The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-01-26

Fertilizers are not as truly plant food
as stable manure or clover. Harm has
been done by teaching they are. The
chemistry is all right, but the bacteria
logy is an unexplored field. Those who
use fertilizers do not always get their
money back.
Farmers must have an ideal to which
to work, and not be content to go along
"about as usual" There is no success
without an aim, and this aim should be
high one, aud every energy bent to it
at all times. This is law of success
everywhere.
On barren field SOW rye in the fall
and clover in The spring; when two feet
high, cut the clover and let it lie as
mulch; pillow under, SOW wheat and again
in clover. In three years this may be a
profitable piece of ground without any
fertilizer or manure whatever.
Rye will grow fairly we'll upon pretty
thin land, though not profitable crop
may result. Cut it off and use as a
mulch for something else. A very slight
mulch will do wonders in the way of Civ
ing young clover a good start, and help
ing it along in growth
1t is said that flies can be kept from
tormenting cows in summer. Put a ia
blespoonful of crude carbolic acid in
quart of seal oil tanners oil will do.
and sponge the cattle with it once
week. Do it thoroughly. This will do
for any stock and any insects.
The manure pile is the farmers main
source of supply. Think over that a
moment. Do you make the most of it?
The urine of most animals is as valuable
as the solid manure and the hungry
lands protest against the waste of vege-
table and mineral food of the best quail
ity.
Soil the cattle either in the stable or
the yard. A COW will produce about
three cords each of solid and liquid
manures; these will absorb twice as
much peat or muck and make fertilizer
worth Sc or So cord. 1t will save work
fortune depends upon the doing of it.
Have tight foors and basin where
all the liquids can be preserved; and in
this way have the barnyard so graded
that the liquids will all flow to some
such receptacle. Mix the manures with
earth and throw this liquid over it when
spread, to enrich and preserve the vir
tues which would otherwise escape.
The manure from the horse contains
large amount of ammonia. and this
makes it valuable: it is dry in nature, is
more likely to heat and become fire
fanged and worthless. Do not pile it
but spread it, and wet it down, even
with water; but urine will double it's
value.
Remember that nothing but manure
in a liquid state can be of value to the
plant, for it can absorb nothing else. The
more thorough the decomposition and
solution, the more ready are they for alb
sorption and immediate use. Do not
pay dollar for fertilizers until you have
made the most of your manure Crop"
Farmers do not make enough of WOO d
ashes as fertilizer. Procure them even
if they must be paid for. Clover and all
eguminous plants supply nitrogen, but
they can not grow without supply OF
potash. 1t is cheaper to furnish the
potash, and the clover may bring the
nitrogen.
Potash is essential to land bearing
fruits, and, therefore, is ashes valuable
fertilizer for such ground. In using
ashes, use it alone, for it has wonderful
power of liberating some of the most
valuable elements in heterogeneous fertil-
izers.
| Do not wait for the first snow before
you begin to hustle and make all things
tight for the winter If the beginning is
| thus deferred you will never reach the
end, nor be satisfied with the result. We
feel sorry for the man who is always
driven by his work, especially if it is his
own fault,
Glover rootlets will penetrate and
loosen the subsoil, while they are fur.
nishing a large quantity of valuable ma
terial for forage and for fertilizer. If it
is desired to subsoil field at the least
possible expense, get it to producing a
good crop of clover.
Have you a grindstone? Money can
not be better invested. Work is hard
enough with good instruments; if dull.
it will pay to stop to grind them. Work
will then be done not only more easily,
but quicker and better. You will save
time, temper and strength.
STOCK.
The cattle market is gradually i'm
proving, and will, barring financial pan