Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-03-12
Farm and Household.
Wien and How to Apply Stable Manure.

WhSl dnn nVH " hpplI Oldple mohuie'
Stable manure is a heavy, bulky
material and in applying it to our
land we have to handle a large
amount of water and other ma
terial Of comparatively little value,
in order to apply enough Of the
essential elements for abundant
crops. And when we have much
Of it to handle, especially if we
have to draw it far at the busy
season of planting, or over soft
land in wet weather, we find it a
tedious job; and often planting is
considerably delayed by the time
required to get the manure spread
upon the land. Hence, when and
how to apply it in the most eeonl-
cal manner, iS a matter Of no little
Importance. The winter or early
spring, while the ground is frozen
Is, for several reasons, a very favor
able time for hauling out manure.
Every farmer shall endeavor to
keep his help and teams as indus
triously employed as is reasonable
during the whole year, and all jobs
which can as well be done during
winter, should be attended TO at
that time. Hauling out stable ma
nure seems to be one of these jobs,
which cannot only be done as well,
but much better, in winter, when
the ground is frozen, if snow is not
deep, as at any other time OF the
year.
OF course this implies that the
barn cellar, or other places where
the manure is thrown, is sufficient
IN protected to avoid much frost IN
the manure, and provided with
doors that can be opened or closed
at any time. If drawn out during
winter, it not only furnishes work
for help and teams, which other
wise might not be employed, but
the ground being frozen solld'
and the teams in good heart,
they will then haul with ease loads
of double the size they could after
the frost is out Of the ground IN
spring, and especially over the
land which, after the frost is out,
would be so wet and soft as to be
almost impossible.
We cannot afford to handle ma
nure more than is absolutely neces-
sary, and when we draw it to the
field we should put it where it is to
stay, either by spreading it direct
~ from the cart, or by putting it in
small heaps TO be spread before
they are soaked by rain or frozen
so they cannot be spread with
ease. We cannot afford, in ordi-
nary farm practice, to pile manure
in the field and then load it again.
But leaving manure in small heaps
on the field during winter | con
slider one of the least convenient
ways Of managing it, and although
it is often done by good farmers,
vet it looks to me like a very shift
less practice. A much better way
is to spread it from the cart. This
is not the best, but it is the easiest
way Of handling it. When spread
in this way the soluble parts will
be soaked by the rains evenly into
the soil, Just where they are need
ed, and not in spots, as they would
DO if left long in small heaps.
Many fear that, if manure is lett
spread on the surface for any
length Of time, it will waste by
evaporation but l am satisfied,
by a careful study Of the scientific
aspect Of the case, as we'll as by
my own observation, that there is
no appreciate loss in this way by
the exposure of unfermented ma
uure, and that the only possible
loss Of any amount is by washing
OF from very hilly land, when the
ground is frozen, and that this loss
IS seldom great.