The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1854-02-16
NO Is.
Agricultural.
Depth for Burying Manure.

:. Men are divided as to the proper depth
J of burying manure. Some hold that is
sinks in the soil, is washed downward bit
the teaching rains, and should therefory
be applied near or at the surface Othere
assert that its volatile and most valuable
parts rise by fermentation, and that con-
sequently it should be buried deep. Now
it usually happens when doctors disagree
that both are partly right and partly
wrong; but in the present instance they,
are both little in the right, ard great
deal in the wrong.
Manure usually stays very nearly
where it is put. If buried near the sur
face, it remains near the surface;if buried
deep, there it remains; if plowed under
in large Jumps, it has but little power to
rise, sink, OF in any other way to inter-
mix itself, and hence the reason that
thorough pulyerization or narrowing be-
fore manure is turned under gives re-
suit in large crops.
The power which clay has to absorb
the fertilizing portions of manure, is very
great. Soils which possess a medium a
mount Of clay, or loan, with medium
degree of tenacity, will absorb all that IS
valuable in ordinary yard manure, equal
to nearly their own bulk. Forty loads
of manure to the acre, form heavy coat
ing; yet this is only one load to four
square rods, constituting a depth, when
spread, Of only one-third of an inch.--
! Consequently, when a coating of forty
loads to the acre is plowed under, the
volatile parts have only to pass one-third
of an inch or 30, before they are all ab-
sorbed by the soil. Hence the error of
supposing that they can possibly, in or
dinary soils, rise or sink to any practical
bic depth. And hence also, the great
Importance of mixing manures very init
mately through all parts of the soil, if
plants are to get their full benefit, and
not be over fed at one part of the roots
and starved at another.
There are many proofs of the correct
ness of the position here taken. We have
made large piles of compost, consisting
of one third rich stable manure, and two
thirds of loan and turf, yet all the odor
was completely retained, and not the
slightest portion passing off could be per-
ceiyed by the smell. We have buried
large dead animals with coating of only
six inches of loan; not the faintest indi-
cation of the decomposition below ever
reached the surface. On the other hand,
the soil which forms the bottom of ma
nure yards, is not found even within
few inches of the surface to be at all en-
riched by the piles Of fertility which rest
upon it.
The true rule for burying manure, is to
place it just at such depth in the soil as
the roots of the crop usually extend,
which will vary with different plants
Some of the grasses, for instance, form a
turf very near the surface, and hence an
autumn top-dressing will soak in enough
to benefit them essentially. Glover roots
run deeper, and this crop is consequently
but little benefited by top dressings when
of much size, except so far as they ope-
rate in keeping the surface moist. The
roots of fruit trees are still deeper, and
they derive but little advantage, except
from mauures well spaded or worked in.
They however possess an important ad-
vantage over ANNALS and perennial root
ed plants; by continuing in growth for
successive years, those roots which hap
pen to run into the region of fertility,
soon throw out numerous fbres, and Sc
cure an amount of nourishment, of which
annual plants, in consequence of their
more limited powers Of extension, are not
able to avail themselves.
There are, however, not many crops
which do not need the full depth afforded
by ordinary ploTing; and hence the best
practice for nearly all kinds of culture, Is
to spread the manure well, harrow it most
thoroughly, in order to break it as finely
as possible, and at the same time to mix
it intimately with the surface; then turn
it under by ordinary plowing, and the
lower half of the inverted earth will fur
nish a thoroughly enriched bed for the
roots to penetrate. If a greater depth OF
fertility is needed than ordinary plowing
affords, the coat of narrowed manure may
be thrown under ten or twelve inches by
means of a double mould board or Miehi-
gan plow; and then another coat of ma
nure spread, narrowed, and plowed un-
der by light or gang-plow. The young
plants of the crop are thrown rapidly for
ward by the upper stratum OF manure,
and at later stage Of growth, are equal
ly stimulated by the lower stratum-lCul-
tiyator.
Boys.