River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1892-01-28
The Farmers Institute.

From Mr.. Goodrich's talk upon the
handling and value of manure and Mr..
Guys, next after, upon fertility of
soils, we are led to under stand that
returning to the soil as much fertility
as crops take from it in their growth
is the first grand step towards success.
full farming, aud that barn-yard man.
ure is the best and cheapest of all
fertilizers. And the --latest Modes"
as set forth in the institute discus
sions, says, apply on the surface direct
from the stable, day by day; and this
is good. in theory, for the mere drop
pings of stable animals, as it improves
but little if any 10y keeping, and time
is saved in the work; but out west
here this iron clad theory won't agree
in practice. We use. or ought to use
a profusion of straw bedding as we
have it, for the comfort and cleanli-
ness OF. our animals. It is worth the
trouble to get this supsrfuity of
straw converted into manure, in
every way that we can. but in bedding
with it, it becomes mixed with the
finer droppings. thus making the
whole too trashy aud crude for top.
dressing for and crops, grain or grass.
This kind Of manure as well as all the
profusion of straw and litter of the
barnyard, where everyone in these
parts feeds more or less coarse fodder
in pleasant weather, TO be available,
must be rotted. You may call it CON-
posting, for it needs much the same
treatment; that is, it must be piled
up in high fiat piles so that it will
hold moisture enough to make it rot.
This is practice, thought in disagree
| ment with theory and chemistry,
which aver stoutly that the fertilizing
ingredients of the course stuff will
lose by the process.
Another theory, if it is really an
established one is, that all farms
should raise stock. all that can be fed
and provided for on the farm, and not
have any surplus grain; have it all
animals and their products. as by so
doing the abundance of manure will
enrich the farm, making it more and
more productive until the very soil
swims in fairness; this as theory is
good and correct if we want this end.
But in practice we find animals and
their products too abundant now; the
market is glutted; beef 2 to 3 cents
that costs five to make it, and pork 3
to cents that. costs. at best, more TO
make it, and butter and cheese, take
the season through, begging for a
paying market.
Theory must stand back here or
take little advice from common
sense, which says that diversified
farming is best and safest here. If
every farmer bends his energies to
the production of one particular thing
an over production and stagnant trade
in this line is sure.
The seers tell us to not relax, but
learn to raise and handle crops at less
cost, as the full market languishes
with over productions; but our aching
muscles cry out. We can't
read today in the Wisconsin Agri-
culturist a French writer's estimate
of the amount of manure per anuum,
per ton weight of live animals and its
value in his country. 1t is 25 tons of
manure to each ton of animals. worth
about two hundred million dollars;
but three fourths of value wasted.
The wastage is the particular point for
us to notice. Are zoe wasting three
fourthsl