Connecticut western news., 1883-04-11
Applying Manures.

time the tendency seems to be toward more even distribution throughout the soil. It was thought by applying the manure in the hill the greatest amount of plant food would be available for the crop then put under cultivation, since the plant would not be obliged to send out its roots at long distance after it's supply, and thus exhaust itself in root growth.
 My theory is, and has been, that this is not fact, but the greatest results are obtained by an even distribution of ma- nures to the soil, and the experience of farmers confirms my views.
 If manures are applied in the hill ill it's decomposition, it comes in contact with but a small portion of the soil. Now. the mineral elements of the plant that come from the soil are mainly in an insoluble condition, but by the decompo- sition of the manures applied those par | ticles which come in contact with the de composing manure are decomposed and brought into soluble form for the plant, so that the greater number of par I ticles of these elements which can be brought in contact with the manure the greater will be the supply of these ele- ments in soluble form. Hence, by an even distribution throughout the soil, this being true, the greater will be the amount of valuable plant food.
 One object in having the manure in the hill, they say, was to give the plant an early start. Let us examine little further into this part of the subject, and see if it gives the best results throughout the season. None doubt but what 1t gives the early start to the plant; and thus far the result is good, but does the growth continue as well until it's matu- rity as in case of an even distribution throughout the surface soil (by surface soil I mean to depth of from six to twelve inches, according to its nature)? Now, when the manure is all in the hill the greater portion of the roots only push themselves into this place, as has been found by actual experiments with plants in jars and the fertilizers placed in different parts; and here they send roots, which at once begin the absorp- tion of the plant food found in the ma nure, and of the mineral elements which are in juxtaposition and in a soluble form, but as only those particles which come in contact with the manures are to any great extent made soluble, the SUD- ply is soon exhausted, and although the plant may continue to grow and mature, yet it certainly will show the need of these mineral elements. and its yield cannot be as great as though they were supplied.
 Only the new and growing portions of the roots absorb nutriment to any appre- ciable extent, and many of these roots become useless in absorption before the plant food surrounding them is all ab- sorbed still the new roots may push themselves into the same region, but they find only the plant food which the manure contained and had the manure been evenly distributed, the roots would continue to push off into the soil, and would take up the plant elements, both those contained in the manure and in the soil, as it comes in contact with them, and by the time the roots become non- absorptive the available plant food has become absorbed, and the new growth is ready to take up the plant food as il advances through the earth. So again we see here the necessity of an even dis, tribution throughout the soil.
 Another great evil we find arising from placing the manure in the hills is the lack of proper supply of water, especi ally in times of drought. We see thai the roots have penetrated but short distance into the soil, so that when the dry weather comes its supply is cut off the great mass of its roots being so neal the surface, and if the drought continues the roots have not sufficient moisture to enable them to penetrate below the dry stream.
 Now, had the manure been properly distributed, the roots would have beer found deep i'll the soil at the beginning of the drought, and, as they felt the neet
 of more moisture, would have begun to penetrate deeper into the earth if a nor,
 abundant supply before the supply il their strata had become exhausted, anl
 thus would have survived the drought : And once more we see great need fo
 thorough distribution of manures. Then, to sum up the advantages to b' derived by an even distribution of ma nures through the soil, we have:
 } First-By an even distribution of we'll pulverized manures it is brought in con 5 tact with the greater number of particle } of soil possible, and in its decomposition l it converts large amount of insolubl
 mineral elements into soluble element s ready and necessary for the greates g growth and maturity of the plant. e Second--The roots penetrate into tn 6 soil more thoroughly, and thus secure e greater supply of the necessary plan q food, and hold the plant much firmer. ] Third-The roots have penetrated be l. low the surface soil, and are not S 0 severely affected by drought. . l, Inaiaae Farmer.
 What They Do Not Say.