Peoceedixgs of the Farmers* Club. 433 



far ; that is, in a manner it is worn out, and lias ceased to contain the 

 elements best suited to the growth of healthful plants to be consumed 

 by civilized and intellectual people, which may be one reason why 

 the Chinese themselves do not progress ; but if it is applied for the 

 growth of vegetation to be fed to animals, it may be progressed in a 

 natural order, until, by new combinations with earthly and atmos- 

 pheric gases, it is again fitted to enter into the elements of food pro- 

 -per for man. To this end I recommend it, and above all the inven- 

 tion for disinfecting the premises connected with every household. 



Maksu Gkass for Manure. 



Mr. J. II. Moore, Brandon, K. Y. — Good success.* l^Lj modus 

 opera?i(U is this : In the fall I spread a layer of grass in my barn 

 yard, and after the cattle have lain on it a few weeks I add another, 

 and so on until spring. I let it remain in the yard, which is two or 

 three feet deep, all summer, and let my cows lay on it nights until 

 about the last of August, when I pile it up in heaps of about ten 

 loads each. The last of September I fork it over once, and the last 

 of October I draw it to the field, while I pile about thirty loads in a 

 pile ready for use in the follovring spring. I use this for corn or 

 potatoes in the hill, and find it much better than green heap manure. 

 This way I have practiced for years, and can raise as good corn as 

 any of my neighbors. 



Mr. Solon Robinson. — I would like to know what is gained by this 

 work. Will nien ever learn that the cheapest loay to get manure is 

 to grow clover and turn it under ? There is nothing gained even by 

 passing it through cattle. Spread grass six inches deep upon grass 

 land, and all the fertility will be absorbed. 



Dr. Israel Jarvis inquired whether weeds, being more abundant, 

 would not be better for manure than grass. 



Mr. Solon Robinson. — East Virginia is covered with the chick- 

 weed, which is- their only manure. The southern cow pea would be 

 better than clover, because two crops can be had a year. I know of 

 no method so srood for enrichin<); hmd as to o-row the manure on the 

 ground. Weeds will not make good manure. 



Dr. J. E. Snodgrass. — Weeds do not draw minerals and other fer- 

 tilizing materials so much as clover. Now as to composting, that is 

 important because it retains the licpiid manure.. 



Mr. Shepherd. — In Pennsylvania, thirty-five years ago, they used, 

 to let their manure lie in the barn yard all summer, but now they 



[Inst.] 28 



