SECRETARY'S REPORT. 119 



rUOM JOSEPH TAKSONS. 



*^' There are no special means adopted by the farmers of Parsonsfield, 

 to increase the quantity of manures produced on our farms. Stable 

 manures are generally used in a crude state. Fifty per cent, increase in 

 the value of manures, might be saved or made on our farms ^vith proper 

 care. If our stables were properly constructed, we could, with very 

 little care, save the urine from our animals, which is a very important 

 object. I consider the fertilizing properties of the urine of our animals, 

 equal in value, to one-half theii' solid excrements. Our stables should 

 be so constructed, that the droppings of our animals might be thrown 

 into a cellar, under where they stand. Then by covering the bottom 

 of the cellar with some absorbent matter, such as peat, muck, leaves 

 from the forest, or soil, we might easily save the urine. Manure of 

 all kinds should be kept housed in some way, until a proper time 

 to be carted out for use. A large portion of our manure that is suf- 

 fered to lie in our barn yards, exposed to the rains and the action of 

 the sun, is lost by leaching and evaporation. Some people object to 

 barn cellars, on the ground that the vapor which rises from the 

 manure, goes up into the barn, and injures the hay. This may be 

 very easily prevented. If the cellar is under the whole barn, there 

 may be a partition between the manure cellar and the other. Then, 

 if the manure cellar is properly ventilated, the foul gases which rise 

 from the manure, will pass out, and the hay will keep just as sweet as 

 though there was no cellar under the barn. 



Swamp muck abounds in many places in this town, but has not 

 been extensively used. 



Guano, super-phosphate of lime or poudrette have not been fairly 

 tried. Plaster has been generally used. We consider it good econ- 

 omy to use it on our dry lands. In raising Indian corn on dry land, 

 two and one-half bushels of plaster per acre, dropped in the hill, is 

 e-qual in value to three cords of barn-yard manure spread broad cast, 

 for the present crop." 



FKOM CHAKLES HANKEFOKB, 



" The town of Cape Elizabeth is so favorably situated, in regard to 

 'manure of different kinds, from the sea and. the city of Portland, that 

 tbe farmers have paid but very little attention to the compost heap. 

 As a large portion of the town is bounded by the sea shore, the 

 ftirmers in the \-icinity haul great quantities of sea-weed on their farms. 

 It is an excellent manure for crops. It is spread broad cast and 

 plougbed in. Stable manure is generally used in a crude state. A 

 large quantity of manure is hauled from Portland. I am satisfied, 



