PROFIT AND HONOR IN FARMING. 
439 
It is a beautiful economy, that much of the grain , which we 
consume, is derived from the air; while the straw and stalks 
derive more of their substance from the minerals in the earth, 
and therefore we ought to return them to the earth; and the 
most profitable and handsome way to do it, is to cut them up 
in a cutting box—the whole of our straw, stalks and hay—and 
then keep stock enough to eat them clean, and return a rich 
mine of manure—furnishing a hank in our barn-yards , which 
which will always pay specie dividends; and our cattle which 
eat them, prove to be the most profitable u gold washers ” 
which we could find or desire. 
This is one way that our straw can be disposed of'much 
more beneficially, than by burning it ; and do much to main¬ 
tain the productiveness of our farms. And besides, stock 
should be liberally bedded with it in their stalls. 
Muck for Manure. —Now, I have had some very pleasant 
and profitable experience—and so have my acquaintances—in 
using the Muck or Peat, of our marshes, for manure—and the 
result—load for load, on both clay and sand land—was full as 
good, if not better, than barn-yard manure. 
Ditches were dug in the summer and fall—the muck which 
was thrown out, lay in piles all winter—was frozen and thawed 
alternately, several times, till it slacked and crumbled down, 
handsomelf, into a fine, light, rich mold ; and was spread on 
corn and potatoc ground ; and in the garden ; producing some 
of the best growths of vegetables, that we ever saw. 
It is found to be excellent for composting in the barn-yard ; 
and this mixture is found to be better, even, than either, sepa¬ 
rately ; it should be hauled, and scattered with the fresh ma¬ 
nure, from time to time, all through the winter. 
Thus, we see, the thrifty, enterprising farmer, need be at no 
% 
loss for manure, in this State, where he can find or have access 
to any of the marshes ; and herein, we may predict, that ere 
long, this will give to our marshes their greatest value—that 
is, as exhaustless sources of richest manure. 
