SKUTCH AND PATENT EARTHCLOSET MANURES.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIII, Issue 3119, 16 July 1867, Page 5

SKUTCH AND PATENT EARTHCLOSET MANURES.

(FROM THB " AUSTRALASIAN," MAY 25.) In list creek's issue we dwelt at length upon the advisabilfcy of using bones in any shape — from halfinch to superphosphate, or dissolved and diluted. In a paitoral and meat-consuming country, bones wonld seem to be one of the most plentiful and most available of manures, although in a rising colony like Victoria, with its scores of manufactures, it would be Tery strange did she not produce something else in the shape of manures besides bones and soot. One of the advantages attendant on the manufacture of animal products is a large supply of those stimulants so indispensable to the agriculturist and gardener, whose principal orop3 are sold off the land, as is particularly theoase with those holders of land near Urge centres of population like ..Melbourne. We looked over the glue factory at Sandridge the other day, not to criticise the internal arrangements, but simply to inspect and* overhaul the large mass of animal matter .lying in heaps outside the factory. In appearance and smell it reminded us of the good old daji when "boiling-down stuff' was in abundance, and three tons of hay per acre about the arerage return. That boiling-down staff was an effective manure hundreds can vouch for ; in fact, the danger was in the farmer being apt to put too much on his land. Skutsh reminded us of this ; and when the proprietor told us that he sold but little we were somewhat^surprised. It is nearly all animal matter ; and in corroboratiqn of our opinion, that its application would be beneficial, we append Liebig's unquestionable authority :—"ln: — "In the manufacture of glue, many hundred tons of a solution of phosphates in muriatic acid are yearly thrown away as being useless. It would be important to ascertain how far this solution might be substituted for bones. The free acid would combine with the alkalies in the ■oil, especially with lime, and a soluble salt would thus be produced, which is known to possess a favourable action on the growth of plants. This salt (muriate of lime) is one of those compounds which attract water from the atmosphere with great avidity, and return it when absorbed ; and being present in the soil, it would decompose the carbonate of ammonia existiug in rainwater, with the formation of sal-ammooia and carbonate of lime. Fresh bones, hairs, hooves, and horns are manures containing nitrogen as well as phosphates, and are consequently fit to aid the of vegetable life." So writes one of our great authorities ; and from our past experience with decayed animal matter, there is no doubt but that the above opinion is correct. Upon examining the skutch, we found it in lumps adhering rather tenaciously to each other, and it struck . us as very awkward stuff to distribute equally in the required quantity. We were given to understand that upon an equal quantity off moist loam or earth being mixed with it, and permitted to lie for a few days, the compost will thoroughly amalgamate, and with the aid of a shovel be brought into the requisite state of fineness, so that it can he distributed with great facility. IVqm liebig's opinion, -we may conclude that this manure is particularly adapted for dry seasons, and in this colony must be an appro* priate stimulant for our grain, and especially our root crops. The expenditure is within the reach of any vjgneron or market gardener (only £4 B eE *w), and ff om the mode of man'ufaotiuring it must be free from adulteration. The establishment lies close to Sandridge. Patent earth-closet manure is another stimulant which appears to have been partially overlooked by many having exhausted paddocks and gardens, near Melbourne. We feel sure that th-is, manure wjll be more appreciated npqn better- acquaintance with it. Th^e manufactory ia in Spencer-street, and is very far from being offensive, although the drying and sifting operations are going on inside.. When fit for use, this earth reminded ns more of good fat bog earth in a dry state than anything else ; and it is really more agreeable than otherwise to any one fond of the flavour of rich mould. This certainly ought not to be termed an "artificial" manure— it is simply a fertiliser, and one of the richest. It undergoes no change but in the smell jfc is as rich in cjjjs yolatilp alkaline salts as it ever \f as! "There is actually as much ammonia in tiie reduced mass of rotten dung-heap as there was to use Dr. Ure's phrase, in the original bnlk of the fresh manure when hauled together. The