Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-04-23
FARM YARD MANUEE--WHsT Is THE
BEST METHOD OF APPLYING
THEM.

Within the past few years d new method
of applying manure for hoed crops has
been frequently and strongly advocated in
the columns of the Country Gentleman,
both by its editors and correspondents
This new method recommends that the
winter made manure be kept through the
summer till some time IN autumn, and
then carted to tue green sward and evenly
spread, there to remain upon the surface
Of the land till plowed in in the spring !;
and it has been stated that one cord of
manure so applied will give as great
yield Of corn as two Or three cords put
upon the land just before the corn is
planted. The practice of many good far
mers in different sections Of the country
goes far to substantiate the correctness of
the above statement
The great mass of farmers are proverbi-
ally conservative-slow to adopt any inno-
vations in their long established farm
practices-content in these matters to
" let we'll enough alone !" but, cautious
as they are, when satisfied of the worth of
a real improvement in any branch of farm
culture over the old method, they have the
good sense to adopt the new one. will
give an illustration of this !:
There has been in successful operation
at Sandy Springs, Maryland, for twenty or
more years, farmers club at which agr;
cultural questions are proposed and dis
cussed, and at the close of the discussion
a vote is taken. A record is kept of the
doings of their club meetings. In 1852
the question was asked, ''What is the best
way of using barn-yard manure ?" An
swer: "Plow it under this fall for next
springs CROP "Should it be left spread
on the surface, or plowed under directly ?"
Club equally divided. But in August of
the next year, the majority favored haul
ing out manure on the sod now and leav
ing it spread to pillow under in the spring
for corn. On this important question the
majority in favor of leaving barn-yard
manure spread on the surface increased
from year to year, SO that in 1859 sixteen
out of seventeen farmers present preferred
surface manurin".
Now it seems to me that the experience
of these Maryland farmers does much to-
wards settling this important question rela-
tive to the application of manures for the
corn crop land in my view there are many
other advantages connected with this sys-
tenn, and only one obiection-that of plow
ing in the spring.
Let the winter-made manure remain in
the barn-cellar or under cover if possible,
and if hogs could be kept upon it the bet
ter. The manure, straw, &C., in the yard
should be put in large heaps land if COW
cred with muck or loan, all the better, to
remain in the yard till carted On the new
ly-inverted sod in autumn, which should
be done soon after the land is ploWeG.-
The manure should be evenly spread, and
worked into the soil with the cultivator or
harrow. By such course there would be
no "break;ng up" of grass land in the
spring, no carting of heavy green manure
over muddy roads and deep .rutted fields
in early spring there would be little or no
loss of manure by evaporation or teaching;
the fertilizing qualities of the manure
would become pretty equally distributed
through the soil, SO that every little root
let would get its share of ready prepared
food. The plants on such prepared soil,
from their first appearance above it, ex-
hibit wide, dark-green, rich-looking leaves
the reverse Of the yellow, sickly- looking
corn in an adjoining field, where all the
manure was buried eight or ten inches be-
meath the sod. By plowing and manaring
for the corn crop in the autumn, all that
is necessary to prepare the land in the
spring is to give it thorough cultivation
with an implement mot spike-toothed
barrow that will penetrate and pulverize
the soil from four to six inches deep,
But here some may ask, "Will there noa
be much loss by the leaking out of the
fertilizing ingredients of the manure from
October till Mayo" If the soil contains
fair proportion of fine loan, aud small
per centsge Of clay, there woald be no
loss OF manure. This important fact has
been fully demonstrated by many care