The Russellville Democrat. [volume] (Russellville, Ark.) 1875-1898, 1888-04-12
SOUTHERN AGRICULTURAL.
Applying Manures.


We advocate fall manuring where IL
is go lie served to the land by broad
casting, If over firm sub-soil. but
not till in the spring If on gravelly or
sandy soils. or sub soils Of this nature.
Neither is il waste TO manure thus,
or in excess Of the crops, unless on
open or sandy soils. But it is not
usually the best economy 10 make
heavy applications, except 10 bring up
worn-out lands. in excess Of the crop
demand For with the farmer as with
the merchant. he wants quick returns
on his invest ments; therefore, he should
apply just what he thinks the crop
needs. and this over as much ground
as can be wen cultivated. If
too much fertility is gained by
excessive manuring and the season is
moist and favoring large growth.
grain crops may be injured by this
overlooking the plant There is
forced an extra growth Of vine, stalk
and straw. which usually falls down,
and the seed is thus prevented from
properly filing and maturing We
once sowed TO wheat piece of ground
that had been the feeding place for
stock Of various kinds for years, their
droppings rotting and mingling with
the soil and which had never been
cultivated till prepared for this wheat
crop; the result was an extra0rdin airy
crop Of straw-the stalks in many
places grew to a height Of seven feet
and not over twelve bushels Of me-
dunn fine wheat to the acre. The
field was taxed, following that with
two successive crops Of tobacco, then
again sowed 10 wheat, without add
tional manuring. save little put In
the hill of the last crop The wheat
turned out far better than the first,
yielding near = twenty bushels per
acre,
An excessive quantity Of manure
put in the hill. for instance, say peck
Of hen-manure in the hill for melons.
and. if q moist season follow. an ex-
cess of vines with little OF no fruit
will be the result But inc rporate the
same manure with the soil some weeks
previously, then spoonful or two of
the manure in the hill. and there will
be not only thrifty vines, but an
abundance Of fruit rs we'll
As manures made on the farm are
Of very unequal values. they should be
thoroughly mixed together before APP
plying to the land OF to the crops; that
is, in other words. the manures should
be conn osted together. Some ma
nures are very rich in one element
and some In others, and for the
most part, the richer the elements
contained the less bulky they are, as,
for instance, hen manure; and. on the
contrary, the more bulky the less
value in fertility. And it is difficult
to apply the less bulky rich manures
economically To land; hence it is adj
visable 10 compost them with the more
bulky. such as barnyard manures.
The rich elements will soon leayen the
entire heap. and thus the richer ma
nure can be evenly distributed over a
larger surface than ii could be il in
smaller bulk; otherwise. Zoo, the poor
est manure might be cast upon the
poorest land. where the richest is
needed.
AS to applying manure in the hill.
this method. we think agreeable to
our own experience, is not safe as a
general rule. 1t is better that the
manure used on all crops should be
thoroughly mixed with the soil rather
than in the hill, especially if in guam
tity or in Jumps, for it soon dries out
when the rains stop; then it injuries
rather than benefits the crop. And,
besides. some manures are too strong
for young plants. They do not need
so much nourishment at the start; but
when they have attained considera Bile
size, and have sent out rootlets all
through the soil then plant-food is
demanded in abundance, and. il it
has been thoroughly Incorporated with
the soil. it will be found and taken up.
- Cor. Southern CteItiUdtor.