The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1873-09-09
agricultural department.
CONDUCTED BY ALBERT CHAPMAN.
Methods of Applying Manure.
ny PROF. s. W. JOHNSON, AUTHOR OF
now CROPS FEED" ETC.

Inc lHCt ttlht SnIIucc hppiicution Vi sJa-
BILE aud yard manure is often much more
advantageous than blowing it under has
frequently been observed, is therefore
perfectly authenticated, and is largely
acted upon. In this country, johnson,
of n Y, Que Of our foremost agricultur-
al philosophers, was. perhaps. the first to
systematically employ and bring into no.
tice surfacc.applicaticn Of stable manure.
In letter to the GeneSee Farmer, writ
ten some l6 years ago, he says d" For
the last 90 years aud over have acted
in opposition TO theorists in the applica.
ton of barp.yard manure. Generally [
have had it hcaped in the yard in spring,
or else drawn to the field where it was to
be used and heaped there. In September
had it spread over the grass field intend
ed for corn the next season, and let it lie
until April or May, aud the have it plow-
ed under for corn. 1t requires to be got
out before October 10, the grass immcd-
lately grows up through the manure, and
the land, although heavy clay, pows up
mellow in spring | had two reasons in
ducing me to try this plan of manuring.
One was to get the pigeon-weed sprouted
in the fail, and consequently destroyed,
as it will not vegetate at any other season
than from August until frost comes The
other was because | never saw manure
applied to wheat in any way that pro-
duced so good crop and required SO lit
tie manure as when it was applied immed-
lately before sowing, and was narrowed
in with the seed. l mean, of course, rot
ten manure. Therefore l thought that if
l enriched the soil, and also had rich
coat of grass to pillow under, it would be
more sure to produce good crop of corn
than if | were 20 leave the manure in the
bottom Of the furrow, where it would be
of little if any use in our dry seasons"
Similar results have been arrived at by
other farmers, fitted by their powers of
observation and habits of thought to pro.
fit by the suggestions of experience. A
distinguished Prussian agriculturist and
agricultural author, Rosenberg.Lipinsky,
thus describes the accident which led him
to the practice Of surface manuring In
the late autumn of 1928, harvested pc.
tato field-deep friable loan, with level
surface-was dunged for barley with
mixed bone and cattle manure. The ma.
nure was all spread, but before it was
quite all plowed under the ground sud.
denly froze and a heavy fall of snow fol-
lowed, which suspended further field work,
so that on about p acres, and on some
portions of unfinished land, the manure
remained throughout the winter on the
surface. ln spring this manure was so
washed out as to appear no better than
mere straw, and my steward earnestly
asked to pu. more manure on these plac-
es. | wished, however, to notice how
this difference Of application would effect
the crop, especially as the soil after dry
ing was uncommon mellow where it had
been covered by the dung No more
manure was put upon the field, and those
parts which had been fall-plowcd were
carefully staked to fix their positions and
limits. This means liberalization prov
ed to be superfuous, for the barley sown
in spring manifested upon these parts Of
the field at once an evident advance in
growth. The luxuriant green Of the young
plant marked from distance the bound.
aries Of the surface manuring in the plain.
est manner, and until harvest time the
better stand OF the grain on these parts
of the field was obvious. The advanta.
ges Of this single suriace-manuring were
seen not only in the six following crops
Of the rotation, but even after the next
manuring, potatoes Coming after wheat
manured) showed a heavier growth Of
tops upon these spots so that the results
of the accident were visible after lapse
of eight years. Since that time l have
practiced this mode Of applying manure
upon various crops op large scale, and
with equally favorable and durable results
and l should long ago have adopted it as
rule in my farming were it everywhere
and at all times applicable"
This testimony from sagacious practi
cal farmers set forth the the fact of the
advantages Of surface manuring in strong
light. Both the observers who arc quot
ed above agree that one of the most bene
fetal as well as one of the most notice
able effects of the surface-spread dung il
to promote the melowing of the soil anG
to develop a certain friability aud poros
ity Of the earth which is not easy to de
scribe, but which every obscrvant farm
or and gardener recognizes from the at
tempt at description-it is what the G Ter
mans designate as " fermentation Of
the filth. This effect is noticed wherev
er the soil is covered with straw, leaves
chips, boards, or even stones. 1t is a re-
suit which does not depend entirely OIL
mainly upon the incorporation of plan,
food with the sill, but in some degree the
result Of shelter from the sun, wind and
cold, and is doubtless largely due to the
retention Of moisture at the surface of thu
soil, so that the baking and caking O
loamy earth is prevented. Shelter alsC
favors the working near the surface o
the nnmberless grubs and worms which
burrow in the soil and contribute not
little to its tillage as well as fertilization
Another benefit of surfacc. manurinl
on grass is the protection it affords to tn,
plants against damage from late and ear
ly frosts.
Every farmer knows that late.lyinI
covering Of snow oftens brings out green
er grass when it finally thaws away, which
is fairly attributable to its effect in equal
izing tho temperature and the supplies O
moisture. In respect to the real fertile
ing action Of the manure, it is ia be OBJ
served l. That no appreciable loss b,
volatilization need take place in fall sur
face-manurlng because stable manar
only suffers loss in that way when it i
allowed to heat When spread out thiL
ly the heating ceases, and If rain short
ly follows the spreading, all ammonia tina
would evaporate by exposure is washe,
down among the grass roots or into tn