182 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER 



DEC. e, II 



AND HOUTICULTURAI, RKGISTER. 



Edited by Joseph Breck. 



BosTow, Wedkesday, Dec. 6, 1843. 



FISH MANURE. 



A correspondent wishes inrormation on ihe subject of 

 fjsii manures ; — 1st, The most valuable species of fish 

 used. 2(1, Their comparative value compared with oth- 

 er manures. 3d, The quantity used per acre. 4ih, The 

 mode of npplying — whether in a crude slate, or made 

 into a compost — and any other information in relation to 

 the subject. 



Before attempting to answer these inquiries, we shall 

 he obliged to confess our ignorance upon the subject, so 

 far .IS relates to nnr own experience in using this ma- 

 nure. But as it has been extensively used on some por- 

 tions of our own sea-coast, especially in Rhode Island, 

 on Long Island, in somu of the maritime sections of our 

 own Sl.ito, and in England, we may be enabled to draw 

 from the writings and experience of olhers, some parlic- 

 ulars whicli may be beneficial to our correspondent and 

 others. 



C. W. Johnson, in his valuable work, says that " fish 

 are very rich fertilizers ; the flesliy or muscular portions 

 abounding in oil. The scales are composed of coacrj- 

 lated albumen, phosphate and carbonate of lime, in differ- 

 ent proportions. The fish usually employed as manure 

 in England ore, sprats, pilchards, herring, sticklebacks, 

 and whale blubber." He says the quantity of sprats ap- 

 plied to the acre varies from twentyfive to fortyfive 

 bushels, the poor gravelly soils requiring more than the 

 loamy lands. " They are spread by h.ind, from seed 

 baskets, and on winter fallows intended for oats; on 

 which, especially if the summer is not too dry, it pro- 

 duces most luxuriant crops, of a peculiar dark-green col- 

 or, yielding 10 or 11 quarters (80 to 8S bushels,) to the 

 acre, and that on land of a second-rate description. The 

 effect, however, remains only for one crop. They pro- 

 duce an equally good result if mixed with earth, and 

 suffered to remain and dissolve for some time in the 

 heap, before tliey are carted on the land. In this way, 

 ihey answer exceedingly well for turnips. 



" The employment ol herring for the purpose of ma- 

 nuring the ground, is limited to those districts near the 

 eea, to which ihey are regular visitors in large shoals. 

 They are a very oily fish, and produce the same luxuri- 

 ance of growth as sprats or pilchards. Arthur Young 

 has given us an account of an experiment, in which 

 some wheat manured with these fish, grew so luxuriant- 

 ly, that it was entirely laid before the period of harvest. 

 Very numerous or accurate experiments with this fish 

 can hardly be expected, for its use must he confined lo 

 peculiar districts; and when 'obtained, it is generally 

 plowed in with considerable expedition, or dug into 

 earth heaps, which is a mode found to answer extremely 

 well." 



" When once the fish begin to putrefy, their fertiliz- 

 ing properties rapidly diminish; the oil from the fer- 

 menting spraLs, I have seen dripping from the wagons 

 as they travelled along ; thus they speedily lose in 

 weight, and become intolerably obnoxious to the district 

 through which they pass." 



Mr Johnson informs us that fish oils are composed of 

 exactly the same materials that constitute all vegetable 

 substances, differing only in the proportions; for su^ar, 

 starch, gluten, gum, &C-, are all composed of these three 

 Bubsianc.js— carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, in which 

 fish oils abound. 



According to Dr. Thompson's analysts of train oil, 

 (and all fish oils do not materially differ from this in 



composition,) he found in 100 p.irls 



Carbon, 68.87 



Hydrogen, 16.10 



Oijgen, 1503 



100. 



Spermaceti oil, according to Dr. Ure, contains in 100 

 parts — 



Carbon, 78.00 



Hydrogen, J 180 



Oxygen, 10.20 



100. 



It will be perceived by these statements ihat the more 

 oily the fish, Ih i more valuable it is for manure. Every 

 portion of the oil is food for plants. 



The kind of fish most in use as a manure, on the 

 coast of New England, is the Menhaden, in some places 

 called the Hardhead. Dr. Mitchell says they are pecu- 

 liar to our marine coast, and not an inhabitant of the 

 transatlantic waters. In a letter from Lemuel W. 

 Briggs, of Bristol, R. I., published in the N. E. Fanner, 

 in 1825, we get the following particulars : 



" The Menhaden in size are larger than the alewives, 

 and smaller than the shad, which they very much re- 

 semble in shape and appearance. They come into our 

 bays and harbors in the month of April, and continue 

 until late in the fall. When they first make their ap- 

 pearance, they are not so fat, and do not yield so much 

 oil. They are taken in seines, and generally sell out of 

 the boat from 16 to 25 cents per barrel. From two lo 

 three barrels are esteemed equal to a common load of 

 manure. 



