The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1873-09-09

about in the little pools that momoutariy
form in irregularities of the surface, and
thus complete the spreading process with
a perfection Of minuteness which is not
possible to surpass. These elements thus
become very uniformly difiused through.
out the upper strata OF soil. The spring
blowing buries the course litter, where it
is out of the way Of the seed-bed, and
where in its subsequent decay it will be
of service to the descending roots. This
is obviously better than TO bury the ma
nurc bodily hcueaih Eve or six inches oil
soil. La the latter case. the distribution
Of the manure goes On very impcriectly
and only downward from the point where
it lies at the bottom of the lurrow, and
the young plant must 60 after it through
the intcrvent earth, and find it in crude
masses, hurtiul, perhrps. from its concen
tration instead Of eDcountering it by CIV.
cry rootlet at the first stages Of germina.
ton.
But there are circumstances under
which surface manuring in the fall may
be disadvantageous. If the soil be coarse
in texture and comparatively destitute Of
retcntivc clayey matters and uncovered
by grass, the manure would doubtless sui
fer waste. Such n soil should be suitably
amended before being made tho theatre oil
many manure experiments. Again, II
heavy, undrained clay would be retarded
in its drying out in spring time, and the
preparation for seeding would be delayed
by surface manuring in the fall. On such
u field the manure often acts more by Its
mechanical effects in loosening the sol
than by its icrtilizing influence ; at least
the latter has no fair play until the for
mer have prepared the ground.
Autumn top.dressing is adapted, there
fore, for loamy land that is to be plowod
for spring crops, or for established grass
land of whatever character Of soil. |,
: is not generally best for very heavy un
drained, and, therefore, wet soils, nor FOL
"hupgry =. or leachy y soils except they
are in grass. 1t is not SO safe usually OIL
winter grain. unless the application bt
made late in autumn, after the plant.
have become well established and have
filled the ground well with tkoir roots
: and then a moderate dressing only should
be used. The cereals are susceptible,
plants, and if too abundantly nourshet
when young, they spindle up with rank
Juicy growth, which frost destroys. The
fall growth Of winter grain ought not tC
be too sudden development, but rather
a steady, quiet tilleripg process, yielding
firmly organized blade and root, which
like the well-ripened fruit canes Of vine
yard, will not suffer from the vicissitude
of winter. 1t is in general safer to pillow
in manure in the old fashioned way fol
winter grain than to top-dress in the fall
But if the farmer has the skill to avoit
its dangers, if he can regulate the dos,
to the delicate constitution of the grains
there remain certain advantages of sur
face. manuriDg which in this or that cas-
may pay for the extra risk.
John Johnston, however, shows wha
is the more excellent way of manurinl
winter grain. In the quotation alread.
. cited he says: " | never saw manure ap
piled to wheat in any way that produced
so good a crop and required so little ma
, nure as when it was applied immediatel
, before sowing and narrowed in with tn
, seed. | mean of course rotten manure.
| may add that Mr.. Johnston's land wa
: heavy clay, and has been made ricl
/ loan by thorough draining and deep til
f lage. This mode of manuring wheat lik
, that Of manuring grass is to put the ma
: nurc where the plant can reach it speed
ly and reach it all. For wheat, whicl
. needs compact seed bed, the well rotte,
Q manure free from seeds or weeds is best
S For grass. fer spring crops planted o.
sod, and for hard land, if loamy and re
Q tentive, intended for spring grain, eithe
5 rotted or fresh and strawy manure, liber
ally applied in autumn is best. But ev
cry rule has its exceptions. Let us hea
f from those who have had bad luck in sur
S face.application of stable manure.-Tra
Q June