The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1886-09-17

from the same amount Of crude manure
when exposed to free action of air and
water than when covered by the earth,
through but very lightly. | have long
entertained this opinion, though | do
not know how we'll founded it may be,
that, if the atmosphere does really con,
tribute anything toward plant growth,
manure upon the surface of the ground
is the most effective trap for catching
it, and that it acquires aid from that
source in its own complete digestion.
OF course, The best effect upon the soil
from surface manuring is produced
when the manure is keut SO moist as to
be constantly giving out its soluble ele-
ments in the drip. In the case under
consideration, the spread manure had
been for two months dissipating Its
plant food, which had been taken up by
the soil below it from the permsatlng
solution.
Meanwhile the manure in the heap
had lost more or less by evaporation
and fermentation. and gained nothing
from the atmosphere. In the one case
the greater part Of the plant food had
been made readily assimilable and dis.
tributed all through the soil, where
every rnntlct was able to find its due
proportion. The friable condition of
the soil was doubtless largely cue TO
the action of the manure as mulch,
but not wholly. No amount Of mulch
ing with clean material will render a
poor, tenacious soil friable, though, by
keeping it moist, it may render it less
resistant to the pillow, and more work
able generally. But when the mulch
consists of manure the whole effect is
materially different. The pores become
filled to greater or less extent with
the manure deposited by the water,
and the cohesive power of the particle
is reduced very considerably. Once
acted upon by the frost the surface
never again acquires the same unyield-
ing condition as before, but is disinte
grated and crumbled. Of course these
changes are very gradual; but not near
ly SO slow as one not accustomed to
carefully observing them would nat
urally suppose. I have had occasion to
reclaim some little pieces of almost i'm
permeable hard.pan, from which the
surface-soil had been removed in grad
ing my grounds, and have had an ad-
mirable opportunity for noting the
effects of different methods of treat
ment had my attention been called to
the subject in season to have gone at
the business Systematically. AS it is,
[ have no exact comparative data, but
much larger fund of opinion than of
proven facts to support my theories.
But to return to the second case In
this case the manure was applied in
crude, practically undigested state,
notwithstanding its frequent turning,
and mixed mechanically with the cold
soil, just when it was most needed to
give the crop good start. Flowing,
narrowing and cultivating the soil till
doomsday will not convert single par
ticle of the manure into plant food. 1t
may distribute it all through the soil
where the rootlets may find it, but it is
still unassimilable until acted upon by
some decomposing agent. Heat and
moisture are the agents we unscientifc
observers recognized as most important.
There is generally moisture enough in
the soil but very rarely heat enough to
accomplish this object. The result is
that only so much of the manure as is
brought to, or very nearly to, the sur
face actually becomes available food,
and that much slower than when more
exposed. We hear great deal said
about the teaching of the manure
through the soil 1t is good deal more
apt to leach out of the cold, damp SUBJ
soil than out of the more open, per-
mable surface soil. 1 might fill a whole
page of the Rural with accounts of OBJ
servations tending to confirm these con-
illusions but I trust 1 have written
enough to awaken lively discussion,
or to draw the fire of some wiser in
vestigator-O. S. BLISS, an Rural
| n