340 



ONTIIEUSEOFLEAVESASA MANURE. 



BT R. K. MEADE. 



Tlie great importance of leaves as a manure lias 

 frequently been aMuflecI to in tlie Fanner, but 

 never recommended in such a nuinnc'r as to fur- 

 nish serious ground Uiv a cahuilating and practi- 

 cal fanner to go to work — the nearest approach 

 by a New England farmer in collecting them for 

 the barn-yard, was by throwing them into a tent 

 and thence into a wagon — a plan so far removed 

 from efficiency as to damp the enterjirisc of nine 

 out of ten who would attempt it. I have been 

 successfully engaged in converting them into 

 manure for several years past, under the feet of 

 horses, cattle, sheep, and hogs, and find the follow- 

 ing proininent reasons preceding others for their 

 use, and for the attempt to promulgate this essay. 



1st. A belief that thpre is a general neglect of 

 the use of leaves as a material for manure. 



2d. The almost universal use which might be 

 made of them. 



3d. Their importance as a inaterini to keep up 

 a system of operations for a seasonable supi)ly of 

 manure. 



4th. Their salutary Influence in affiirding a com- 

 fortable bed I'or all kinds of stoc'k, particularly 

 for hogs ; freeing them 'roin the mange — and 

 their valuable substitution when straw is scarce 

 for ice-houses, &c. 



5th. The importance of their removal from the 

 fence corners in case of fire, and to preserve the 

 rails from rotting. 



6tli. Their qualities are as a material for man- 

 ure, as tested by experience in its application gen- 

 erally, but particularly in its adaptation to the wheat 

 crop in spreading it broadcast on the rough fallow, 

 and harrowing it hi before seeding, &c. Some 

 object to the use of leaves from the fear of injur- 

 ing the forests — it will be proper to show why 

 there is no rensmi for such apprehension. If the 

 scripture truth with regard to the falling of the 

 tree was verified in relation to the leaf, there 

 might be an argument urged in their removal, 

 that Peter was robbed to pay Paul — but it is cer- 

 tainly not the case — the tree lies where it falls, but 

 the leaf is driven by the most ])revaleiit winds 

 into some deep valley, the lee side of declivities, 

 or into the corners of a fence where they moulder 

 into dust, rendering no service to man or beast, 

 and benefitting only a portion of soil which may 

 never be called into cultivation — but the habit of 

 permitting leaves to bank up against fences is 

 highly injurious to them, evidently producing 

 premature decay. If by any prudent fore- 

 thought or arrangement the leaves could be 

 detained just where they fall, which may in some 

 degree be done by an attention to the clearing of 

 a plantation in reference to its altitude and expo- 

 sure to the most prevalent winds, their removal 

 would never be recommendeil, because it is rational 

 to conclude that the forest requires a return of its 

 foliage, however abundant, to keep up a supply of 

 fo<jfl for its powerful growth and absorption, and 

 detain with greater security the moisture so much 

 to be valued in our dry climates and waving lands; 

 but it is enough for us to know here, the nndoiibt 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER, 



May li, 1831 



our ' talent' would be hidileu in the earth, if the ' pears to be abundantly thick, and by comparison 

 neglect of some of the most apparent opportunities j with expeiiments njade last year, no doubt will 



of employing the resources of nature to advantage 

 were permitted. , 



The process of supplying the farm yard with 

 leaves is as follows : after designating the giound al- 

 ways a prudent distance from the roots of trees, 

 which might possibly be injured by their removal, 

 rake them up into winrows from eight to ten feet 

 wide, then with some kind of plough, cultivator 

 or harrow, scarify the earth on each side lightly, 

 the width of the leaf-bed ; with the back of a hand- 

 rake shove the loose earth to the leaves, and with 

 shovels cover them an inch or so deep. Thisop- 

 eratio) should be performed when the leaves are 

 wet and the earth light and loose. This prepar 

 ation should be made in the sprin 

 extent of the probable demands of the farm-pen 

 for the season before you, but may be done at any 

 time most convenient for the farmer if the leaves 

 are not too dry. The importance of having a 

 sufficient supply of leaves ahead, is, that when 

 thus prepared they may be transported at any time 

 whether wet or dry to the farm yard, which should 

 be done at periods of from four to six weeks apart, 

 and spread about .six inches deep, as uniformly as 

 possible to receive the animal manure — double 

 this thickness will not be too much for an early 

 winter [ireparation mingled with straw and corn- 

 stalks — in the spring the leaves will be incorpora- 

 ted with the great mass of manure. The (jrocess 

 of hauling them to the farm-pen is important to be 

 considered, as many have laughed at the idea, 

 saying you might as well attempt to haul feathers 

 in an 0[>en cart ; and it is not much to be won- 

 dered at, under the diflerent plans and systems 

 attempted. — Largfe ox carls discharging their 

 loads by a tilt, or one horse carts, are by far the 

 most expeditious mode of conveyance, with ver 



prove so in time of harvest — on the same ground, 

 without the aid of this well pulverized manure, ten 

 or twelve gallons of wheat per acre would have 

 been required to have produced ths same verdure 

 and ap|)arent thickness ; and as to its ultimate pro- 

 duction there is no doubt of the great superiority 

 of the thin sowing and manuring. There is then 

 a saving of from three to five gallons of wheat 

 per acre in conse<pience of the manuring. 



