Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-12-03

AZ Msstlng % Grafton Grange, Novembsr
~, 1873. Topic "Manur-s and their
Application"

AZ = Meeting % Grafton Grange, November
IL, 1873. Topic "Manurss and their
Application"
s. ID. OOnant quoted the saying Of John
johnson: "Give mo all the manure want
and | can have everything l want"
Making and saving manureq is the most
important part Of farming. Our barns
should be provided with cellars and an
abundance of absorbents used. The manner
Of applying manure depends upon the Condi-
,iOn Of the soil if the soil is dry cover, if
moist top dress. Upon his farm ashes are very
valuable and he wOull strongly urge their
abundant use by others. He had used
superphOsphate with good results.
O. s. White. Upon our soils manure is
essential; with it We can raise good crops,
without 1t we can do nothing. The farmer
should increase the size aud value of bis
manure heap in every possible manner. His
practice is to draw out all his stable and
yard manure in the spring, applying it to his
hoed crops, using special fertilizers in the
hill to give the crop an early start. by this
method he finds superphospbate used at tho
rate Of one-half barrel per acre, to be of as
much benefit as a small shovel full Of rotten
manure applied to each hill. He uses the
manure accumulated in his yards, during the
summer, as top-dressing upon grass. Has
no barn cellar but thinks one would be worth
hlty dollars per year in the increased value
of manure. Finds ashes to be the cheapest
special fertilizer that he can use.
Il. G. Palmer thought, that in order TO
farm pro6tably on our sterile soils, we must
know how; must make all the manure posi-
bic, and apply il in the best manner. Grass
is our main crop. In growing more of il,
we should save both labor and manure.
Top-dressing is the best method of applying
manure to grass. Some of our lands con.
tain foul grasses. Such must be plowed,
manured and reseeded. Is not troubled with
superphosphate on the brain. 1t is worth
something for the 6rst crop, but is not last
ing. The same money expended for ashes
would purchase fertilizer which in the end
would yield much more satisfactory results.
W. A. Dean has planted corn and pota-
toes upon June grass sod, and found that
upon such soil the application of superphOs-
phate in the hill will yield as good returns
as well-rOtted yard manure applied in the
same manner. Receives but little benefit
from ashes upon bis soil.
Henry WOolloy thinks that the less super.
phosphate farmer buys the better he is of.
During the past season he manured his corn
in the hill with mixture of horse and hog
manure, to q small portion Of the field in
addition to the above he used superphosphate
using for the purposes Of experiment twenty.
Eve cents worth. The crop on the portion
thus treated exceeded the crop on an equal
portion not thus treated to the amount Of
four quarts Of ears of corn.
David Hitchcock has much benefited his
corn crop by the use of compost made as
follows three barrels Of ashes, two barrels
of hen manure, and five loads Of rotten ma
nure applying the above amount to one and
| one-half acres in the hill.
Comments by the Reporter.
The Importance Of using an abundance of
fertilizing material was enforced with EN-.
phssis. All felt the Importance Of securing
and applying oil the farm manure possible,
but were divided in opinion in regard to the
value of special fertilizers. Some had de.
rived very great benefit from the use of
ashes others could see no good resulting
therefrom.
Speakers were divided in regard to the
merits Of superphosphate. In Mr. Woolley's
experiment the conditions were such that a
failure was inevitable. Applying in the hill
a shovel.full Of the mixture Of well-rotted
hog and horse manure he had supplied all
the elements necessary to promote good
growth, in a farm Immediately available,
consequently the addition Of a portion Of the
same elements in the form of superphosphate
made no difference.
Mr. White applied a small portion of
superphospbate in the hill, on land heavily
dressed with raw stable manure, thus furnish
ing the young plant with available fertilizing
material sufficient to give it an early start
while the stable manure did its work later in
the season.
The conditions of Mr Deans experience
upon June grass sod which is deficient in
phosphates we're such as would be likely to
give the best results from the use Of super
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