Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1872-06-13
Results of Thorough Manurlng.

One of our reighbors, with land not any
too good, barely able to support a family,
tried upon advice the experiment of apply-
ing manure to wheat, spread on the sur
face. 1t was compost, also made upon re-
commentator, and applied evenly on the
land just before sowing. Only part of the
lot was thus treated. The wheat was sown,
and the land well narrowed. At the end
of the fall the difference was so great tina
a distinct line marked the manure part.
1t seemed all difference, and was noted by
every one that passed. This was most
gratifying.
In the spring there was still the differ
ence; a whitish and partly green hue per-
vaded the MANFRED part. The rest was
merely barren. Here and there on the
MANFRED part, where the land was wet, the
grain lay on the surface. This, however,
only in a few small spots. In a short time
the manuring part was dense green, the
rest struggling and backward, and most dis
couraging to all who saw it. Toward the
last this, however, brought up some in
comparison with the other. The MANFRED
part grew less rank and matured well,
yielding over 200 per cent. more than the
other. An estimate was made of the eX-
pense Of the manure and labor, and there
was something nice over in favor of the
application.
But the best, perhaps, is not yet told.
The land had been seeded down early in
the spring, and it was recommended to use
plenty of seed, which was but partially fol-
lowed out. Still the MANFRED part of the
lot showed not only a good catch, but what
was thought thick stand, growing well,
and continuing late in the fall. The rest
of the lot was as usual, a poor thing, not
paying for seeding; there was not the
catch and not the growth as in the other.
This satisfied. The year following the
difference was still greater Tin the two
crops which it was advised to CUT, not SO
much before harvesting as in the crops Sc
cured. Then it was found what little
manure did-that it brought all the seed,
while the rest had lost much of it that did
not come, and did not grow so well. In
the spring following, upon advisement, the
land was plowed and put to corn the diff
ference being even greater here, if possible,
than in the preceding crops. This was fol-
lowed by barley and oats mixed, cOntinu-
ing the same difference-a large crop on
the MANFRED part, an ordinary on the
other. Seed was sOWn, and nearly the
same variation was observable. But before
this last was reached other land was treat
ed similarly, only that the manure was APP
piled to the whole field. The neighbOrs
took the contagion-all but the INDECENT
and there is a general improvement.
Why is it that this thing is not done
more? So repeatedly is it advised to top
dress with manure land that is sown, if
poor and intended to seed down. And yet
people are not doing it, only the few. 1t
pays in the grain, and still more in the
grass crop which is to follow, and in after
culture. It is the manure that helps the
grass Cor clover to the nutriment of the at
mosphere, after first being established in
the soil, getting not only catch, but a
thick stand. Then, aided by little plas-
ter, there can be no failure, especially with
clover.