The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1888-02-04
ABOUT MANURING. :
Tho Use of Comm ercial Fertilizcrs and the
PlOWlng Under Of Clover.

Flowing Under OF Glover.
In opening this article 1 submit these
general propositions: First, to grow
crop of any kind profitably it is neces-
sary to have sufficient plant food in the
coil in an available form to produce
maximum crop. Second, this may be
attained by the application of manure
or commercial fertilizers, or, on soils
which have plant food in an unavail.
able form in the subsoil, clover plowed
down will have the same effect Glover
is wonderful renovator of the soil.
am not of the opinion, however. that it
adds any fertilizing material to the soil,
but renders available that which is in
the soil, and pumps up the plant food
in the subsoils. I am in favor OF
making, saving and applying all the
manure that can be made upon the
farm, and believe in sowing clover
upon all tillable land where it is bene.
fit to the soil.
l am in favor of ''green manuring"
80 far rs it can be practiced advanta-
geously. The trouble with barnyard
manure is that there is never enough.
The trouble with clover and green ma
nnre is, that while they are good so far
as they go. they do not go far enough
on naturally thin soils to amount to
much in the way of fertilizing the soil
for crop without the previous applica.
ton of manure or commercial fertil.
izers. 1 think, therefore, that CONNER
cial fertilizers have come to be neces-
sity in this section of country, especially
in the growing of wheat, oats and
grass. I believe in carefully husband
ing all the manure we can make.
also believe it is economical and good
farming to apply this on land to be put
in corn, potatoes and other crops that
arc to be planted in spring, and use
commercial fertilizers ON wheat and
oats. Those who have soil on which
fertilizers can be used with success will
find it to their advantage to follow this
course. OF course every farmer must
be his own Judge. according to location,
soil, etc., but l speak of farmers situa-
ted similarly to those in this section of
country. We are distant from any
large city and must therefore depend
on general farming. submit some
figures to show the correctness of posi-
ton:
The expense of hauling and spread
ing barnyard manure is big thing.
Besides in the busy part of the season
it is q slow process. My estimate is
for 26 two horse wagon loads per acre.
do not know what it costs others, but
have carefully estimated the time for
team and hands ut different times and
on an average it costs in labor 80 cents
a load or $3.50 for rs loads. Some of
it has to be hauled half mile, and
some, of course, but short distance.
Four hundred pounds Of best fertili-
zers at $1.7O per 100 lbs. cost $3.50;
hauling it cts. per 100 lbs, is 20 cents;
applying it at 80 cents per acre is so
cents; making "a total of $3.50. In
other words it costs as much to apply
the manure after it is made a. it does
to buy, haul and apply 400 lbs. of the
best commercial fertilizers. That is
not all. The fertilizer will produce
double the amount of wheat, and just
rs much grass II it is left for meadow.
My plan is to haul out the manure
directly from the barn (without COM
posting) to the field on which expect
to plant corn or potatoes, during the
fall, winter and early spring. and
spread it upon the sod Mt the rate of 20
to 80 tons per acre. Iplow this sod 8
inches deep for corn or potatoes. BY
means of shallow plowing aud good
cultivation l get the full benefit of tho
manure. l think it u good plan to fol-
low corn with oats and apply from 200
pounds to 800 pounds of Quick-aoting
standard fertilizer Follow tho oats
with wheat. with 800 to 400 pounds Of
standard fertilizer meal. (or meal and
superphosphate mixed) and sow to
timothy in the fall and clover in the
springfor meadow. or II desired SOW
blue and orchard grass with timothy
for permanent pasture. Avoid The use
Of acid fertilizers containing Carolina
rock II the After management OF the
fields is correct, thnk no one will
have reason to regret the investmeu.
| ~ @. Edgertois, IN Ohio Farmer.