258 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 



my cattle yard, that the stale and surplus urine 

 from the yard should run into the vault to 

 furter enrich the mass. In this vault I cast, 

 annually, about two horses, four or five cattle, 

 twenty or thirty sheep, and perhaps a goat, dog, 

 or cat. These animals were cut into pieces with 

 an axe and spread on a layer of vegetable mould, 

 saw dust, or charcoal, or a mixture thereof. On 

 the flesh I cast ashes or lime, and then immedi- 

 ately a layer of absorbents as above mentioned, 

 say sixteen or eighteen inches thick. The 

 carcase of a horse or cow should be spread over 

 the whole face of the vault, but smaller animals 

 must be used up as reflection may suggest. 



A vault of the size above mentioned will hold 

 seventy-two square yards of manure, which 

 would be about the proper size for the number 

 of animals above specified; but I found that by 

 the addition of the urine my manure was too 

 much concentrated for broad-cast field purposes; 

 therefore, had I such work to do again, I would 

 enlarge my vault. 



One having no clay grounds near his cattle 

 yard, should make his vault with plank ; and 

 it would be best to have two vaults, one near 

 the cattle yard, and one near the stable. — 

 What I mean by cattle yard, is a permanent 

 enclosure for winter. And here I might (if ad- 

 missable) bring up the question, whether it is 

 best to feed cattle in a yard, or on open grounds? 



This kind of manure is made principally in 

 the latter part of Winter and early Spring ; 

 when our animals are inclined to die from star- 

 vation and cold; and for two reasons should not 

 be disturbed until the beginning of next winter"; 

 first, that the mass may be completely decom- 

 posed and compounded ; and secondly, that the 

 effluvia may not be offensive. 



And now comes the questions, when, where, 

 and how should this kind of manure be used? 



I have said above that the contents of the 

 vault should not be disturbed until the bcgin- 

 ing of winter, say December, when it should be 

 cast out; leaving one side of the vault open for 

 ingress with raw materials. For the purpose of 

 saving expense in transportation, my rule has 

 ever been to spread my heavy manures, of what- 

 ever description, on grounds or crops near the 

 heap; and to cast lighter manures, such as 

 plaister, &c, on distant grounds. If I had a 

 grass plot or wheat field convenient, I spread 

 my vault manure on the poorer spots thereof, 

 immediately after casting from the vault. If 

 no meadow or wheat near, but land intended for 

 corn or tobacco, I reserved the pile for this or 

 these ; to be spread immediately before fallow- 

 ing. If none of the above be convenient, I 

 spread my heavy manures on the first poor spot 

 I come to, and await my profit at the next round 

 of cultivation. The greater portion of our 

 arable lands are unproductive because of the 

 want of vegetable matter ; and it is a question 

 worthy of much consideration, whether, with 

 this object in view, it is not best to manure our 

 lands at least one year in advance of cultiva- 

 tion. When a farmer, I frequently practiced! 



this mode, and never had cause to regret it. Re- 

 member, reader, what I have frequently told 

 you: "Can't you wait awhile for your interest, 

 till it is worth drawing from the bank? Better 

 starve a few years and then be free, than always 

 half starved." 



I incline to the opinion that manure made of 

 flesh is peculiarly adapted to the production of 

 grass; therefore say, that no farmer should be 

 without a manure vault and a meadow near that 

 vault. Orchard grass and red clover grow and 

 ripen well together, and by the application of 

 the above manure and plaister, could be cut 

 twice in the year, yielding altogether without 

 the aid of foreign water at least four tons of 

 hay, worth in our markets eighty dollars. 



The bones not decomposed, should be cast 

 back into the vault for a second round. Ab- 

 sorbent materials should always be ready to 

 hand. Do not cheat by selling a worthless 

 horse, cow, or sheep, but kill it to keep it from 

 dying, and put it into the vault. 



Look about your houses, your ditches, your 

 roads, and under your old fences, for vegetable 

 mould, and you will certainly find abundance. 

 Perhaps one may not have saw dust, no matter. 

 If you make coal for the above purpose, burn 

 as usual, but when burnt do not draw as usual, 

 but pour a few pails of water down the centre, 

 and close every pore for eight or ten days, when 

 the fire will be extinguished and the coal suf- 

 ficiently pulverized for use. If ashes or lime 

 be plentiful or cheap, then use one or both in 

 liberal quantity; but a small quantity will suf- 

 fice if applied directly to the flesh; indeed, if 

 neither can be conveniently had, then I say 

 neither is absolutely required. Pay no atten- 

 tion to the jargon of Mr. Jothead, but go to 

 work according to the dictates of reason — I 

 mean, when he says pity or shame. 



July, 1856. Z. Drummond. 



REPORT. 



To the Locust Bottom Botetourt Agricultural Club. 

 [Published by Order of the Club.] 



The undersigned, appointed by the Presi- 

 dent, to present a retrospect of the Club, and 

 what is in prospect of accomplishment, will en- 

 deavor to be brief. 



It is a striking feature of the age, that every 

 thing suitable is carried forward by associa- 

 tion. Individual and isolated efforts have given 

 place to combination : perhaps the rapid strides 

 on the road of improvement, may be attributed 

 to this salutary charge in the business of life, 

 accommodating inself to the human mind and 

 capabilities. It has been remarked in elucida- 

 tion of this idea, that two individuals combined 

 can roll a log that one hundred, applying their 

 powers separately, cannot effect: the persons 

 engaged in farming being necessarily dotted 

 over the surface, do not find the same magical 

 influence of association: the disadvantage is 

 greatly overcome by the superior industry the 

 calling begets — what would be inconvenient in 

 other callings, the farmer's life make a pleas- 



