Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-02-09
Commercial and Home-Made Ma
nures.


Mr.. +. X. Moreland. page 500,
says "the farmers Of this country are
far too economical in the use of fer
! tilizers.p This is true of manures
adapted TO the soil, while with others,
notably commercial fertilizers" Sc
rious loss has hitherto been sustain
ed, particularly with guano and the
supcrphosphates. The exception is
| gypsum, which has realized great
proht--not always, only with the
leguminous plants, which includes
the clovers. The grasses and the
grains have been much less benefited,
though on the whole, no doubt, yield
! ing more than the cost. The true
| secret is, to know what the land re-
quires; and this is one of the most
difficult things TO determine, in view
| Of the great variety of soils. and es-
! peclally in the absence Of experience
with the land. in which case much
guesswoTk must be done, and loss
suffered, before the needs Of the land
are understood.
There are special manures and
general manuTes. Greater difficulty
attends the successful application Of
the former than the latter, as it re.
/ quircs n knowledge Of the particular
I element lacking; knowledge not
I easily obtained. and even then there
/ Is not always tue success expected.
4 general manure (having all the
necessary elements of fertility would
have served the purpose as well, and
/ even better, unless the other elements
| were in abundance. Most OF our
land wants foil manuring rather than
special applications, ns - evident in
| the success with harnyard manure
and the turning down Of green crops
and sod, each Of which has a full
complement of the elements OF fertii.
| itv. What - not used i not lost, or
only TO slight extent. except in
soil Of leachy character. and par.
ticularly is it favorable for corn.
Wheat requires more conpactness Of
snil. In clay, manure is the great
requisite for all kinds OF products,
including wheat, which requires il in
a less degree. Nome &c the usual
concentrated manures ur commerce
can be made n substitute here. as the
mechanical part is the principal need.
This il met, and the fcrtilizing dc.
maud also, by vegetable or harnyard
manure. The more finely IL is dis.
tTibIVed through the soil. the better
Little f,af need he entertained as to
the loss OF fertilizing material 5y the
washing Of the rains or tive escape Of
ammonia, as it is held nv the fine
distribution Of tho hunus, il not in
excess. IL also favors moisture aud
the access OF air.
With all these aud other adyan.
tages, vegetable manure has this
further IL favor it. that IL may he
applied with benefit 20 all kinds Of
soil not Of peaty character, and.
unlike special manures, requires no
previous testing. 1t is reliable in all
cases, IL properly managed. and the
soil IL In good condition. a. must he
I the case with all manures. and the
more so with commercial fertilizers,
which lack the vegetable material for
the mechanical improvement of the
land. IL not all taken up by the
first crOp-the humus certainly can.
not be, and 1t is not desirable-what
remains may te considered as not
only safe, but developing new plant
food, and tie more so tle more
thoroughly and finely tie soil is
worked, which brings its properties
into new relations, ~ all of which
the carbOnaceuns material covers
wide range OF effects. We may
therefore rely upon this manure, Is
experiences has 50 long demonstrated. !
Oa Tue oL1er lIa,.d. Commercial
manaIes hate no SUCH T,cJTd ou
the contrary, much Loss has btys sus
tained, the entire iuyt stment some
tilues sunk, and here benefit result.
cd, II WIS usually a matter of degt,e,
seldom " ever reaching the full cost /
of the manure, tO tay nothing of
tA0hhs AAFNA NbNt NANN AAt 7
ments recently made, there Is little 1
increased value over the cost report. I
ef. Ii is not enough 10 know that !
manure increases the crop; the que,
tion is, whether 1t covers the cost 4
and leaves n profit. Has this been /
ascertained, aud in what soil or soils |
This must be done, aud In every va.
rieiy Of soil, and the tcst repeated in /
succeeding applications, dependence |
being made upon the result in an ex.
tended course Of years, as has been /
dOne 10 some extent, but certainly |
sith no such satisfactory results as
Il obtained by homemade manure.
As soon 40 farmers can be made /
70 depend upon tiieir home product
OF manuFe--Lv make end save ell |
they can--Ihsy will gind little need |