Rensselaer Union, Volume 6, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 September 1873 — Pile Up the Manure. [ARTICLE]

Pile Up the Manure.

Many farmers save, pile and rot their manure, so as to use it for a top-dressing for wheat in the fall. Such farmers have doubtless piled up their manure as soon as. the stock was taken from the yards. But many others, who are not accustomed to this practice, have their manure still scattered over the yards, just as it has accumulated through the winter and spring. These farmers may yet. gain largely by piling their barn-yard manure; and I would suggest that this manure be well piled and rotted, and* used just before sowing to top-dress the land for winter grain. Manure applied this way will givie the young plants an early and vigorous start, and give them a better growth and root, so they will stand a better chance to live through an unfavorable winter and spring, and to yield a satisfactory crop at harvest. This top-dressing will also be of considerable benefit to the new seeding in the spring, which is generally sown" on winter grain, and give a much better crop of clover or grass. Where a good meadow is desired, it will be of special benefit to the coming crops of hay. If winter grain is not grown, or the manure is not needed on the land sown, the manure may be spread on clover or grass land, in the fall, that is to be plowed up the next spring for corn. Manure used in this way often pays better than when applied in any other way. I have for some years been of the opinion that barnyard manure, as made in most grain sections, where there is more or less straw and other coarse litter mixed with the dung, pays much the best when piled, rotted and applied to winter grain or grass in the fall. Where there is not much straw or other litter w ith the manure, and no good absorbents are at hand to mix with it .to make a compost, probably the sooner the manure can be used, the better. In piling manure, care should be taken to locate the piles in the yards so they will not be in the way when drawing in hay and grain in I he summer. Then begin by pitching all up clean from the bottom. This is important, as any straw or other litter left under the jiile, w hieh has not been forked over, will not rot, but come out about as coarse as when it was covered up. The sides of the .pile should be carried up as near perpendicular as they can be conveniently made, and the top left a little dishing, so there may’ be little chance for loss of manure by washing. The piles should be about five feet high, and as wide and long as the manure within convenient reach will make them. Of course several piles will be made, each placed so as to be most convenient to the manure, and at the same time out of the way of other work. If the piles are well made, and contain a suitable proportion qf straw or other absorbents, there will be very’ little loss from evaporation, or-by’ the washing of rains.— Cor. Country Gentleman. v An Evansville (Ind.) spooney was the victim of a heartless joke, recently. His companidns counterfeited a letter from a young heiress, which said that his manly bearing had captivated her heart, and hoped he reciprocated. He threw away his tools, invested his money in new clothes, and presented himself to the lady, who indignantly told him that she didn’t want a husband w’ho looked like a crook-ed-necked squash, and if he didn’t leave she’d remove his hair. He retired. Hearing of the Boston'Girls’ Cooking Club, the Appleton St. Man says he considers it very appropriate that young ladies belonging to the upper crust of society should learn to make pies, and thinks they will succeed if they mince matters as much as usual (the brute!) He says that if they are some pumpkins at housekeeping they may consider him a mashed vegetable. • . —Attention has been called to the culti. vation of olive, oil in the South. A single plantation of olive trees in Georgia has been very successful, and the yields of oil abundant and of'good quality.

A Chicago railway station has a free reading-room, recently established. A newspaper reporter says of it: “The room is large, and very neat and pleasant, and is ornamented by choice plants contributed by the city florists, and by pictures. It has plenty of magazines and papers, and is supported by voluntary contributions. In less than one month seven hundred and nine travelers found rest and mental refreshment there.