Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1888-03-29
NECESSITY OF MANURE.

NECESSITY OF MANURE.
Why It Should Be Literally Used Where
ever It May BE Needed.
If continued drafts are made from a
bank deposit with no additions being
made, it will in time become exhausted.
The soil is the farmers bank deposit OF
fertility from which he expects to make
drafts for the production of such crops
as he puts under cultivation. and SO
If he makes no additions to his bank
of fertility, it must suffer exhaustion
lust in the ratio to the demand upon it.
Without going into the discussion of
the exact composition of manures, it
is sufficient to say that all are COM
posed of certain mineral elements and
combined gases in different proper
tons. The gaseous elements are be-
lieved to come largely from the atmos-
phere while the mineral elements being
drawn from the soil are the
chief agents in causing dimin-
ished fertility. Now, if all plants OBJ
tain their mineral elements from
the soil. if they were restored to
the soil there would be loss, but a
healthy maintenance of fertility. But
crops are grown for different purpose,
viz, for sustenance of man and
animals, and upon which is their de-
pendence for the substances that en-
ter into their structure, and which arc
necessary for their continued exist
ence; SO, of what is consumed by man
and animals, there is a demand made
for carbon, oxygen. hydrogen and nj
trogen. besides a small percentage of
the mineral elements. We see. then,
that portion of vegetable substance
is held for the support and growth Of
the animal system, while the balance
voided as excrementitious matter. a
considerable proportion composing
what is denominated manure. Of the
solids in vegetable substances COM
paratively small proportion is retained
in the animal system. and so in reality
there would be no great loss if all the
excr ementitious matter resulting from
the use of vegetable substance could
be saved; the trouble is, that while
vegetable matter is largely consumed
by man, animals too become the food
of man, and in the cities and villages the
excrementitious portions are lost to
the soil from which the vegetable life
sprang
But there is strong necessity that
every portion possible be saved that it
may be available for returning to the
soil 1t is therefore the duty of every
farmer to practice the strlctest econo-
my in the saving of all fertilizing mat
ter that accumulates, that it may be
mixed with the animal manure and APP
piled where most needed.
We sometimes fail in our conception
of manure; we do not take in the idea
that every thing of the vegetable or
animal kind is SO much fertility when,
reduced to suitable condition; bones
when whole. although of little use to
growing crops. if reduced to a fine
powder, are so acted upon by the
moisture of the soil as to become
largely available as plant food, and it
is this condition of availability that
renders a fertilizer of greater or less
value, or is more or less effectual in its
action upon growing plants. So in the
case of purely mineral or chemical fer
tilizers--their value depends upon their
so.ubility. Substances possess differ
ent degrees of sclubility. In one
case it may be very rapid, while in
another it may be very slow. In
the case of most manures there is a
sufficiently rapid action in this line for
all ordinary requirements. But in
order to hasten the activity of coarse
substances, as well as manures them
selves. decomposition becomes neces-
sary. There is double advantage
where decomposition is carried
through in an economical manner; it
is rendered more soluble. and rem
dered more thoroughly pulverized. SO
us to admit of more even application.
For the above reasons some farmers
prefer to carry a years stock Of
manure. in order that it may be
and decomposed before
used. believing that an advantage
accrues therefrom. But this is ques-
since the mechanical effect
produced in some soils by the decom-
position of manure is of the greatest
Manures should be used literally
wherever needed, not only to culti-
waite crops, but to grass or moving
lands. Unless the practice is followed
Of taking up every few years, it is
well to appropriate portion of the
more thoroughly pulverized portion of
to moving fields. where its
effects will be very marked. and a
large addition made to the hay yield.
The motto Of every farmer should be
TO make all the manure possible. ap-
plying to his soil-M T. Observer.
Oatmeal Porridge.