Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1870-11-25
SisIo amb @HrOrn.
Surface Manuring.

Conflicting opinions exist among
good farmers as to whether II. is best
to apply m lnure to the. surface, and
ii 80 as to the season Of doing it.
Some twenty years ago the opinion
was popular that when. manurea were
applied to the soil they should I've i'm
mediately covered with it, and at a
depth of four to six inches. What
opinion has been much modified,
some even have gone so far as to Say
that it should net be covered at AL.
It seems. to us that the truth lies
between the two extremes.
First, as to covering manure. We
are informed that in England the
common practice ut this time is to
apply as Nuch Of the manure as is
practicable to the surface, and ne ,er
cover it II is used in liquid form,
or if solid. in very fine condition, and
merely mingled with the soil by The
liarl ow, OF the drill with which the
grain is ow When thesoil is Gevo-
ted to roots, or any crop where hoe
ing is to be doue, the manure is still
on or vtry near the surface, and is
reduced to fine condition.
We have plenty of examples in ma
ture in this respect. She will restore
most exhausted lands to a state of
fertility by. the SLOW process Of amt
al deposits on the surface. Of such
plants rs are Indigenous to the soil.
some of the elements of which ave
derived from the atmosphere. Size
does not pillow under anything, but
still produces large forest crops OF
heavy grovths of grass. or other coars
er heritage. annually. This process
may serve rs hint. but does not
prove that the e is not quicker way
to reclaim the land. Vegetable sub
stances that are tender and succulent
would probably decay, and form a ia
vorab1e bed Tor seed or roots whei.
slightly covered Ny in the soil, in
fourth part OF the time which would
be required It they ron.ain above
ground.
In a dEsussioc &C farm ynrd ma
nurcs in the "Loldon or Central Far
mers' Club" the chairman said he
believed that manure was never so
anvantageously applied rs when il
was laid on the surface, and that SO
far from detcriorating or losing any
thing through exposure to the atmos-
phere, it caused more benefit to the
upper soil, where it was desirable it,
effects should be most apparent. -
This opinion seemed to be received
as sound doctrine, for no one objected
to it during the discussion
Mr.. Robert Baker, who opened the
discussion ut the same meeting, after
touching upon every conceivable point
in the infringement and application OF
farm yard mauures, stated distinctly
ns'his belief. that "thc best mode OF
applying manure was to take it direct
from TIE farm yard and turn it in at
once, so as not to leave it exposed"
We arrived at this conclusion many !
years ago, from our own practice and |
observation from time to time. This |
course stems free from any OF the !
objections which are urged against |
other modes Of using it.
In this way the Manure is handled |
but once, whereas, in composing, it
must be moved several times
la composing, ut each overhauling |
taese is loss in the escape of ammo
MIA, and there is danger of carrying !
fermentation too far. and thus great
y injuring the manure.
Ii manure is taken directly from
the yard and plowcd under, it is han
He'd but once. loses nothing in the es-
cape, Of ammonia. because no ferlnen-
.ation has taken place, and is not In
ured at all by heating.
Covered t%o or tarue inches. it Is
'oon in a warm and moist coalition,
% that fermentation readily takes
place and gases are giveu off. These
ire arrested by the soil, as are also
IS juices, and are not only in state OF
eadiness to be taken up by the root,
If plants, but act in a double capaci-
y by becoming food themselves, and
Icting upon other materials until the,
'ecome so.
In applying it in a green STATE.
much of ii will be in q coarse condi-
ion, but .fermentation and the action
# frost will tend to pulverize it, so
hat a second blowing will usually in,
Corporate it pretty thoroughly with
he soil. With these advantages.
hen, we have no hesitation in recon-
nendlng this course with all the ma =
ure that can be applied in the au- !
hmn, If conposted with any sub.
lance that will divide the wet ma
ure, so that it can be made some o
hat fine. then we would put it under .
the spring as early as the condi- 4
on OF the soil will permit. 3
For these, and other reasons which \
light b urged, we are clearly Of the
pinlou. hat, SO Far as we can make d
convent mt, IL is best 20 put all the 81
manrs W. can under ground in its y
e'h and Grade condition, AMI coyel E,
not NOR vhan three inches at the
.Uot.
cXhrs.--umyersIl pikc.es, chow e
lows or Picol,LieS. are appctizers. "