The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1888-02-09
ASOUT MANURING,
Tho Use of Commercial Fertilizers and the
Flowing Under o: Clover.


In opening this article | submit these
general propositions: First, 70 grow 4
crop of any kind proftabIy it is necrs-
sary to have sufficient plant GOOD in the
soil in an available form to produce 4
maximum crop. Second, this may be
attained by the application Of manure
or commercial fertilizers. or, on soils
which have plant food in an unaYail-
able form in the subsoil. clever plowed
down viii have the same effect. Clover
is Il wonderful renovator of the soil. l
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. l 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 q bene-
lit to the soil.
am il favor of "green manuring''
so far Us it can be practiced adyanta-
geously. The trouble with barnyard
manure is that there is never enough.
The trouble with clover and green ma
niire Is, that while they are GOOD so far
as they 90, they do not 90 far enough
on naturally thin soils to amount 20
much in the way OF fertilizing the soil
for crop without the previous applica-
ton of manure or commercial fertil-
izers. think, therefore, that CONNER
cial fertilizers have come to be I neces-
sity in this section of country. especially
in the growing of wheat, oats and
grass. | believe in carefully husband
ing all the manure we can make.
also believe it is economical and good
farming to apply this on land 10 be put
in corn, potatoes and other crops that
are to be planted in spria@. and Use
commercial fertilizers oD wheat and
oats. Those who have soil on which
fertilizers cen 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 situ,-
ted similarly to those in this section of
country. We are distant from any
large city and. must therefore depend
on general farming. l submit some
figures to show the correctness of posi-
ton:
The expense of hauling and spread
ing barnyard manure is 4 big thing.
Besides in the busy part of the season
it is slow process. Ny estimate is
for % two horse wagon loads per acre.
do not know what it costs others, but
l have carefully estimated the time for
team and hanls ~ different times and
on an average il costs in labor 81 cents
q load or $3.50 for % loads. Some OF
it has TO be hauled half mile, and
some, of course. but u short distance.
Four hundred pounds OF best feriili-
zers at $1.70 per 10) lbs. cost $3.50;
hauling it ) cts. per 10O lbs. is y cents;
applying it at 50 cents per acre IS 30
cents; making total of $3.50. In
o.her words it costs as much 20 apply
the manure after it Is made a it does
to buy. haul and apply ADO lbs. of the
best commercial fertilizers. That i,
not all. The fer,iiizet. will produce
double the amount of wheat. and just
as much grass if it is left for 4 meadow.
My plan is to haul out the manure
directly from the barl (without COM
pos.ingJ 10 the field on whicl i expect
to plaut corn or potatoes, daring the
fall. winter and early sPring. and
spread it upon the sod ut the rate Of -
to 80 tons per acre. blow this sod D
inches deep for corn or potatoes. By
means of shallow blowing and good
cultivation / get the full benefit OF the
manure. think it good plan to fol-
low corn with oats and apply from 300
pounds to 800 pounds Of quick-acting
standard fertilizer. Follow the oats
with wheat, with 800 to 100 pounds of
standard fertilizer meal, (or meal and
superphosphate mixeO and SOW to
timothy in the fall and clover in the
spring for meadow. or if 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. think no one will
have reason to regret the investment.
IL c. EdgertoD, tD Ohio FarHlS.