Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1891-09-05
THE FARM AND FIELD.
INTERESTING SUBJECTS FOR
RURAL BEADING.
preservation of Manure--Plants
that Flavor Butter--HIlling Po-
tatoes--Depth of Good Soil.
Preservation of Manure.

gestiye information with regard to va.
rious kinds of fertilizers. Inthe pages
devoted to the barnyard manures
there are two or three sections relat-
ing to the fermentation OF such ma
nures, and the proper methods OF
caring for them to prevent the loss OF
iertalizing constituents. That there
is a vast amount OF indiiIerenee-not
to say ignorance--amo farmers with
regard to the losses they suffer in con
sequence Of the heating or teaching Of
their stores OF manure is too painfully
evident to those who have looked in.
TO the matter.
But the conditions under which
farming is NOW conducted ii this coun-
, try in all the older States, aud even
in many OF the newer sections, are
such that wiser methods are becoln-
ing imperative. Farmers cannot
longer afford to cart "the ghosts OF
their manure piles" as an English
writer expressed it, into their fields.
for the stored up fertility which gave
them fair crops in spite of the mock
cry Of fertilizing material they labor
lously applied to them is largely ex-
hausted. They must learn to hus-
band all their iertilizing resources
and utilize them to the best adyau-
tage IN order to maintain unimpaired
the iruitfulness OF their farms.
Ihe suggestions Of the agricultural
station bulletin are, therefore OF
great value, even il they seen. tfite to
those who have learned. wears AGO.
that waste in the BARNARD means
poverty in the barn.
There are two principal ways, it
says, IN which stable manures com
monty loses some OF its fertilizing CON
stltuents--iirst, by improper methods
OF fermentation, and, second, by
teaching. In regard to the first point.
more or less nitrogen is lost hy al
lowing manure TO ferment without
sufficient moisture; especially is this
apt to be true in the case of horse
manure, which decomposes very rap.
IDLY. strong odor coming from n
.aa%AsANAN AANtA " AAAlGNAAGH lilAL NsiEtellA I
fermentation is takingplace.
This source OF loss can be avoided |
by keeping the manure heap mosten- !
Cd with water or by sprinkling land |
plaster about the stables to be mixed 1
constantly with the Accommodations OF
by using dry earth as an absorbent. /
only nitrogen compounds can be lost /
by vaporlzation, BY teaching there /
VIII be a loss OF not only nitrogen
compounds, but OF potash and phos-
phoric acid also.
The common method OF storing
iarm-yard manure for several months
under the caves of the barn often, If
not generally, results in q loss OF one
nan or more OF the icrtilizing consti-
tnents by teaching; and, moreover,
the materials thus leached out by rain
are the more easily soluble portions
OF the manure, and hence the more
valuable portions.
Another point of great Importance
m connection with the preservation
Of stable manure is the saving OF the
urine. The common practice is to let
This go to waste. But. as shown in
one OF the stables of the Bulletin. the
lquid Is, IN most instances, much
more valuable than the solid portions.
Ihus the solid fresh excrement of
attic contains only half as much
nitrogen and about one-iifth as much /
potash rs the fresh urine.
The difference between the solid
manure and the urine of the horse is
reater still, while the fertilizinp con- .
tituents OF the urine are entirely solu- ,
'le, and therefore more readily avail ,
die Tor plant food than those of solid ,
Increment. To let the former 90 to ;
waste, therefore, while utilizing the :
after is much as if an orchardist !
hould carefully pick out for sale the :
poorest OF his fruit and leave the !,
est to rot on the trees. /;
The main object in caring for barn i
ard manure is to prevent the loss OF +,
ompounds containing nitrogen, pot (,
sh and phosphoric acid. When the 1
manure Is kept for some time before !
cling carted atield, the three princi. !,
al points to be observed are these: :
l. Save the liquid manure by means :
litter, using in addition land plaster :,
I some form OF dry earth, such as I
eat or muck.
= Keep the manure heap in a sufii- n
emily moist condition. !,
3. Protect carefully from teaching +,
Y rain. :.
With regard to the first point it is :
'ggested that the use of too much \
tier diminishes the relative value of =
anure and add to the cost of handl.
g; but enough litter should be used
d. only to absorb and retain the
line, but also to absorb any am. ii
onia that may be formed in the pro. q
IS OF decomposition. I,
HlllIng Potatoes, *
Experiments made by us, 90 years ii
o and more, showed that the COM 10
on and almost universal practice of ii