Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1865-11-23
Saving and applying Manure

As manure. is some parts OF the country,
is the great motive power III the product
ion of remunerating crops, the more light
we can throw on the best manner Of man
aging fertiizing matter, the better it will
be for those who rely chiefly on the manure
applied for profitable crops.
In the dropping Of horses which subsist
for the most part on grain, there Is large
per centage of nitrogenous matter, which
is a very valuable fertilizing manure tor all
kinds of cereal grain, vegetables, and grass.
When horses are fed on hay and grass alone
the manure of their stables is vastly in
ferior to the kind previously mentioned
And why? Because it is so destitute Of
those valuable elements of fertility which
make the soil produce large crop of grain,
while the manure made with no feed but
hay and grass may produce crop OF straw
fully equal to the kind last mentioned. All
good farmers know that if they manure
their land with straw manure the product
will be heavy crop of straw and com
paratively light crop of grain. And if the
animals have eaten liberal supply OF
grain their manure will abound with nitro
genous matter and ammonia, the latter Of
which is exceedingly volatile, while the for
mer is easily decomposed and dissipated,
unless special care be exercised to retain
it by some absorbents which will hold it
for the benefit of plants and yield it up to
the roots when they require it.
When we go into close horse stable
and preceive a pugnent odor that some
times causes our eyes to smart, we may
think that the proprietor Of that stable IS
losing the most valuable portion Of his ma
nure, much faster than we are wont to sup
pose. We frequently see manure steam
ing hot, and a transparent vapor rising
from the heap The most valuable portions
are escaping rapidly and unless the heat
ing process is arrested, the manure Will be
worth but little.
When rich barn-yard manure is hauled
to the field and spread we often smell a
strong odor arising from it, which IS the
very essence of plant root. The heat and
dry wind carry away this volatile, tertiliz-
ing;manure so that the crops of the pro-
prietor are benefited no more by it than the
plants of his neighbor
These considerations suggest to us the
Importance Of insttuting such system OF
management with barn-yard manure, as
will prevent the escape OF these volatile
portions, and hold them where growing
plants may avail themselves Of their bene-
fit, during the growing season.
Barn-yard manure should be protected
from heavy rains, which carry away the
most valuable portions first Then, no ma
nure should be allowed to remain in large
heaps, until it heats The droppings from
horse stables should be spread around the
yard, and mingled with the manure Of neat
cattle and sheep.
If farmer has old manure on hand in
autumn it will be better to spread it even
ly on grass land, or where the ground is to
be plowed next spring, than to keep it un-
til spring, unless it can be plowed under
Immediately, after it has been spread
Meadows top dressed in late autumn will
yield heavy crop Of grass, when if the
the same manure is kept until warm wealth
er, and the growing season for the next
year commences, the grass will be but lit
tie heavier than if no manure had been APP
piled.