M A N u n E s . 81 



are worthy attentive consideration. Every farmer would do well to 

 make similar trials, and he will soon know what are his most profit- 

 able fertilizers. Mr. Montague's experiments show that super-phos- 

 phate of lime, whatever may be its intrinsic value and its usefulness 

 on other soils, is not profitable for farmers whose lands are low, wet 

 and cold. Providence has given him a muck swamp — ho has no oc- 

 casion for super-phosphate, at $5 a bag. 



STATEMENT OF ANSEL A. RANKIN. 



In making my statement, perhaps it may be well to give the con- 

 struction of my barn cellar, in which I make my manure. My cellar 

 is sixty feet by forty. My barn points or is open on the west side ; 

 my stables for neat cattle are on the east side, and under them is my 

 hog-stye. Into this stye, the excrements and urine of the cattle pass. 

 My cattle are stabled every night during the summer, as well as 

 winter. I clear out the whole of the manure in the spring, and then 

 before erecting the pens, I cart in as much loam, as is practicable. 

 This is done easily, as the cellar is sufficiently deep to admit of 

 dumping the cart. I then erect the pens and let my swine commence 

 their operations. As fast as occasion requires, I add fresh loam, and 

 spread the excrement from the cattle, if the swine do not root it suf- 

 ficiently. By this method, I have made from six S^vine, one horse, 

 two oxen, and four cows, one hundred forty cart loads af first rate 

 manure. I consider the urine of as much value as the solid part of 

 the excrement. 



Ansel A. Rankin. 



Peiham, October 2G, 1853. 



STATEMENT OF KELITA HUBBARD. 



I have practiced turning in rye as manure, for several years, with 

 good success. I plow my land, as soon as convenient after the crop 

 is taken off. The feed in the fall will pay for plowing and seed. 

 I turn the crop in the Spring, where the soil is light. I think it is 

 equal to five loads of manure to the acre. It destroys the weeds, 

 pulverizes the land, and thus saves much labor in the cultivation of 

 the next year. Nearly seed enough scatters, if the crop is dry, when 

 gathered. It can be plowed when the team has but little to do, and 

 can get their living in the pasture. 



Kelita Hubbard. 



Sunderland, October 27, 1853. 

 11 



