Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1879-08-06

Barley every year, years, % y
superphosphate, alone. - 'i7' -'>s
Superphosphate, and 100 IDS 49, o,,s
am spia salts. ........''..' NY 80
Superphosphate, and 400 loS. am ,os, a
fnonia- salts. .'s''''''- 80
referring first to the wheat, 1t Will
he observed that by the addition OF ZVV
lbs Of ammonia-salts per acre per
onrun, 70 the mineral manure, an ay-
.roOe increase of 9 bushels OF grain is
obtained. By the addition OF second
ono his in all 400 lbs. Of ammonia
salts. there is a further increase oil the
same amount; that is, nearly nine
bushels. By the addition OF third ZVV
lbs. in all GOO lbs. of ammonla'Salts'
there is a further increase OF only o.
instead of 9 bushels. In like manner
tb. first 200 lbs. of ammonia-salta give
o. the second II, and the third Only
abont 6k cwts. increase of straw. Now,
assuming that the application OF 4OO los'
of ammonia-salts was the limit OF high
farming with profit with wheat at Is.
ner bushel, cannot see how 1t could
he maintained, that further 200 lbs.
Welding little more than a third as much
increase as when used in more MOD
crate quantity, should be employed
because the price Of wheat was reduced
to IS per bushel. On the contrary, the
conclusion should draw from the re-
suits of these experiments Is, that the
application of the GOO lbs. OF ammonia
salts could only be profitable II the
price of wheat were TO rise instead OF
fall.
"Again, it will be seen that in the
case of the barley, the addition to super
phosphate of lime, of 200 lbs. OF am
monia.salts gave an average increase OF
nearly IA bushels, whilst by the addition
of a second 200 lbs, IN all 400 lbs. OF
ammonia-salts, a further increase OF
little more than four bushels was obtain
ed. 1t will be observed, however, that
whilst with the increase of IA bushels
of grain there was an increase OF only
- cwts. of straw, there was with the
further increase Of four bushels OF grain
an increase of 81 cwts. of straw, or 4
much larger proportion Of straw to gram
iu the increase by the second than in
that by the first 200 lbs. of ammonia
salts. 1t was, in fact, so evident from
the bulk. and the laying of the crop,
that 400 lbs. of ammonia-salts was an
excessive application, that, after its use
for six years, the experiment was
abandoned. Here, again, l think 1t
must be evident that it would be higher
and not lower prices, that would justify
the higher standard Of farming.
INFERENCEs.
"From the various results which L
have laid before you. you will have gath
cred that when farmyard manure is
used, and even, though in less degree,
when manure is deposited on the land
by animals feeding upon it, there is less
Immediate increase for given amount
OF constituents supplied, and more accu-
mutation within the soil, than when GER
tam artificial manures are employed
You must not suppose that, in bringing
this fact prominently to your notice,
wish in any degree to sepreclate lhe
importance of, so to speak, natural
manures. and to exalt that OF artificial
manures. The production, and the use,
of farmyard manure, are necessity
OF the general economy OF farm and
there must be the more Of it produced,
or at any rate the more OF animal
manures, the greater the amount OF
meat produced. Nor would it be posi-
Bile to rely mainly on artificial manures.
do think, however, that farmers gem
erally do not sufficiently recognise the
slowness of the action OF the natural
manures of the farm; and that, so tar
as they do so, they frequently even
look upon it as a merit rather than
otherwise, that 1t should be as they say,
more "lastipg." But slowness OF acS
ton means slowness of return for the
outlay: and this will be the greater,
the more excessive the amount OF the
manure applied. In my opinion, the
object 10 be attained, aud that which
have no doubt will characterize the most
successful farming OF the future, is 10
get as quick a return as possible tor the
outlay IN manures, whether natural or
artificial. This can only be fully &C
complshed with freedom in the growth
and salt Of that produce winch IS the
most profitable. the selection Of the
crops which are the most suitable 70 the
soils and seasons OF the locality, and the
demands OF the market, and such
iudicious adoption OF natural and artlh
cial manures to the crops TO be grown,
az TO obtain the maximum increase OIL
produce. with the maximum residue
lett unproductive in the soil, and sub
ject to loss by drainage and in other
ways.
TO SUM UP
in regard to this first branch of my
subject: 1t has been shown by refer
ence to the result Of experiments on
an ordinary four-course rotation with
different manures, in some cases cart
ing of the roots, and 10 others con;
an ming thern IN the land. that beyond ]