Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-08-31

Manure holds the same relation to the
farm that steam does to the engine; it is
the force used to accomplish the desired
result Let the one fail in the engine
and the wheels stop, let the other be
withdrawn from the soil and its useful
products rapidly and constantly dimin-
ish If the farmer cannot manure every
crop, says the Rural Nelc Yorker, then
he should consider from which be can
best afford to withhold the fertilizers II
he designed growing crop Of oats, fol
lowed by one Of wheat, it would not be
wise TO apply the manure to the cat crop
and give none TO the wheat, 1t would
not pay as well the crop of manure
would be sold in cheap market SO too,
it might be iniudicious to manure a crop
of potatoes and have none to apply to the
succeeding grain. The season in which
manure should be applied, the stage Of
the crop, and the depth at which it
should be placed are also topics which
the farmer should think much about.
Many consider that if manure. is only
buried in the soil it is enough no matter
whether it be deep or shallow, whether
the subsoil be firm or leachy, If the ma
nure is in the earth the crops, they ar
que, viii get the full benefit Of it-some
time or another But this is not always
true, and it is certainly more scientific
and profitable farming to apply manure
not to increase the general fertility Of
the soil with a view to benefting several
crops in succession-but to directly aug
ment the yield Of a specified crop. This
course will bring the most profit, for
products which command the highest
prices are thus largely increased
Doubtless most farmers will assent to
the assertion that the wheat crop needs
manure as much as any other one, and
pays as well for its liberal application
But the profits Of this operation may be
greatly varied by the manner in which it
is done Flowing in manure deeply will
not give as good results as placing it on,
or Just under the surface. 1t is less
labor for the farmer to pillow in the MAJ
nure, for il is easier to haul it on a hard
surface than over freshly plowed ground
And then it is ont Of the way of the har-
row and the drill but when buried deep
it does not nourish the young plant in its
first growth, and impart to it strength
and size to endure the approaching win
ter. Nor does it mulch the surface and
protect the tender plants from heaving
frosts and bhghting winds The rains in
their descent wash the soluble elements
downwards and away from the searching
roots. Surface manuring reverses these
processes, and is more rational and pro-
ductive Of more immediate and visible
results.
wen lomented larm-yard manure Is
good enough for any crop, and the best
manure for all, bat the trouble is we
cant get enough of it. Whether the
wheat grower can afford to purchase and
use fertilizers is question which he
must settle by experiment and observa-
ton. Lime may often be used with great
profit, plaster is beneficial in some sea-
sons, and salt returns a liberal profit if
sown on land rich in humus Fertilizers
for the wheat plant should be applied be-
fore the seed has terminated as a gem
eral rule, at least before the spring growth
begins The preferable time is just te-
fore sowing.