Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-06-13
NO. l42.
#isftllx
APPLICATION OF MANURE.

The practice Of top-dressing has Of late
caused increased attention, and become
the favorite method of intelligent garden
ers and farmers. 1t is now generally ad-
mitted that masses of rich manure, con-
tanning nitre, are not what plants require
about their roots, but that manures are
less injuriously and more successfully sp-
piled by top.dressing. Nature. never
manures her plants with raw masses of
concentrated fertilizing substances, but
imparts her stimulating and mineral food
in a state of the most minute division,
chiefly from the earth. Many fine fruit
trees have been killed, and grape vines
destroyed or rendered barren, by excess
of wood, in consequence of the heavy
manuring at the roots, formerly recon-
mended by writers on farming. In former
years great objection was made to surface
manuring, founded upon the probable loss
of ammonia caused by the exposure ofde-
caying manures upon the surface Of the
earth. But this loss has been shown by
sound reasoning, and by facts deduced
from practical experience, to be much
less than was commonly apprehended;
while the benefits arising from surface
manuring, in other respects. more than
counterbalance any possible loss of am
monia from this practice.
II manures are exposed upon the sur
face of the earth, even in hot weather, de-
composition no longer goes on so rapidly
as when the same manureS are kept in
heap, and the ammonia that is produced
is gradually carried into the soil by rains.
The other soluble substances, such as
potash, lime, the phosphates, &C., are OF
course not lost. because they are not
volatile. Soluble and valuable substances
are not lost to plants by being carried in
to the soil before they are needed by
growing plants. 1t has been shown by
eminent scientific authorities that any
good soil, containing fair proportion Of
clay and carbon, is capable Of taking up
and retaining effectually ammonia, lime,
potash, soda, &C.. in soluble form. SO that
little, if any, passes off in the under-drain-
age water of such soils.
These substances, it is true, may wash
from the surface, but they cannot pass
through good soil and 60 off in the
drainage water. The ground is mulched,
and rendered cooler in summer and
warmer in winter by surface -manuring.
A piece Of soil shaded by surface manur-
ing actually decomposes, like a manure
heap, that is, it undergoes sort of putre-
faction or chemical change. which sets
free its chemical constituents, unlocks, as
it were, its locked up manurial treasures,
and fits its natural elements to become the
food of plants. The conditions which are
required for vegetable and mineral de-
composition are produced in the soil by
surface-manuring. When the surface
manure decomposes, its elements are
washed into the soil in a state Of solution
precisely fitted to meet the wants of
plants, and they become themselves active
agents in promoting further decomposition
and chemical changes in the entire body
of the soil.
We should manure chiefly upon the sur
face, and not waste our manures by mix
ing them deeply with the soil. We should
plant shallow, and keep the roots of all
trees, plants and vines near the surface.
The soil should be deep and dry. but we
should plant shallow. as near the surface
as possible. We should top-dress our
grass land after moving in July or August.
All manure laid upon the ground should
be spread as soon as it is pulled out of the
cart, for it is sure mark of
slovenly farmer, to see manure re-
main unspread in field, unless it be
in the winter months. At that time the
injury sustained by losing few days is
not great, though as a general rule it
will be found that the expense is always
smallest when the cart is regularly fol-
lowed up. The great object, after . reg
ular and economical distribution, is to
shake and part the whole completely. as
by minute attention to this circumstance,
4 much greater effect is necessarily pro-
duced The farmer can top-dress his
grass land in July or August, under a
burning sun; in the fall, before and dur
ing the autumn rains, he can manure his
grass land; while snow is on the ground
while March winds blow, and while April
rains fall. he can manure his grass land
at any time when he has manure and
leisure. and he will be abundantly salts
fled with the result. 1t is not good policy
for fruit-growers to fill their soil with
manure before they plant trees, grape
vines, &c. Plant in good natural soil
and manure from the surface, spring and
fall, literally and properly, then far great
er success will be derived than If planted
in holes and trenches filled with manure
as has formerly been the customs. Sarface
manuring and mulching are the true
conditions for fruit-growers.
Udichrn0n and RpH7cfo,.