Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1879-08-20
Spreading Manure.

A great amount of labor may be saw
ed by spreading manure directly from
the wagon or cart in which it is drawn
into the field. This is not the only ad-
vantage, as in this way the manure may
be scattered much more evenly over the
ground. When it is thrown of into
heaps, there always will be spots lett
without il and other places, where the
heaps were, which will be too rich; the
gram Is apt to lodge on these places or
to fall down, from too rank a growth,
and on the spots between the heaps, II
will be poor. When thrown from the
load it can be carefully distributed and
the places where it is most needed re-
ceive an extra sprinkle, so that the crop
will grow evenly and, If seeded with
grass seed, there will be a good catch
all oyer the field, which cannot be the
case when the manure is placed in heaps
and spread from them. 1t IS a good
plan to get the manure on, and into the
soil as rapidly as possible, and this can
be done betterby spreading directly from
the load. Every rain washes 1t IN then
lust where it is wanted, and when the
blow or harrow comes along, it is COW
cred up so that all of the plants can
reach it. AS manure is most valuable
while decaying, it Is best to bring II IN
contact with plants as soon as possible,
hence it is best to clear the barn yard
in the spring and let the growing crops
have the benefit Of the decOmposlng pro-
cess, rather than the barnyard where II
is not needed, and the atmosphere which
will carry its good effects 20 the neigh>
bors, crops as we'll as to our own.
If auy manure is left IN the yard after
spring. it should be heaped up and a
sprinkle of plaster-gypsum-appiied
about once in week to prevent the
escape OF the manurial gases. The plas'
ter fixes or holds the ammonia 80 that
it is not lost. The pile should be torked
over occasionally, and wetted to prevent
burning. When manure heap is lett
to decompose and ferment without STIR
ring or forklng over, it is certain to bum
and be materially damaged. IL is well
to mix plaster all through the heap. A
ton of plaster used up in this manner
will make a compost, or a manure heap
the enhanced value of which will DC
worth far more than the cost OF the
plaster. Dirt, weeds, and almost any
sort OF refuse, may be added to the ma
nure heap, and the heat OF 1t VIII XIII
the seeds of weeds or cause them 10
grow so that by the time it may DC
wanted for use on the wheat ground,
they will be harmless. Manure leit
scattered over the barn yard during inc
summer is almost worthless, as IL Is
leached of much Of its value, and de-
prived OF a good deal more by the con-
slant evaporation going on all through
the hot weather. Dry earth Will an
swcr very we'll IN place OF plaster 10
arrest evaporation, and by autumn IL
will have become, by being mixed WIN
the manure, as valuable as 1t. Muck
will not take the place OF plaster or OF
dry earth for thi, purpose, but it is good
most excellent to absorb the Juices
con tanned in the manure or flowing from
the stables. The muck, if made per-
fectly dry, would absorb ammonia, but
not equal to plaster or dry earth. Sand
is not good 1t should be loan: Sandy
loan would do very well, but clear loan
is the best. The soil of roadsides may
furnish supply.