138 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



WORCESTER. 



Statement of Thomas <^' /. S. Meriam. 



The plan adopted by us in making and applying manures, is 

 as follows : All manures used for crops remain in the yard and 

 cellar until spring, and as soon as the yard is clear, we get into 

 our barnyard a supply of swamp mud, which we usually get 

 out the winter previous into piles ; for our hogyard we use loam 

 and all waste matter. Before we get it out in the spring, we 

 collect it all together under the barn, having a cellar under the 

 whole of the barn, but thirty-six feet is divided off and so 

 arranged that the manure from the horse stable and ox lean-to 

 drop into this part, and also to winter the hogs in. As soon. 

 as the frost is sufficiently out, we spread all waste hay and 

 straw that remains in the yard, and apply plaster freely, spread- 

 ing it over the whole surface ; we then cart our hog manure 

 under the barn, and spread that over the whole surface, still 

 applying the plaster ; next the heaps from under the stables, 

 lean-tos, and yard, are spread over the whole, and another coat 

 of plaster. At this stage, we commence and shovel it all over, 

 mixing and pulverizing it as much as possible, then we let it 

 remain for two or three weeks until it becomes thoroughly de- 

 composed, and in a good state for use, having kept its full 

 strength, and by the use of plaster we saved all the ammonia. 

 We make, annually, about three hundred cart-loads of manure. 



We apply our manure in the following manner : For corn 

 crop, wc cart with one team to the lot intended for corn, and 

 spread and plough it under as soon as possible, not often suf- 

 fering it to remain in the field over twenty-four hours, and as 

 much less time as possible. For grass, in all cases where it 

 can be ploughed, wc do it about the first of September, being 

 careful to turn over the furrow as smooth as possible, and fol- 

 low the plough with the roller ; we then apply about twenty 

 loads of manure to the acre, being prepared as before stated, 

 sow hay seed, harrow and roll. 



We have also another method of preparing manure, in the 

 spring, which we call guano. We generally gather from our 

 dove house, about thirty bushels of manure, which we mix with 



