The Portland daily press., 1878-04-29
Applying Manure in Spring.

1t is becoming well understood among intel
ligent farmers, that manure has greater effic-
iency in its action if spread in the fall, espec-
tally If the soil contains due portion of clay
to act as an absorbent. The rain and melting
snow which dissolve the soluble portions, diff
fuse them among the particles of soil more in
timately than could be done by any mechan-
ical process, 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 theopinion
that manure spread in autumn on sod intend
ed for corn in spring, is at least doubled in its
benefit to the crop, as compared with ordina-
~ spring application. Next TO autumn, the
best time is to draw out and spread it in win
ter as it is manufactured, saving the labor du-
ring the pressure of spring work, and doing no
harm to the ground by passing heavy loads
over it while frozen. The liability of loss by
washing off the surface has been found in
practice to be very small, for as soon as the
weather is warm enough to melt the snow or
give rain, the surface of the soil has thawed
enough to absorb the fertilizing portions of
the manure. We have never found the wash
of manure placed in heaps or hillside, to
extend ten feet, judging from the luxuriant
growth and green appearance of the grass.
But farmers cannot spread all their manure
In autumn and winter, and there is always
more or less for spring crops. 1t is impor-
tant that this be applied in such manner as
to produce the best results. 1t is too common
to leave it in Jumps over the surface, and then
turn it under with the pillow without any fur
Their attention. If the season happens to
prove moist, the soil will absorb portion in
irregular spots. If the summer is dry, these
Jumps OF 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 be used to pulverize and intermix the
manure thoroughly all through the soil. This
cannot be done on soil before blowing, and it
is therefore of little value to the corn crop, al
though much will depend on finely pulverz-
ing and spreading it evenly over the surface,
IL VIII usually be found better to spread the
manure after the sod is inverted, then break
it fine with a smoothing harrow which never
tears up the sod, and afterwards mix it thor.
oughly with two or three inches ofthe ton soil
by free use of Shares harrow or other i'm
plement performing similar work.
If manure is applied to stubble ground.
there will be less difficulty in effecting thor
ough intermixture. The repeated use of the
harrow performs the double operation of puI-
verizing the manure and Incorporating it thor.
oughly with the particles of the soil. One i'm
portant 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 pull
verified and intermixed, possesses nearly all
the advantages of old and rotted manure, even
for delicate garden crops.
Great progress has been made of late years
by many of the farmers of this country, in the
increase of their manure heaps by carefully
saving all the accumulations, and others paw
annually large sums in its purchase. More
attention to its application and thorough
diffusion through the soil, would in MANY in.
stances double its effects, and the cultiya TO,
who values his annual supply at five hundred
dollars, might by special effort in the dir &c
ton we have indicated, advance its real value
TO eight hundred or thousand dollars
Country Gentleman.