Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1878-05-09
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IL is becoming well understood
among intelligent farmers, tina, ma
nure has greater efficiency in its action
if spread in the fall, especially if the
soil contains due portion Of clay TO
act as an absorbent. The rain and
melting snow which dissolve the solu-
BILE portions, diffuse them among the
particles of soil more intimately Than
could be done by any mechanical pro-
gress, and the roots Of growing plants
derive all the benefit they are capable
of from this minute intermixture.
Many of our best farmers have long
since expressed the opinion that ma
nure spread in autumn on sod intended
for corn in spring, is at least doubled
in lis benefit 10 the crop, as compared
with ordinary spring application.
Next 10 autumn, The best time is to
draw out and spread it in winter as it
is manufactured, saving the labor du
ring the pressure of spring work, aud
doing no harm TO the ground by passing
heavy loads over il while frozen. The
liability OF loss by washing of the sur
face has been found in practice 10 be
very small. for as soon as the weather
is warm enough 10 melt the snow or
give rain, the surface of the soil has
thawed enough TO absorb the fertilizing
portion of the manure. We have new
er found the wash of manure placed in
heaps on hillside, to extend ten feet,
Judging from the luxuriant growth aud
green appearance of the grass.
But farmers cannot spread all their
"ut...... ..-, -. "a
there is always more or less for spring
crops. Ii is important that this be
applied in such manner as TO produce
the best results. Ii is too common to
leave it in Jumps over the surface, and
then turn il under with the pillow with
out any further attention. II the sea
son happens TO prove moist, the soil will
absorb portion iii irregular spots. Ii
the summer is dry, these lumps oil
manure tend TO increase the effect of the
drought, and sometimes in this way
the manure does more harm than good.
To exert the greatest benefit, every
means should he used to pulverize aud
intermix the manure thoroughly all
through the soil. This cannot be done
Oh soil before ploughiDg, and it is
therefore of little value TO the corn
crop, although much will depend on
finely pulverizing aud spreading it
evenly over the surface. Ii will usually
be found better to spread the manure
after the sod is inverted, then break ii
fine with a smoothing harrow which
never tears up the sod, and afterwards
mix it thoroughly with Two or three
inches of the top soil by free use OF
Shares harrow or other implement per-
forming similar work.
If manure is applied TO stubble
ground, there will be less difficulty in
effecting a thorough intermixture. The
repeated use of the harrow performs the
double operation of pulverizing the
manure and incorporating it thorough
Iy with the particles of the soil. One
important advantage which rotted
manure has over fresh, is the readiness
with which the double operation is
performed; but we have found that
fresh manure, if thoroughly pulverized
and intermixed, possesses nearly all
the advantages Of old and rotted man
nre, even for delicate garden crops.
Great progress has been made of late
years by msoy of the farmers of this
country, in the increase of their man
ure heaps by carefully saving all the
accommodations, and others pay annually
large sums in its purchase. More Al.
tention TO its application and though
diffusion through the soil, would in
many instances double its effects, aud
the cultivstor who values his annual
supply at five hundred dollars, might
by special effort in the direction We
have indicated, advance its real value
to eight hundred or thousand dollars.
-6osStyy Gcntlcman.