100 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Feb. 



months old, to Mr. Eben Galucia, of Clinton. 

 His pedigree is recorded in the 8th volume 

 A. II. B. — Country Oentleman. 



For the Neio England Farmer, 

 DEEP OR SHALLOW MANURING. 



I was very glad to see a discussion in your 

 columns between "H." and "II. P." on the 

 all-important subject of the mode of applying 

 manure. But as these writers do not agree 

 whether it should be covered with the harrow 

 or the plow, we seem to be left just as much 

 in the dark as before. True, each one gives 

 some reasons for his peculiar practice ; but 

 while one argues that rain washes the essential 

 parts of manure into the soil, whence it is 

 taken up by the crops ; the other, with equal 

 confidence, affirms that if plowed in, the gases 

 rise and are principally saved by the soil, from 

 evaporation. Now, both of these propositions 

 can be true only in part, and exactly where 

 the truth lies is the great question that needs 

 to be discussed until farmers know how deep 

 manure should be buried to give the best re- 

 sults and in the shortest time. 



If manure evaporates by being exposed to 

 the air, then the quicker it is covered the bet- 

 ter ; but if its best qualities are taken out by 

 rain or water, and in that state can best be 

 taken up by roots of crops, then we might 

 almost say that no covering was needed. Un- 

 til this point is pretty thoroughly settled, I 

 hope that farmers will continue to discuss it, 

 and that chemists will not withold their aid. 



And now, dear Farmer, lest I should be 

 thought a mere critic, I will give some of my 

 own views on this important subject, although 

 I confess it is beyond my comprehension. 

 Perhaps your readers will think that the more 

 I say about it, the more I expose my igno- 

 rance ; yet, in the hopes that what I say may 

 induce wiser heads to add a word or more on 

 the subject, I venture out. 



Well, then, in the first place, I think no 

 roots of grass, grain or any vegetable will run 

 its nose against a piece of rmo manure, any 

 more than it would against a coal of fire ; and 

 that until it is diluted with water and mixed 

 with earth, it cannot be taken up and appro- 

 priated by any plant or tree, shrub or vine, — 

 that water is about the only thing that can 

 take the real growing or producing properties 

 out of manure and convey it to plants. I also 

 think that the tendency of water is downward, 

 and that the earth is so made as to absorb or 

 take up all the essential fertilizing properties 

 of the manure as it passes through it in less 

 or greater distance. Of course, if manure is 

 plowed under, say one foot, it is buried, not 

 onlv out of sight, but out of the reach of any 

 grain or grass grown in this land, but may be 

 reached l)y the roots of some tree or vine, and 

 so brought back again to the surface. It is 

 undoubtedly true that some soils will take up 

 all the fertilizing properties of manure in a 



much shorter distance than others. Still the 

 soil is what holds and imparts the life-giving 

 food for vegetation. But whether coarse ma- 

 nure is best plowed in, or well composted in 

 the barn-yard or some other place, and har- 

 rowed in, or applied as a top-dressing, is yet 

 an open question, the right side of which farm- 

 ers ought to know and practice, for the right 

 application of manure is as important as any 

 part of a farmer''s business. I find that many 

 farmers are practicing top-dressing with good 

 success and perfect satisfaction. There is a 

 neighborhood of farmers in Glover, Vt., who 

 plow their land in the fall, harrow and spread 

 on their fall manure, and harrow again, and 

 earl^^ in the spring sow wheat and stock down, 

 with the very best results, both for wheat and 

 grass. This practice is extending, whether it 

 is the best or not. I have known other farm- 

 ers plow in a heavy dressing of manure so 

 deep that they said they never heard from it 

 afterwards. Now as both ways are practiced, 

 and as one is most likely better than the other, 

 let the matter be so fully discussed these long 

 winter evenings, that farmers may go to work 

 the coming spring with more confidence than 

 heretofore. A Reader. 



Fairlee, Vt., Dec. 21, 1867. 



For the Kcw England Farmer. 

 A WORD TO FARMERS' SONS. 



To every farmer''s son I would say, get an 

 education. Do not be content with what is 

 taught in a district school alone, — mere read- 

 ing, writing and ciphering, — which are not an 

 education. Rather aim higher, but be sure 

 you aim with a weapon that will hit the mark. 

 I will not advise you to leave the paternal roof 

 as soon as you are old enough, for the sake of 

 completing a course at one of the many so call- 

 ed business college.^, then to be a clerk in some 

 house at a fixed salary per annum. To many, 

 the life of a merchant seems nought but a sea- 

 son of golden pleasure, so the farm and the 

 home, with their many pleasing memories, are 

 left behind for the attainment of their ideal 

 life. 



Such a course and such a life I would not 

 recommend. Some maybe needed for clerks, 

 salesmen, apprentices, and tradesmen, Init not 

 all. Some few may be called to a professional 

 sphere, but not the majority. The farm needs 

 you, and should you heed its call, then (it your- 

 self for the place you have chosen. Farming 

 is ranked among the professions, and the mem- 

 bers of each profession need and must have 

 study, else their attempt will be an utter fail- 

 ure. 



Do not merely "go to school," — that does 

 not imply getting an education. To be a 

 graduate of any institution, whether agricul- 

 tural, mercantile, scientific, or literary is an 

 empty honor — the palm is for the application 

 of theory to practice. Our institutions send 



