The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1891-01-10
" hen Ia Apply Manure.

a, soils differ in fertility and general
composition, no general rule can be laid
down for the application OF manure, and
! farmers should recognize that nearly
every special case needs special dlreC-
tons. With respect to applying ma
nure to the land for winter crops there
is division Of opinion among FARMERS.
which. when narrowed down. really
amounts To no difference at all. The
farmer who advocates the blowing of
manure into the soil for seeding fall
grain crops does so from practical eN-
perIeHce, and, III so far as his soil IS
concerned, he is probably right; but his
nelghbor, who reserves bis manure tor a
top-dressing later, may be equally III the
right One has no authority for dictat-
ing To the other. and asserting that what
applies TO his case must apply to every
other case.
The cause of this division of opinion
rs due to the diversity of soils and mar
row-mnded 90 lclusions drawn from in
diVidual experience. Some soils do
letter when the manure is p!oWed in
with the winter grain. aud others do
better when IT IL reserved for seeding
later in the year. il the soil * poor,
barren and lacking in the fcrtiliZing
qualities necessary to give grain good
start, it stands to reason that manure
puWed in with the seed will have The
best results. If the plants are put in
such barren soil they cannot get growth
enough to resist the cold of winter. and
when the time comes for using Il top
dressing there are very few plants left
to make use of it. The few that remain
have not received sufficient nourish
mcnt TO form good roots and stalks, and
10 ..hn ~ n IA T..l
never revive them enough TO produce
good grain stalks and heads.
If, however, the soil j. abound!ng in
fertility, the seeds will get ready and
rapid start soon after they are planted,
and anN additional manure would seem
to be supertluous. 1t would hc more
profitable to reserve the manure unit!
the middle Of winter, when ii may be
spread over the gram as "A top drc~ sing.
1t will then serve the double purpose OF
shelter To the plants and food for the
plants early in the spring, when they
are eager 10 appropriate all fertility +"
themselves that they can draw from
their surroundings. There are some
soils thus supplied with fertility enough
to give the plants a good start in the
fall Of the year, and blowing manure
under al the seeding time il not good
policy.
The whole question of applying the
manure to tthe land in the autumn re-
solves itself into the question ofthe soil,
its characteristics and general fertility.
Most soils are Of the former character,
and very rarely one is suffering from q
superabundantc OF fertility. For most
soils, then, ploWing in the manure III
he fall will be found to Weld the most
satisfactory results, ami this should hc
done with the idea of placing the MA
nure as close to the plant roots az posi-
BILE. and in such 4 condition that they
can readily absorb it. Thorough puiver
izaton Of the soil and manure Is essen
tial, and then Il complete mixture of the
two by means of pillow and harrow. This
induces rapid decomposition Of the ma
nure. and makes il available for plant
food. II also operates upon the soil,
and makes its mineral particles more
available. Iflimc is used with the ma
nurc, this reciprocatiye action is in
creased. and the results desired OBJ
tanned under more favorable circum-
stances, Il. Il. Barrett, IN I"sertcd"
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