dung he ranks with night soil. These may be all united in 

 a barn-yard compost, which would be preferable to any one of the in- 

 gredients separately employed. Farmers among us consider hog ex- 

 crement as one of the strongest and best manures for corn. But few 

 persons, however, keep such a number of swnne as to make a suffi- 

 cient quantity of this fertilizing ingredient to employ it alone, and 

 hence it is, or may be, advantageously spread over the yard and mix- 

 ed with other manures. 



Horse manure. — A compost sold for this article is manufactured in 

 New-York, and purchased by some of our farmers. It costs more 

 than street dirt, but is not so lasting in its effects. The sellers col- 

 lect the principal material from livery and private stables; they cart 

 it to the suburbs near the water, where they make a compost by mix- 

 ing with it saw dust, spent tanner's bark, spent charcoal from rectify- 

 ing establishments, &c. In warm weather these ingredients soon fer- 

 ment, and they become so hot as to burn and exhale much of their 

 gaseous substances. When there is no call for the manure, the ma- 

 nufactuiers keep turning it over to arrest the fermentation, and to 

 make it light and spongy. In this contlition, when sold, a load soon 

 settles down into a much smaller quantity. When the farmer re- 

 ceives it, if heated, it should be immediately applied to the land, un- 



