Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1870-09-02
How to Apply Manures.

UNDER certain circumstances, the best
storage place for the manure of the stable
is the field where it is to be used. IF the
land is so situated, and the soil contains q
lair amount of clay, and is in such condi-
ton that the water of heavy rains will
wash the soluble parts of the manure, not
Oft from, but into the ground, the surface
OF the field is the best place for it. We
can in no other way distribute the nutri-
tive parts of the manure among the par
ticles of soil so thoroughly, as by allow
ing them to be washed in among them by
the falling rains. The only loss sustained
in this practice will be by very slight
evaporation of ammonia-very slight, be-
cause the formation of volatile ammonia
will almost entirely cease when the ma,
nure is so spread as to become too cold
for rapid decomposition. The soluble
ammoniacsl salts, and the soluble earthly
parts, will be washed into the soil, of
which the clay and decomposed organic
matter have very strong absorptive &C.
ton, and which will hold all fertilizing
matter that may coat its particles-very
much as the fibre of cloth holds the color
ing matter of dye stuffs. To continue the
comparison, the coating of the particles
of soil is not q "fast color" but is removed
by the water Of the sap in the roots of
plants, and is appropriated to their use.
The recommendation to spread stable
manure directly upon the land as soon as
it is made, or as soon as it can be hauled
out, applies only to such soils as are in a
condition to receive and retain its soluble
parts. On steep hillsides, very leachy
lands and over-wet clays, the practice
would often, no doubt, result in loss.
When the ground is locked fast with
frost, the manure would run away with
the water, that, unable to gain entrance,
would flow over the surface in times of
heavy rain. In the case of thin sandy
soils, there is danger that it will be
washed dewn too deeply to have its best
effect. On steeply -sloping land, of course,
the water of heavy rains would flow off
over the surface, and some of the manure
would go with it.
To state the case simply: Wherever
and whenever the water of rains and
melting SHOWS can find its way into the
soil, the best way to use the manure of
the stable is to spread it broadcast over
the surface, except on very light sandy
soils. Where the inclination Is too
steep; where, from springs or want of
drainage, the water would be kept out Of
the soil and would flow away over the
surface of the ground, such use would,
probably, be about the worst.
Where the snow lies SO deep as to pre-.
vent the freezing Of the ground, and
where, as it melts in spring, it will all, or
nearly all, soak into the soil, it is q good
plan to spread the manure upon the snow;
but it is very bad plan to do this when,
from the frozen condition of the ground,
or from its rapid inclination, the melting
snow would run over the surface.
The principle upon which the advan-
tage and disadvantage of the practice de-
ponds is, that the manure will 60 with
the water in which it Is dissolved. IF it
ton of clay or organic matter, it will be
distributed in the best places and In the
most complete manner; if it runs away
over the surface, it will be lost.
Coarse, unfermented manure should be
| spread upon the ground before blowing,
| and turned well into the soil, where its
| decomposition will be more rapid than If
narrowed into the dry surface, while its
best mechanical effect will be more COM
pletely and more lastingly exerted.
In the case of thoroughly rotted ma
nure, although there are good arguments
| in favor of blowing it in, am inclined
to very strongly recommend that it be
| spread upon the furrow-after rolling, if
the roller is used at all if not, after once
narrowing, and then be thoroughly work
ed into the surface with the cultivator,
Shares harrow or common harrow. So
treated it will lie where the earliest roots
of the crop viii feel its effect, and its con-
stituents will be more deeply covered. --
| HG22GiU RO0E of E72LSbc71flT7I