Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1870-11-04

Conflicting opinions exist amons
good farmers as to whether it is hes
10 apply manure to the surface, anC
if so, as to the best season for doing
it.
Some twenty years ago the opin
ion was popular that when manure!
were applied to the soil they shoulC
he Immediately covered with it, anC
Mt a depth of four to six inches
That opinion has been much modi
fled, some even going so far as to say
that it should not be covered at all.
1t seems to us that the truth lies
between the two extremes.
First, rs TO covering manure. We
nre informed that in England the
common practice at this time is to
npp'y us much manure as is prac-
ticable to the surface, and never GOV.
er it. 1t is used in liquid form, or il
merely mingled with the soil by the
harrow or the drill with which the
grain is sOwn. When the soil is de-
voted to roots, or any crop where
hneing is to be done, the manure is
still kept OH or near the surface, and
is reduced to fine condition.
We have plenty examples in ma
ture in this respect. She will restore
most exhausted lands to state OF
fertility by tho slow process ofannu-
al deposits upon the surface of such
plants as are indigenous to soil, some
Of the elements of which are derived
from the. atmosphere. She does not
plow under anything, but still pro-
duces large forest crops or heavy
gr0v. tbs Of grass, or other coarser
herbs, annually. This process may
serve as Il hint, but does not prove
there is not a quicker way to reclaim
the land. Vegetable substances that
are tender and succulent would prob
shly decay, and fern favorable bed
for seeds OF roots when slightly COW
cred up in the soil, in fourth part OF
the time that would be required ii
they remained above the ground.
In discussion of farm yard man
UTCs in the "LOndon or Central
Farmers Club" the chairman said
he believed that manure was never
80 advantagCOusly applied as when
it was laid on the surface, ard so far
from deteTiorating or losing anything
through exposure to the atmosphere
it caused more benefit 10 the upper
soil where it was desirable its effects
should be most apparent. This Opin,
ion seemed to be received rs sound
doctrine, for no one objected To il
during the discussion.
Mr.. Robert Baker, who opened the
discussion at the same meeting, after
touching upon almost every cOnceiv
able point in the management and
application of farm. yard manures
stated as his belief, that the best
take IL direct from the farm yard and
turn it in SO as rot TO leave it cX-
posed.
We arrived at this conclusion
many years ago from our own prac-
tice and observation from time tn
time. This course seems to be free
from any objections which are urged
against other modes OF using it.
In this way The manure is handled
but once, whereas, in COmpositing,
it must be moved several times.
In conpositing, at each overhaul
ing there is loss in the escape OF
am inOnja, and there is danger of car
rying fermentation to far, and thus
greatly injuriug the manure.
Ii the manure is taken directly
from the yard and plowed under, il
is handled but once, loses nothing in
the escape Of ammonia, because ho
fermentation has taken place, and is
not injured at all by heating.
Covered two or three inches, It is
soon IN a warm and moist condition
so That fermentation has taken place,
and is not injured at all by heating.
Covered two or three inches, it il
soon in warm and moist condition,
so that fermentation readily takes
place and gasses are given off. These
are arrested 10y the soil, as are also
its Juices, and are not only in a state
of readiness to be taken up by the
roots of plants, but act in double
capacity 10y becoming food them
selves and acting upon other materi-
ais un:il they become SO.
In applying it in a green state,
much OF it will be in course condi-
ton, but fermentation. and the action
OF fl0st will tend to pulverize it, so
that second blowing will usually
incorporate it pretty thoroughly
with the soil. With these advan.
tages, then. we have no hesitatiNnin
lillS NOulSC W blil an
the manure that can be applied in
the autumn. If COmpGsted with any
substance that will divide the wet
manure, so that it can be made some
what fine, then We would put it I'm.
der in the spring Us early as the coli
d!tion of the soil would permit.
For these and other reasons which
might he urged, we are clearly Of the
opinion that. so far as We can make
it convenient, il is best 20 put all the
manure we can under ground in its
fresh and crude condition, and cover
it not more than three inches at most.
Some good farmers do not apply
manure until it has been kept u year.
We believe that is the case with Mr..
John Brooks, of Princeton, Mass,
who is large and prosperous farm
or. What special advantages arise
from this course ere not clear to us.
ToP-DREssING.
With regard to this mode Of man.
uring there are also various opinions,
but that it can be very prufitably
employed scarcely admits of CUES
ton. On grass lands it is generally
withheld too lOng-until the grass
roots are exhausted, and there is
nothing left upon which to build up
Al crop. If on high land the top dres-
sing should be applied as early as
Immediately after the second years
crop is taken of, or in the succeed
ing fall. Then it has vigorous roots
10 work upon, and by dressing
annually, or every other year, NOW
ing fields might he kept running for
ten or fifteen years, and produce from
II ton to ton and half annually
This would save a considerable cost