ammonia exists here (in the manure under question), but is not active. The apparent alteration in character is caused simply by mixing loam or earth of alight nature with the raw material, if we may so term the feculent matter ; the more porous or more absorbing the earth the better. We thoroughly examined the "closet-earth" in every litage. Some had been actually in use four times, ■till it appeared nothing but earth, muoh lighter in weight according to hulk, and rather darker in colour. The process of drying and screening goes on under cover, and we imagioe that the operation of drying might be facilitated by means of currents of hot air, if the additional expense were not objectionable. Even at its first introduction to the shed, and in a moist condition, the mixture is nob offensive ; and the insignificant odour almost disappears at the first turning over, and more thorough blending of the component parts. It appears that the same company which supplies the patent earthclosets also engages to furnish suitable earth for their daily use — contracting with a sort of middle man, who at stated intervals erapUg3 tfye one and jpaV.es, 'a 'fresh supply of tije other. BVery operation (ippears to be mosfrmethodically performed ; and it ftands to' reason that after the earth has been used two, three, and even four times, it must at that stage be qf the most fertilising description. We recollect that many years grace the' night-soil of London was collected and merely dried on flagstones; U was afterwards broken into fine powder, packed in casks, and exported. In this dried state it was free from smell, but not less efficacious ; it was also used by farmers as a top-dressing, and by marketaatd^Qers in drills with their, seeds,. Th> price it gqmmande,d proved the'valne at whjch it was estimated. The operation of mght-sqil in any shape is quicker and more powerful than ordinary farm-yard manure, but not so lasting, unless used in large quantities, which in thaf case prove injuriqus to th 9 $rst grain crop, from the tog strong grqwth of gtraw. The "mixen'' at the company's sheds ought to be used, we think, at the rate of not less than 7c wt. or gcwt, p.er agre j but this wijl 4«pend muoh upon the condition of the land and the crop to be grown ; on many soils — those greatly exhausted, for instance— a ton would not be too much, and it would .be a cheap renovation at the price— £3 10s. This quantity, or any quantity approaching it, is rather an awkward one to distribute. A man may frow 4cwt. or Scwt. by hand per acjse comfortably from the sowing-bag attached to his shoulder ; but when it comes to lOcwt., 15c wt., or 20cwt., the quantity is too much to broadcast by hand, and too little to put in heaps and spread by shovel ; a cheap manure-drill, without pipes or coulters, wonld, we think, pay well, and ought to be cheaply placed in pur market' Garrett and Co. used to make these broadcart'ihanure-drills, but we have never seen one ip. the colony. "When we recommend a tqn per acre for exhausted soils, we do not mean that this quantity wjll be required annually. Our opinion differs, perhaps, from many who prefer manuring in driblets cr-not because it is the best plan in their opinion, but because they grudge the money fflr a larger quantity. The land ought to be made good at once, and kept so. A beast in good condition is easily kept so, work him as you will ; land is lust the same, and equally grateful for every mouthful or shovelful given it. This manure is not very plentiful ; the quantity depends entirely upon the number of closets in use. The weight now on sale does noKmuch exceed 100 tons, and 6 months have been consumed in manufacturing this ; when used to the extent it ought to be, the demand will mucty exceed the supply. As We have before said, the top dressing ought to be parried on as early as possible, and phosphatic manures pay better than those which depend chiefly upon ammonia for their action. The quantity to meet the demand will much exceed the supply. As we here bgfore said, top-dressing ought to be applied per acre must be regulated by appearances j in every paddock may be seen weak spots, especially in old turf, and it is much better to know where these are, and to apply with a more liberal hand the topdressing, than to spread the latter uniformly. - It is always easier to prevent deterioration in a paddock than to renovate after exhaustion ; a faulty spot in grass soon declares itself, and the remedy ought to be at once applied. To old rank 'grass the benefit is yery striking, the rank'fatfte giving way tq strong rigorous scoots, especially ' if tag harrow and roller follow the manure.