I shall first present my mode of making manure, and of applying the same.
The prevalent idea among those who keep a single cow or other domestic
animal is, that the manure, instead of being saved and protected from
loss with the greatest care, is a nuisance, which should be summarily
disposed of. It is an established fact that the liquid portion of the
excrement nearly, if not quite, equals in value the solid portion, and
in order to save both we must provide some means by which the liquid and
volatile portions of the manure may be prevented from going to waste.
This is best accomplished by means of absorbents, and there is nothing
better or cheaper for this purpose than dried muck or earth, a good
supply of which should be constantly kept under cover where it is easily
accessible. Fortunately I am so situated that I can obtain a supply quite
easily. There is within half a mile from my place a large tract of swamp
land, from which I can obtain, for a low price, all the “muck” I need.
Every fall, I store away under my shed a sufficient quantity to last me
through the winter. This had previously been thrown into piles and dried.
It is quite essential that it should be thoroughly dried, so that it
will readily absorb the liquid manure, and this may be accomplished by
piling and allowing it to be exposed to sun and air for six months or a
year before wanted for use. The bottom of the stall is covered with ten
or twelve inches of the dry muck, over which I scatter a light covering
of cut straw or sawdust, so as to secure a clean bed, and prevent the
particles of dirt and muck from sticking to the cow and dropping from
thence into the pail. The dry earth readily absorbs the liquid droppings
and whenever it becomes saturated with the same, may be removed, together
with the manure and soiled straw, to a pile beneath the covered shed,
when a fresh supply of dry muck, enough to replace that which was removed
is carried in and the whole is again covered with the cut straw. An
occasional sprinkling of plaster (gypsum) is applied both to the litter
in the stall and to the manure heap, which prevents any loss of ammonia,
and hence all unpleasant odors are avoided. Whenever a forkful of manure
is put on the pile, it is immediately covered with muck. Twice each year
this is hauled on to the land. Manure thus treated will not waste, either
by the leaching out of soluble matter, by the escape of ammonia, or by
fire-fanging. And as there is no coarse material, such as long straw or
corn stalks mingled with it, it is always in a suitable condition to
use. If dry earth or muck cannot be obtained, cut straw or sawdust may
be substituted. But earth, being an excellent deodorizer itself, and
containing, as it does, much valuable fertilizing matter, is much to be
preferred.
If artificial fertilizers are used, they may at any time be mixed with
the compost heap. Also, when a pig is kept, its pen should be cleaned
daily and the litter, mingled with the general pile, will add greatly
to its value. Common salt may occasionally be added to the compost heap
with advantage, but ashes never, as they tend to liberate the ammonia and
thereby cause waste.