The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1867-09-21
From tho Germantown Telegraph
A Question About Manure.

Tt is the general practice in this country
| to allow the manure formed in the barnyard
during the winter to remain there until
seeding time in the fall. Is this an econo
mical plan? Does not the manure undergo
considerable loss in the yard during the
warm weather of summer?
1t has been calculated by those who have
had experience and the means Of ascertain
ing, that for every ten hundred weight Of
dry fodder, hay or straw used, the farmer
may expect from twenty to twenty five hun
bred weight of manure, IN the Spring.
I This ten hundred weight of dry food and
straw will, as before stated, produce from
twenty to twenty-five hundred weight Of
fresh dung, which, at the end Of six weeks
will weigh but twenty one hundred at the
end Of eight weeks but twenty; when half
rotten but from fifteen to seventeen; when
entirely rotten, but from ten to thirteen.
Thus, we see that, by the time the manure
is fully rotten, one-tourth of the weight is
lost, and the mass is diminished III bulk one
half. These rcmarks apply to manure which
is left exposed to the action OF the sun and
rain.
The main loss is in water; but there is
very large loss in ammonia and other VIOLA.
tile substances, which are evaporated by the
heat Of the sun, or washed out by the rain.
The question, then, is: Would it not be
better to haul the manure ont to the field in
the spring and pillow it under, so that what
loss by decomposition and fermentation
does take place may be absorbed by the
soil!
If enriching the soil was the only object
in view, it would without doubt be most
economical to pillow the manure under as
soon as possible after it is formed but there
are other points to be considered as, for
instance, the state Of the soil with regard
to texture.
If the soil is light and very open, it would
not be economical to pillow in long or fresh
manure, for it would have a tendency to
make it still more SO the rain would wash
the soluble portions Of the manure too deep
before they could be absorbed by the soil,
and in this way a greater loss might be
created than if the manure had remained in
the barnyard. But in heavy or common
soils it is undoubtedly more economical to
pillow in the straw and other manure while
in u long and fresh state, for it will then
have tendency to render the soil more
open and permit more free passage of the
air
English farmers think this is by far the
better plan, for it converts the whole field
into heap of compost and fermentation
goes on slowly, and as fast as the volatile
portions are given of they are absorbed and
retained by the soil
The crop for which the manure is applied
must also more or less influence the manner
OF Application. If the crop is one which
grows quickly and soon reaches maturity, it
would not be economical to apply long,
fresh manure for the plant would be done
growing before the manure was sufficiently
dccomposcd to affect it much. Bnt if, Oh
the other hand the crop is one which grows
slowly, and it is desirable to furnish it with
nourishment throughout its whole growth
then long manure will better accomplish the
effect than common termented or decom
posed manure.
consider that | obtain more from my
manure by spreading it on the sod and pow
ing it under for corn, than do by keeping
it. ccen Wih the best care, until fall. and APP
plying it TO the oats stubble to be powed in
for wheat.
think that the corn crop appropliates
what would be lost by evaporation, had the
manure been retained in the barnyarl in the
usual way. And when seeding time comes
in the fall, the manure is thoroughly incor
porated with the soil and is ready to fertlize
the wheat rs soon rs it begins to grow.
do not find from several trials that the
oats is scnsibly affected by the manure, as |
do not turn it up when plowing for oats.