The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1882-05-19
Care Of Manure.

Not less important than the making
and procuring of this important ele-
ment in farming or trucking, is the
care to be taken with it after 1t is OBJ
tanned. A large proportion Of the
manure upon some farms is allowed to
waste simply through neglect ; this too
after great labor and expense is in
Cured in its making or procurement
This neglect may not be wilful one,
but it may be the result of custom
peculiar to every community, or it may
be from ignorance of a few simple
rules governing the management of
manure.
We have repeatedly seen large heaps
of coarse manure piled in front of sta
BILE doors and allowed TO remain un-
disturbed, waiting the owners con-
venience for hauling and spreading the
same, or worse still to applying for hill
and drill. In the meantime 1t will
have gone through fierce heat and
become fire fanged to such an extent
as to be of very little value compared
with what it might have been if prop
erly cared for in time. Again we have
seen such as was brought from distan-
ces at great labor and expense, sub
jeted to equally bad treatment. The
trucker, least of all, is able to suffer
this loss, though none can afford it.
We are convinced by expert
ence and observation that great
loss annually occurs to farmers from
failing to follow a few simple rules for
the care of manure. We have all
read or heard of the superiority of
manure made and kept under cover,
which we are not going TO call into
question here, but every one has not
the facilities for keeping it under cover
besides, the trucker who uses large
quantities, wants it put where it will
be most convenient to get at when
needed for applying in hill or drill.
One thing is very clear, fresh manure,
whether under cover or exposed, needs
constant turning with the fork until
fermentation begins to subside. We
believe in encouraging this heating and
fermentation when it can be properly
controlled, but if neglected too long it
will be the source OF much loss in
manure. If the manure be coarse and
dry it is best to mix with some good
compost, but this should not be in
such quantity as to prevent heating or
fermentation from going on. So treat
ed and occasionly forked over, little or
40 loss will be sustained by the escape
of ammonia.
Where compost is not to be had it
is we'll when in turning to take up
earth from the ground beneath the
pile and mix WITH it, covering the heap
with several inches of the same. This
helps to keep the heat and gases with
in, and if the heapis turned every few
days until well rotted and fermentation
ceases, it will keep in good condition
until wanted in the spring. The heap
should be left high enough to prevent
teaching by rain or snow. This in
moderate allowances we consider
benefit rather than injury, for all that
is held by the advocates of keeping
manure under cover.
We have but little faith in the prac-
tice of hauling fresh, unfermented ma
nure from the stable or barnyard and
spreading upon the land, for the
reason that it is then in a raw unde-
composed condition, and not in
a state ready for assimilation
by any crop. Besides, if the ma
nure be coarse, large part is lost to
the immediate crop, and requires time
for its natural decomposition. This
decomposition or preparation for plant
food goes on quickly if it is allowed to
ferment before applying; besides, the
formation of such gases and chemical
changes give additional value to ma
nure. AS an illustration we have but
to notice the little effect of fresh ma
nure dropped about the field or pas
lures upon the surrounding vegetation
as compared with an equal quantity
applied when well rotten.-Maryland
Farmer.