The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1896-03-26

How to Save the Manure from the
Stable and Barn.yard-Best neth-
DDS of Applying it-What Chemicals
Pay Best With These Manures-
Helpful Hints on Small Fruit Gull
ture, &C., &c.
Editor Farmers Voife:-By long
odds the most important question to
every one who tills the soil is that of
manure. No matter what he grows,
whether it be the grossest staple or the
most delicate fruit or garden product.
his success depends more upon a wise
system of manuring than anything
else. 1t is also question whose i'm
portance must increase rather than
lessen. For by far the greater part OF
the agricultural lands of the country
are yearly deteriorating, getting poorer
under the treatment they get. AT the
same time competition is getting
stronger and the necessity Of the use of
wisdom and economy in all agricul,u-
raj methods becoming more impera-
tive.
While my experience has lain mostly
in fruit culture, l have for many years
grown grain and grass crops as rota-
tion. My soil runs an the way from
extreme sandiness to black muck in
one direction and to the closest red
clay in another. My experience has
covered summers SO wet that even
grass would not grow, and it has con-
vinced me that the usual methods of
crop fertilzing could be greatly i'm
proved by following few simple rule S
All stable or barnyard manure should
not only be saved, but saved in such
way as to lose no part of its value.
Manure in horse stalls | leave un-
touched till it is hauled out and broad
casted on the land. Cleanliness is
preserved by adding bedding as need
ed. If the stall is dry and enough
litter used, the accumulating ma
nure soon packs firm enough to form
a good floor, which is yet SO absorbent
that not the least quantity ofthe liquid
manure is lost. Manure saved this
way has fully twice the value Of that
treated in the usual manner. Thor
ough composing is, of course, excellent.
But where one man compos:s manure
properly, 20 carelessly throw it out
either to heat and fire fang or to be
leached by rains, either process render
ing it nearly worthless.
Manure from the milk COW stalls,
which have to be kept clean, should
be composted with kainit or some good
absorbent as fast as removed. The
barnyard proper should be SO arranged
and protected frcm drippings that the
accumulating manure will not lose by
teaching. Straw or litter OF some kind
must also be literally used. But COM
paratively few farmers depend upon
the above manures alone. Most ol
them buy more or less fertilizer be-
sides. This is all right provided the
right system is followed. As far as my
observation goes the right system
is not generally followed. When fer
tilizers are used in connection with
manure, it should always be as sup
plemenl to that article, and their in
gradients should be such as to supply
the properties in which the barnyard
manure is deficient. Where moder-
ate quantity of this manure is used in
connection with green manuring, (the
turning under of rye, peas or clover },
little ammonia (the most expensive in
gredient of tertlizers) need te bought.
What will be needed will be the COM
paratively cheap ingredients, potash
and phosphoric acid.
OF all soils, and especially on sandy
soils, l find potash to be what is most
needed and what gives the quickest
and largest returns. 1t is the height
of unwisdom to use either stable ma
nure or green manuring without it.
One hundred and fifty pounds OF
kainit or 100 pounds of muriate of pot
ash and 100 pounds Of dissolved bone
we'll mixed and sown and mixed with
earth in the drill before planting, pays
irs cost manifold on any crop and on
any soil that have ever tried it. l,
is also an excellent spring top dressing
for all kinds ofgrain as we'll as for grass
and clover. 1t will usually pay to
use it much more literally for this
purpose and where no stable manure
is used to add one hundred pounds OIL
more of nitrate of soda:
Orchards l would plow shallow and
top dress with the above in very early
spring if not done the fall before. Here
but little of the nitrate will usually be
needed.
For small fruit would drill in the
mixture before planting. l use as much
as 500 pounds per acre of it, being
careful TO mix it we'll with tine soil by
means OF light harrow. Where in.
tensive culture is to be followed (and
in frui, above all things intensive cul-
ture pays heavy quantities Of kalni'
or murlatc of potash or dissolved bone
and bone dust can be proftably ap.
piled if broadcasted and thoroughly
narrowed in. Thus applied I,ooe
pounds of KANT (or $50 pounds o
muriate Of potash) and 500 pounds
dissolved bone or bone dust is not ex
Cessive.
find it to be also unsurpassed as
| top dressing for small fruit applied ir
February or March over plants at the
rate per acre Of 800 pounds of kaini
! (or 20 pounds of muriate Of potash) anC
200 pounds dissolved bone (bone dus
is too slow here). The result is no
only more fruit, but larger, firmer, bet
ter favored, better colored fruit.
0. w. BLACKNALL.
kitfrell n C.