482 Traxsactioxs of the American Institute. 



The object is to obtain a stumpy, hardy plant which we can put out 

 by the middle of May. 



Saying Barn-yard Manure. 



Mr. S. Edwards Todd. — As there is no surer way of obtaining 

 good crops than l)y using liberal supplies of manure, and no pleasure 

 or profit in tarmiug, unless large yields are obtained, we can tliiuk of 

 no better iuYcstnient for farmers than to stop sources of waste in the 

 manure yard. Of course it will require some labor ; but fio,t near so 

 much as the Yalue that will accrue. 



The M'ay, of course, to save manure from washing is to put the 

 accumulations where they will not be leached. Generally, it will be 

 practicable to wheel it from the stables to some central place, either 

 nnder shelter or where tlie water from the roofs will not touch it, and 

 there piled in large heaps, or l)e spread out. 



To hold the portion which is lost by evaporation, it is necessary to 

 have some absorbent wliich v/ill take this up. This is furnished in 

 large quantities on almost every farm, in the shape of muck, turf, 

 rotten wood, leaves from the forest, or finely cut straw. These sub- 

 stances, used fi-eely in the stable, will not only absorb all the liquid 

 and gaseous portions of the manure, but keep the air sweet and 

 healthful. Farmers will do Avell to make their calculations before- 

 hand for procuring proper quantities of these materials to be used in 

 the winter for this purpose. Not only will they hold that portion 

 likely to be lost, but the absorbents will themselves be converted into 

 good manure in the course of a few months. 



Farmers often remark that they have little or no manure with 

 which to enrich their fields. They tell the truth ; but they do not 

 always tell the reason %ohy they have so little. One \vould almost 

 think, to hear them talk, that all the hay and gi-ain they fed was 

 assimilated, rather than passed from the animals for manure. Any 

 observing man, however, will have noticed that there are two sources 

 .of great waste of manure on almost every farm. 



The first is the loss occasioned from its being washed away by 

 "heavy rains, and carried beyond the reach of the farmer into brooks, 

 rivers, the lake, and finally the ocean. Very few are aware of the 

 amount lost in this way. Many barns are so located that the manure 

 lieaps are washed by the water from the eaves of the building to a 

 -creek, but a few rods away, and in the spring half the value of the 

 Jieap is gone. Almost all that is dropped about the yard or farm in 



