The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1875-02-12

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A correspondent OF the Country Gen.
tleman writes as follows The belief
is becoming general that manure is most
proftably applied for the crop o. for
the soil as a top dressing. The fine
anu in the farm-yards in August is
almost invariably used for q top-dress-
ing for wheat. But the coarser manure
is more generally drawn on ground in.
tended for corr in spring. and plowed
under. Then if the season is dry ii
sometimes remains unchanged at the
bottom of the .furroW, and gives little
benefit to the crop, as the roots will not
reach it, especially where the ground
has been deeply plowed. A quick,
early start is what corn needs to make d
vigorous growth. Top-dressing would
give this, if it yer practicable, which,
however, is not always the case with
coarse unfermented manure. There are
two dificulties-one in drawing heavy
loads of manure over newly.plowed
ground, often when the soil is fled with
water. The second is in properly pre-
pairing and planting fields covered with
coarse, strawy manure.
There are several methods of overcom!
ing these difficulties. Some of the corn
ground may be plowed in fall, and
manure spread over it from sleds when
covered with snow. Unless on d hill
side, there will be little loss from wash
ing away the manure by this method.
The fall blowing will be excellent for
the crop. A second plan is TO draw and
leave in heaps and spread these oyer the
ploWed surface as the field is plowed.
The third and altogether best plan is to
draw and spread as early in winter and
spring as possible, leaving snow and
spring rainsto dissolve the soluble parts
of the manure and incorporate them
with the soil. When pIowed in May,
most of the strength of the manure viii
be found leaked out Of it, and what ID
left will operate AZ q mulch TO keep the
ground moist and light. The anchor
ating dis well IL enriching effect of q
good coating OF manure, even if mostly
straw, will aatoniah any one who tries
it. Then pillow the ground thus MANFRED
very shallow. Four or five inches ID
sufficient on most soils. Using q joint
er, o very good seed-bed can often be
had by blowing only 8 IL inches. The
shallower the better, providing the sod
ID well turned under, especially q clover
sod. Shallow blowing for corn keeps
the manure near the surface, thus giving
the advantage Of top-dressing. The
manure is also nearly III contact with
the decaying sod. The fermentation
which speedily follows keeps the soil
warm and moist, and oorn grows much
more vigorously than when three or
four inches of cold sub-soi1 are turned
to the surface for q seed.bed. After the
manure and sod begin TO rot, generally
at the second time eultivaEing, have q
narrow c~ulkivator with long slanting
teeth which viii tear up the soil, decay
ing sod and manure as deep as plowed.
Much of The manure between the rows,
now mostly rotted, will be brought to
the surfaces while that under the hills
viii remain for the corn TO strike into.
This plan secures all the advantages of
t~op-dresaing with none Of its disad-
vantages. No ammonia ig lost, forthe
loose earth will absorb it, and the soIu.
BILE elements Of the manure are incor-
pOrated with the soil as they could be
by no other plan.
TIE DRESSED WEIGHT or ANIMALS,
Farmers, who have had but little ex
perienca ID feeding animals for the
market, are often disappointed because
their beef and pork doss not weigh as
much as they thought IL would. They
are likely % overlook certain points
which ought always 70 be taken into &C.
count when estimating the dressed
weight iii animals.
I. Age. An old animal VIII mot dress
~ much III proportion To it's looks ID d
young and growing one.
2. The degree 81 fairness. A creature
which Will Weigh i great deal mere
han ona equally Ii large, but which
has not been vell-tatened.
8. amount 81 grain which has been
ted. An animal which had twenty 81
thirty bushels Of meal viii dress much
heavier than one which was Id equally
good order when the fattaning was
commenced, and which may look
equally we'll when IL is finished, but
which has been fed only half ii much
meal.
4. Length of time ii which grain has
been fed. 4 creature which has been
mealed for I've az six months viii
weigh more than one which has had
about the same quantity Of meal, but
has been fed only half as long.
In All cases liberal and loug conkn-
ned feeding IS essential 70 The attainment
of any great success ID fattening AMI.
maIsOf any kind.
wINx1R PLANTING N RAJ SOUTH.
Many hardy plants Like wheat, oass,
barley, clover, the European grasses,
cabbage and turnips viii grow more or
less in February as veil Is MaEoh, it
they have esary advantage which our