But it will be urged by many an industrious 

 farmer, that there is not time to collect the mate- 

 rials for this additional stock of manure, and haul ' 

 it out in proper place, cultivating at the same 

 time the usual quantily of land. If this really b« 

 inonth's to an ^''^ '^"^''' ""'"^^^''''tingly let it be recommended 

 that a few acres be detained in grass, in order to 

 afford opportunity for the important work of man- 

 uring. At this time of day it would appear su- 

 perfluous to recommend or exhort our farmers to 

 the accumulation or application of manure, since 

 the practice of ages, and our every day experi- 

 ence tells us it is indi.-ipensable ; but to investigate 

 the value, and recommend the more liberal use of 

 a niuch neglected material amongst the varieties 

 prfsented to our choice, can scarcely be doubted 

 as important to the improving condition of the 

 fariier. A brief hint of another mode of using 

 leaves may be important to some — carry them im- 

 mediately on your knolls to the on w-pen, and from 

 ter to twenty loads per acre — double the ground 

 may be gone over in the season, and more effec- 

 tiitilly manured, as half the period will suffice to 

 ke?p the pen in one place — the leaves preserve 

 thfir moisture, and save much of the manure 

 from exhalation. It may be well, Mr Editor, novir 

 to come to a close — your patience anil my pursuits 

 sfiould be considered, though a two feet snow 



high sideboards, &c. Four pronged forks, with the ' P^'''""« '1"= ^'^^"'^'^ ^o do but little more than feed 

 teeth slightly curved and flatted, composing a ""^ ''""''' ""^ ^''''' ^ ''"''' "'°°''- But be assured 

 frame about two feet square, are used to lift the ''"" '^ ""^ ''"'■''' ^"''JeL-t were done justice to, sup 



leaves, and will raise as many as a man can con 

 veniently heave into the cart, weighted as they 

 are with the adjoining soil, and kept continually 



ported by numberless remarks connected with it, 

 too long for one essay, the practice and science of 

 manuring might be benefited beyond ordinary 



hands are employed to a large ox cart, two with 

 forks, one with a rake to keep the leaves and 

 earth neatly pushed up, the fourth in the cart to 

 receive and tread them firmly down. One ton, 

 more or less in proportion to the quantity of earth 

 mixed with the leaves, and their weight by rea- 

 n of the season, may be carried at each load in 

 an ox cart or wagon to the farm-yard — the speed 

 with which this loading is done, and consequent 

 filling up of the farm pen is truly encouraging to 

 one who looks to the improvement of his soil, 

 through a generous and regular system of manur- 

 As an evidence that 1 have given this mode 

 of increasing the manure bank a suflicient trial, 

 permit me to say that I have in the oourse of a 

 year used more than one hundred loads. But 

 once for all, let it be kept in mind, that in the 

 pursuit of this system of increasing the stock of 

 manure, no risk should be run, detrimental to 

 the forest, for all its alluring advantages, one of 

 which has appeared very conspicuously in the 

 ei fact, that millions of tons of leaves are annually '='St autuinn, and although it is a fact which the- 

 deposited in some place and lost to all intents and '^'T °f some will combat, it nevertheless stands 

 purposes for the want of either a inoper know- | as an evident confirmation of its truth. Six or 

 ledge of their useful application, or the skill and ' seven acres of land were covered with 130 ox 

 industry to haul them to the farm-pen. Our rea- [ cart loads of this leaf manure, and a fraction less 

 son and observation would be given us in vain, than seven gallons of wheal sowed per acre — it ap- 



wet or damp, by the covering of the earth ;_fonr I "'culation, and far beyond any feeble attempt of 



your friend and humble servant. — Amer. Farmer. 



WHITE WASHING. 



As spring is a time country housewives make 

 every exertion to introduce cleanliness into their 

 department, we would particularly recommend 

 whitewashing, as well out doors as in. Who ever 

 passed by a cottage where all the fences about the 

 gardens, the out houses, &c, were whitewashed,, 

 without being impressed with the idea that the in- 

 habitants were cleanly and respectable .' To paiot; 

 board fences white with lead and oil is a costly, 

 business and looks a little like extravagance and 

 unless everything corresponds with it does not 

 have a more pleasing efi'ect than a coat of white- 

 wash well laid on. The cost of doing it is trifling 

 and it can be done by the females when the men 

 are very much engaged in putting in their spring 

 crops. It adds much to the health of the f^imily to 

 have the house whitewashed as often as twice a 

 year and by giving the out-houses and fences a 

 coat in the spring many insects are destroyed, and 

 their haunts are broken up. One of the cheapest 

 and best modes of preparing the whitewash, is to 

 use skim-milk with new slacked lime. This Tei>- 

 ders it adhesive, and it does not fall off" as quick 

 as when the lime is wet with water. — Geneset 

 Farmer. 



