Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1884-07-31
Preserving Manure.

IS ne yafU0 OF manure ~aGep6n da upon
the manner in which it is preserved and
the ,,uality of the material from which
it is created. No two manure heaps
are alike in composition, nor are the
results from manure nniformSas MANY
suppose. Farmers may not ALWAYS be
in a position to control the quality of
tho feed they allow,sbut whether it be
Sb8d or bad IL is Important that all
manure be carefully preserved in order
that it may benefit the crops and en-
rich thessoil. On nearly all farms the
Manure and litter are throw4 Ii a heap
IN the barnyard, the cornsiaikss and
straw being added to increase the bulk,
and to assist in absorbing the liquid
and volatile substances.
1t is a well-known fact that no ma.
nure can supply plant food until it I'M
dergoes change and returns to Its
primitive elements. In assuming its
first forms the original substances COM
1 bine, creating salts and volatile
matter. In the soil the salts decom-
pose and the volatile matter is either
absorbed OR assists in creating
salts. AS the manure mus undergo
these changes in the barnyard,s the
energy of the materials in assuming
new forms is made manifest by the
presence Of heat (which implies decdn-
position. but dscdnpositson is not
only the teaf1ng asunder@ of tne
atoms, but the creation of new
substances therefrom. In the crude
condition such materials as scornstalks
and straw are of no value until deco il
posed, as they are insoluble in water.
All plant food must become soluble to
be available. The object in heaping
the materials, or spreading them in the
barnyard to be tralnped, is to have
them become fine and thoroughly dis
integrated. Nature, through chemical
agency, by the interchange of atoms,
performs 81, her work IN a much better
manner than can be done artifcsally,
and the process of decay is the farmers
method of rendering materials for the
manure heap fine, soluble and ready
for use as plant food.
But while the manure is made fine
AID soluble it must not be overlooked
that the process is gradual one. and
Hence every rain that saturates the
heap carries downward the soluble
parts as fast aas The manure is decom-.
posed. The jet black liquid which
flows of. from the heap is the riches Of
t1fC 10, Ia 0utA s1S ~ PAhbCS q" - tuc
ready plant food which is dissolved in
it is. lost, leaving behind a mass of
matter. often supposed to be the most
valuable because of its bulk, but which
really is not worth the labor of hauling
to the fields. Unless the manure,
therefore, be carefully preserved il viii
be valueless. 1t should be prebected !,
from drenching rains and the influence !,
of the heat from the direct rays of the
sun. Plenty of absorbent material
shoulfbe added to absorb the volatile I
material. and water is beneficial TO the I
heap also. provided it does not drench
or flow of. 4 he. coarse material should
always be prepared by first beings
passed through n cutter, or made fine
in some other manner. rather than by
spreads in the barnyard to be
trampled. 10 should Also Be worked
over once in awhile in order to prevent
tire-sang frg This mar require addi-
tionaf labor, but the savinGof three
entiaI elementssof the manure viii be
more than COMPENSATION fH tho finae
50 expended. The prineip&f rules to be
observed are to .preyent loe5by rpsns.
Of volatile ia&tter 18th
moisture and absorbents. srendering the
manure fne,. and endeavorings to have
it thoroughly .decemposed. = Farm,
81 rcd k<xS