Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-08-21
Dailp ker,nther 3ournal.
Management of Manure.

The management of manure in summer in
wolves many difficulties not encountered dur
ing the colder season. Farmers are usually
too busy with the press of work during the
active season to give much thought to the
manure heap. Yet it is during the warmer
months that fermentations is most rapid and
the losses from evaporation most severe,
Every particle of fermenting manure is con-
stantly wasting volatile nitrogen, which is
the most stimulating fertilizer for farm crops.
This fermentation dminishes the bulk Of the
manure heap and undoubtedly imparts to
that which remains more soluble character,
yet it is commonly done at loss which the
farmer cannot afford, especially as it can be
avoided through care and judgement.
Many good farmers dodge these difficulties
by turning under the bulk of coarse manure
made in the winter and allowing it to fer
ment in the soil. This is not an especially
bad practice, provided the manure is free
from weed seeds and the season is moist
enough to continue the fermentation when
once begun. We have frequently, however,
seen coarse, strawy manure plowed under so
late IN the season that il would be upturned
by the pillow the subsequent fall. and, of
c urse, in such eases it could not have be,-
eftted the crop, but has rather worked an in-
jury. With a heavy and naturally moist soil
tHis udIsei Is itSstHtu, anu ls ItuuCtu al
most to nothing by blowing under green herb
age of some kind to hasten the decay of the
dryer particles of straw. There is sound
philosophy for the common practice of farm
ers in drawing their coarsest manure on
clover sod to be plowed under for the grass
feeding corn crop.
1t is often important to manure other crops
than corn, especially wheat, which is most
benefited by top dressing of fine manure
when sown. We have often thought the win
ter wheat crop upon those farms where that
crop is largely sown was the best place for
applying the bulk of manure made on the
farm. To do this it must be composted dur
ing summer in order to he in proper mechan-
ical condition and to destroy the seeds of
weeds. 4 he application Of mineral fertiliz-
ers will help the grain crop, but to secure
good clover catch there is nothing so helpful
as fine manure. We have often noticed the
growth OF clover plants sheltered while young
behind the smallest PARTICLES of manure, and
evidently drawing their support from the fer
tiliZing properties thus washed down into the
soil. When we consider how essential
strong growth of clover is to good farming we
can well believe that as large a proportion a.
possible of the manure made should be given
TO the crop with which clover seed is sown
1t is while young that the clover plant most
needs stimulating fertilizers. After few
months growth its roots penetrate SO deeply
that it can forage for itself. We have often
applied fine manure to young clover a few
months after seeding, but its best effects were
never visible until the clover sod was plowed
up the following season.
Two evils are encountered in preparing a
compost heap for wheat. Too rapid fermen-
taton causes burning of the centre, and the
same cause wastes the ammonia by evapora-
ton. Covering the compost heap with very
thin coating of dry earth will instantly stop
the latter waste.
1t is necessary to throw several loads of
earth over compost heap, as is often done.
Two or three, or i'll some cases but one inch,
is enough for that purpose. If the farmer
has time to draw more earth it will be more
effective scattered through the center of the
heap to prevent excessive heating. Sods cut
from the roadside are the best, and if cut
while wet with rain are all the more valuable
There is much ferilizing material in sods
from the roadside, and the heating they get
in the compost heap makes them available,
besides destroying the roots of grass and
weeds.
One of the most important points in making
compost heap is to mix the different kinds
of manure together The manure from
horses is too heating to be kept in piles by
itself at any season Of the year. 1t is good
plan to mix with it manure from the COW
stable, the hog pen and the hen house. II
covered occasionly with little fresh earth
the heap will be finely rotted by fall, and be
proportionately rich according to the ma
terials used.
With some care in saving the excrement
Of cattle and horses during the summer
great deal of manure may be made, even if
the barnyard has been thoroughly cleaned in
the spring. 1t is the lack of attention to the
home manufacture of manure that has caused
the loss of fertility which farmers are now
compelled to replace by high priced phos
pilates and guano. No farm can long be sue
cessfully run on which the manure made upc n
the farm itself does not constitute large pro
portion Of what is needed to grow the crops.