208 



Feeding Stock. 



Vol. XII. 



Circumstances, however, must greatly 

 vary the consequences of using manure as 

 a top-dressing. The volatile portion, for 

 which alone a covering of soil is desirable, 

 arises, as above stated, from rotting, or ere- 

 macausis; and these changes take place 

 more rapidly in proportion as heat and a 

 due degree of moisture are supplied. Hence 

 it follows, that during winter volatile pro- 

 ducts cannot be generated. Moreover, a 

 top-dressing in winter may lie so long with- 

 out losing any part of its virtue by ferment- 

 ation, that by rains and alternate freezing 

 and thawing, much of any manure consist- 

 ing of dung, may be broken up; and impelled 

 by the rain and its own gravity, may subside 

 into fissures made by the frost, so that, when 

 the warmth of the spring and summer sun 

 comes to act upon the ground, the volatile 

 matter may be yielded without so much ex- 

 posure as to permit of its being carried away 

 by the wind. 



But again, diversity of inclination may 

 cause the result to vary, as respects differ- 

 ent fields. A hill side being frozen, the 

 rain may carry off from it the manure by a 

 mechanical force which, upon a horizontal 

 plain also frozen, would not have this effect. 

 The soluble portions of a manure would like- 

 wise be more liable to be washed away from 

 the former than from the latter. 



I have adverted to the fact, that a due de- 

 gree of moisture is requisite to the processes 

 of decomposition, by which some of the most 

 fertilizing products of manure are generated. 

 Moisture is almost invariably indispensable 

 to fermentation, as well as any other process 

 of organic decay or decomposition. There 

 is no such thing as an absolutely " dry rot.'''' 

 Well seasoned timber, in buildings where 

 it is kept perfectly dry, lasts for ages. It is 

 equally well known, that under water, wood 

 has an unlimited durability. Of course a 

 very moist, or a very dry season, must check 

 the fertilizing emanations from manure. 



In consequence of the difference of cli- 

 mate, it must be evident that a winter top- 

 dressing is not likely to answer equally well 

 in different latitudes, even when other things 

 are equal. 



Of course it will always be a question, 

 how far the expense of ploughing and har- 

 rowing can be compensated by the greater 

 efficacy which may arise from the soil being 

 turned over the manure. It is obvious that 

 the value of the sod is an important con- 

 sideration where an old pasture is in ques- 

 tion. 



Agreeably to Liebig's recent views, as 

 stated by Professor Horsford in a letter to 

 Dr. Webster, the inorganic part of manure 

 is that which is mainly important; so that 



the ashes of a load of dung would be as fer- 

 tilizing as the whole, when spread upon the 

 ground in its natural state. This seems to 

 me an ultra doctrine, though I lean to his 

 view of the subject. But if that view be 

 correct, the volatile portions of manure being 

 of secondary importance, there can be little 

 motive for ploughing it under in order to 

 prevent volatilization. 



Feeding Stock. 



A MAN who was noted for the excellence 

 of his working oxen, once observed to the 

 writer that he could seldom hire a man who 

 was " fit to drive a yoke of good oxen to water." 

 We think it is quite as difficult to find a man 

 who is capable o^ feeding cattle or stock in 

 a proper manner. There is generally a great 

 deal of unnecessary waste. Some men will 

 carry stock through the winter with half 

 the quantity of hay or fodder that others 

 will use, and yet the stock which has con- 

 sumed least, will come out in the best order. 

 To feed economically, the animal should 

 have just the quantity he requires and no 

 more — none should be given to be trampled 

 under foot and left, unless it is intended for 

 manure, without being first eaten. It is 

 best, generally, to feed under cover, in clean 

 mangers; though in dry weather coarse fod- 

 der, or that 0: an inferior quality, may be 

 fed in mangers in the barn-yard, or on dry 

 hard ground, or clean, hard snow. Coarse 

 hay, clover and timothy (herd grass,) and 

 corn stocks, had better be passed through a 

 cutting machine, and if some bran, shorts, 

 or a little meal can be added, the improved 

 quality of the whole will render it much 

 better relished by the animals, and they will, 

 in their increased flesh or milk, repay the 

 cost. 



A good food for work-horses or oxen, is 

 cut hay, with from three to six quarts of 

 corn meal per day — regulating the quantity 

 according to the degree of labour to be per- 

 formed. Oats and corn ground together 

 make a good provender. Moisten the hay, 

 and mix the meal with it. If the labour is 

 not severe, two quarts of meal with the hay, 

 and the addition of a peck of carrots per day, 

 will keep the horse in good condition. The 

 carrots are good for the blood, and will im- 

 prove the horse's health. Carrots are also 

 valuable for milch cows — increasing the 

 quantity and improving the quality of the 

 milk. — Exchange paper. 



During the month of December 5339 tons 

 of ice were exported from Boston, of which 

 1782 tons were exported to foreign ports, and 

 the balance to New Orleans and Mobile. 



