1846. 



GENESEE FARMER. 



G3 



have always made it a practice of converting 

 every article of rubbish and filth about my premi- 

 866, weeds, and coarse grass ariOund tlie fields 

 and fences, into manure ; and have even hauled 

 saw-dust, turners chips, and sumac leaves, from 

 the morrocco dresser, tobed my cattle and absorb 

 the urine previous to mixing in the compost heap. 

 I also haul anthricite coal ashes from the city, on 

 which I set a high value for a top dressing on my 

 meadows. 



But however correct and economical may be 

 the manner of saving and applying manure, the 

 quantity, it cannot be denied, still falls short of 

 the farmer's wants. How to supply this defi- 

 ciency merits the deepest attention of the husband- 

 man. 



I am an advocate for compost, and for that 

 purpose I mix all the produce of the cattle-yard, 

 the sheep yard, the horse stable, the pig stye, 

 and the poultry house. 



The dung of the hog, owing to the greater fat- 

 ness of the animal and the nature of its food, is 

 the richest and strongest ; that of the horse the 

 most heating; that of cattle the coldest but the 

 most durable. The dung of sheep is quick in 

 operation ; therefore the mixing of cattle, horse, 

 hog, and sheep dung for all kinds of soils and all 

 kinds of crops is always to be preferred, as the 

 one corrects the defects of the other, and pre- 

 vents the fermenting process from going on too 

 rapidly. 



The utility of fermented dung is proved from 

 the little advantage derived from what is dropped 

 upon the ground, and has not undergone that pro- 

 cess. In the course of its being fermented, also 

 the seeds of weeds and the eggs of insects are 

 destroyed. 



My yard is dishing, still it sometimes overflows, 

 and where the excess passes off, 1 cause a basin 

 to be excavated to retain tl,ie liquid. Near this 

 basin, which is outside the yard, I place my 

 compost heap, which I commence with a layer of 

 yard manure, about one foot in thickness ; then 

 a layer of soil ; then a layer of green weeds ; 

 then a coat of shell lime and ashes; then a layer 

 of turf ; thenalayer of horse, hog, orsheepdung; 

 then a coat of soil, and so on, with such materials 

 as are available. In short, every thing of a fer 

 tilizing nature is placed in the heap, carrying up 

 the sides square until the pile reaches to the height 

 of from five to six feet. As the heap progresses, 

 each layer is saturated with the liquid which es- 

 caped from the cattle yards, and then covered 

 with fine soil to prevent the escape of the vola- 

 tile parts of the manure, and in the next place, 

 to absorb the gasses, so that the soil used for a 

 covering becomes itself a valuable manure — a 

 point long since established by the practice ot 

 many enlightened farmers. After remaining a 

 sufficient time 1 cause the whole heap to be care- 

 fully and completely turned and mixed, throwing 

 OJi liquid manure as the work progresses. A 



I fermentation soon takes place, sufficient to de- 

 istroy the vitality of the seeds of such weeds as 

 may find their way into the heap. After two 

 turnings it generally gets completely broken 

 down and comminuted. By mixing a small 

 quantity of salt to the heap, I have no doubt it 

 would add greatly to its fertilizing properties. 



In this way I have added from one hundred to 

 one hundred and fifty loads of good manure per 

 year. 



I have used with good success bone dust, horn 

 shavings, bristles, salt fish, and poudrette. They 

 are all highly concentrated manures, and are 

 valuable for the immediate crop, but for after 

 crops and enriching the soil durably, give me the 

 compost heaps. 



I once had great faith in the use of gypsum, 

 but after several experiments with it, I became 

 satisfied that it was of no benefit on my soil, and 

 I have therefore abandoned its use altogether. 



C. N. Bement. 



Albany, Fek, 1846. 



We commend the above article to the careful 

 study of all young farmers. — Ed. 



To Correspondents. 



Mr. G. W. Barr, of Erie, Pa., asks us to pub- 

 lish in the Farmer "a Plan or Constitution for a 

 small Agricultural Society." This paper was too 

 far made up when his note came to hand to per- 

 mit us to do so till the April number, when his 

 wishes shall be complied with. There are six or 

 eight choice farming counties in Western Penn- 

 sylvania, each one of wliich is capable of main- 

 taining a most efficient and useful Agricultural 

 Society. 



" Farmer C," of Sodus, is informed that his let- 

 ter has come to hand, and that the subject to which 

 it relates — the supposed collection of nitre in old 

 heaps of leachpd ashes — will be _ attended to in 

 our next. 



Mr. Davidson of Loudon Co., Va., has our 

 thanks for the grafts of valuable Apples which 

 he has sent us. His interesting letter, describing 

 this fruit, came to hand after our March number 

 was in type. It will appear in the next paper. 



" Niagara" has our thanks for his short and 

 pithy articles on the culture of Potatoes and the 

 Disease in the same ; and the Extirpation of the 

 Canada Thistle. These Communications will 

 appear in our next. 



Several other Communications and Inquiries, 

 recently received, will have early attention. 



Taylor's Steam Factory. — Mr. E. Tay- 

 lor, No. 6, Hill Street, of this city, has put in 

 operation a good establishment for the manufac- 

 ture of all kinds of Farming Implements — such 

 as Fan-Mills, Corn Grinders, Corn and Seed 

 Planters, Scythe Snathes, Straw Cutters, Patent 

 Churns, &c. &c. Mr. T. also manufactures a 

 great luxury in the shape of an admirable appar- 

 atus for Vapor and Shower Baths. 