" There are three ways in which they are generally 

 applied as a manure : 



1. Thiy are spread on meadows [not what are called 

 fresh meadows in Mass.,] immedialely after, or soon af- 

 ter mowing. It is generally done with a fork from the 

 cart, taking care to go about and lay them opart C, 8, or 

 10 inches. From 30 to 75 barrels on an acre, is a com- 

 mon coat. An immediate decomposition of fish takes 

 place, the oil escapes and runs into the ground, and 

 wherever it touches, the grass, in a few days, is entirely 

 destroyed, first turning a dark red, and then lo a black 

 mouldy color. In a short time there will start up an en- 

 tire new crop of grass around every fish, and grow sur- 

 prisingly fast. What is astonishing, yet true, in moist 

 cold meadows, (and it is on such meadows and pastures 

 the do best,) where nought but the poorest and coarsest 

 grass grew before, not worth mowing, herds-grass, red- 

 lop, &c., as if by charm, will make their appearance, 

 grow and cover the ground, and frequently from one to 

 three tons of hay will be cut the succeeding summer. 

 It is supposed that the seeds of these grasses lie in a dor- 

 mant stale until Ihey feel the vivifying effects of the 

 fish oil. The grass thus brought forth, is very sweet, 

 so that cattle, horses or sheep prefer it, and will turn 

 over the fish to eat it, and the hay partakes of the same 

 qualities. 



" The influence of a coat offish on grass land, will be 

 plainly discernable for 4 or 5 years, but most farmers 

 apply a fresh coal once in three years. The practice of 

 fishing meadows has been followed by some farmers in 

 this Slate for 20 years, and perhaps hmger, but it is not 

 more than 10 years since they have been so generally 

 used in this town. 



" 2. These fish are plowed into tillage land in the fall 

 of the year. When spread on land and suffered to lie 

 and rot, much of the fertilizing qualities of the fish pass 



off in the air, which is very sensibly impr gnaled 

 but in the hitler case, ihe whole fish rots and 

 with the soil or earth, and adds very much to ihe 

 ty. Some of our best crops of onions are raisei 

 land prepared in ihis way. Many farmers place i 

 two fish near a hill of corn before weeding or hah 

 ing, at which lime they are covered with the hoe. 

 growing crop will be much improved, but the c 

 corn or rye the following year, will feel in a grea 

 gree their fertilizing effects. 



"3. In seasons of the year when it is not conv 

 to spread them on meadows or plow them in, a fit, 

 as it is generally called, is made. This is usiiall 

 by plowing a spot of ground as large as is desirab 

 pulling on Ihis a coat of earth from 8 to 10 

 thick ; on Ihis, place a laying of fish and a la 

 earth alternately, taking care Ihat Ihe las: coats 

 of earth, and sufficienlly thick to prevent the esi 

 the effluvia arising from ihem during their deco 

 lion. In the spring of the following year, ihe 

 dug over and immediately cariied where it is v 

 and plowed in. 



" In either of the above ways that fish are us 

 have an excellent manure and at not much cxc 

 half the cost of any other kind." 



-As to Ihe comparative value of fish and olh 

 nures, we believe no careful experiment has been 

 to asrerlain this with any accuracy. Mr Job I 

 of Tiverton, R. 1., in answer lo the inquiries of 

 T.Jackson, when engaged in his geological sui 

 that Slate, says, that fish manure is more aciii 

 quicker than stable manure. '' Fish used alo 

 hausts itself in three or four years, unless the i 

 consumed on the ground. After being used on . 

 throws up a great crop of grain, (if grain follon 

 the new meadow is too frequently light. Its use 

 be continued on the meadow." Mr Joseph Cli 

 Portsmouth, R. I., has used fish for manure 20 yean 

 considers 40 barrels per acre equal to 8 cartloads 

 mon manure. 



(To be continued.) 



MASS. HORTICULTURE SOCIETI 



EXHIBITION OF FRCITS. 



Saturday, Dec. 2, ] 



The exhibition of fruits today v^•as excellen 

 quantity was not large, but very select. 



A Seedling Pear was exhibited, grown by M 

 Goodale, of Saco, Me., known as the McLaoghl 

 described by Mr Manning in No. 33, pagoCSo'fh 

 Magazine. This Pear makes thiee new vari 

 American origin, brought to the notice of the i 

 within a few months. That should be in every se 

 of good Pears. 



Mr S. Pond, of Cambridgeport, presented sever; 

 es of fino fill and winter Pears, consisting of ^ 

 lenie, Dix, Diel, and Napoleon. They were pui 

 by one ofour most popular fruit sellers, at about t 

 a dozen for the lot, or about twenty dollars a bus 



By MrVandine, of Cambridgeport— Delices i 

 ; denpont (') a fine flavored Pear ; Marie Louise ai 

 Long Rosewater do. ; fine specimens. 



From Mr Geo. Howland, of New Bedford— 20 . 

 pies, grown hy him on his farm in Cayuga county 

 They were ol a large size, striped, with red and 

 and of a good flavor. Considering the size, col 

 flavor, Ihey will rate with the best. Mr II. li 

 thanks for ihis pxhibilion. 



From Mr S. W. Cole, a fine specimen of Ihe i 

 Ball Apples. 



From Mr Edmund .Marsh, of Quincy, a fine spi 

 of Lewis Pears. We have not known the Lewis- 

 than Ihny are this year. 



From B. V. French, Apples— Wells Pippin. 



From Mr Ji. M. Richards, Dedham, a fine sp. 

 of the Minister Apple and Winter Nelis Pears. 

 For the Committee, 



BENJ. V. FREKii 



