Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-11-24
How and When to use Mamures:

The best method of using stable OF barn
yard manure for corn or potatoes is haul
it fresh from the cellar in the condition in
which it rests in the vaults, spread itupon
the plowed field, and harrow it in with a
Geddes harrow. This is what is called
"lOng manure, p" and is a form which, &C
cOrding to the opinion of many farmers, is
msuited TO immediate use; also, it is OBJ
iected. that in spreading fresh manure upon
plowcd fields, and covering it only super
ficially with earth, much of itislo stby crap
Grafton; or, more correctly speaking, GER
tain volatile gaseous constituents rise on the
breeze, and are waited away. In ourYiew,
both of these notions are incorrect The eX
crement of animals must undergo a kind
of fermentation, or putrefactiye change,
before it is assimilated by plants; and it Is
better that this be carried forward in the
field, as there it is in contact with the
soil, which is greedy te absorb all the pro
ducts of the chemical change. Creative
mower has bestowed upon dry earth pro-
digious absorptive capabilities. If lump
of fresh manure as large as peck-meas-
ure is placed on plowed field, uncovered
and allowed to ferment or decay in the
open air, the absOrptive powers OF the
earth are such that it viii actually attract
toward it ammoniacal and other gases, and
thus rob the atmosphere of its natural vo-
| LATHE principles A film of earth no thick
er than the rind of an orange, placed over
manure will prevent loss of maGural pro-
ducts, under all possible circumstan-
Ces. 1t will be agreed, then, that har-
| row is equally as effective asa pillow in pro
tecting manure in the open field. 1t IS bet
ter to have the manure near the surface,
as the rains can reach it, and dissolve the
soluble salts, and, by percolation, carry
them 1OIOn to the hungry roots OF plants.
Long manure is not lost when deeply
turned under the plow; but the farmer
docs not secure the whole value OF his
dressing under this mode of treatment in
any case; and in some soils, the loss Is a
most serious one. In the process OF soap
making. it becomes necessary TO set up 8
leach. Now. the farmer will not attempt
TO exhaust the tub of ashes of its potash
, | by forcing water into the bottom, anC
dipping liquid off from the top. The
natural percolating or exhausting process
is dOWnWGrd, in accordance with Tho
laws of gravity. The soluble alkalies ant
salts are driven downward; and, in tht
case of the leach, we must have vesse
ready to receive them at the bottom; and
in the case of the same substances leacheC
from manure, we must have the manure
e so placed that plant roots will be near
| hand to absorb them before they pass be
4 yond their reach.
S Manure is never so valuable rs when
I is fresh 1t then holds in association no
/ only all the fixed soluble substances natura
G to the solid cXcrement, but much that IS 0
o great value found only in the liquid. !
D | is in { condition to quickly underS
chemical change; and the gaseous, am
S moniacal products secured are doubl
e those resulting from that which has bee
T lCcatbcrcd in a heap out of doors fo
4 | several months.-JOtUHGt Of Chemistry