The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-07
Making the Most of Manure.

In common with everything else that
can be done to promote the growth of
plants, manure should be used to the best
possible advantage, says John e. Read
in Practical Farmer. 1t costs a good deal
to save it and apply it 20 the land. This
expense is incurred whether it is used so
as to make a large increase in the yield
of the crop or is applied in a manner that
causes it to be of but little benefit to the
plants. 1t is plain that if the cost must be
borne there should be an effort to secure
adequate return.
Few, if any, will disagree with the state
ments thus far made but some may be in
clined to think that as far as deriving any
benefit from IL during the present year is
concerned, ii is too late in the season to
discuss the matter. 1t Is true that most
of the manure for the crops of this year
has already been applied to the land. Still
it is not too late to do a good deal to-
ward increasing the efficiency of its action.
owing to a wide difference in conditions,
much more can be done in this direction
in some fields than can be accomplished
in others, but something may be done
wherever any of the hoed crops have been
planted.
one of the efficient means of making
the most of manure, and one that is APP
plicable in all fields, is the thorough fin
ing of this material in the soil. OF
course, the manure should have been made
very fine before the planting was done.
In many cases 1t was put into pretty good
condition In a larger number of in
stances it was not as fine as IL should
have been. But. with very few exceptions,
whether il was fine or coarse when 1t
was spread upon the land, il can now be
more thoroughly pulverized. This can be
accomplished by frequent cultivation.
Aside from its effect upon the manure,
this work would be literally paid for by
the increase of the crops which IL would
insure. Consequently, whatever gain
came from the improvement In the me-
chanical condition of the manure would
be in addition to that which cultivation
secures in soils that have not been ma
nured. Before plants can make use Of the
manure 20 the best advantage IL must be
finely pulverized. AS long as there are
coarse Jumps Of manure. either upon or
underneath the surface Of the ground. the
man who owns the crops is not getting
as much financial benefit from Il as he
should obtain. He will not make the most
Of Il ill ne gets II thoroughly pulverized.
Another means of Fastening and in
creaslng the efficiency Of manure Is by
maintaining a proper degree of moisture
In the soil. This Is not always possible
to do in SIS full extent, but something In
this direction can generally be accom-
plished. Upon some fields a great deal
NAV be done along this line. AS plants
cannot take their food In a dry state. the
importance OF having a sufficient quanti-
ty OF moisture In the ground Is apparent.
Therefore. In dry soils. and especially IN
seasons IN which the rainfall Is deficient.
care should he taken TO conserve mois-
ture by keeping tho surface OF the ground
always covered with fine dust This
can be accomplished by the processes
used In filming the manure. Thorough
cultivation will thus serve two important
purposes az one and the same time. But,
while certain amount OF moisture II
absolutely essential TO the appropriation
OF food by plants. an excess OF water II
extremely Injurious. This is due 10 vari-
Gus reasons one Of which Is the fact that
the excess Of moisture dilutes the food ele-
ments 10 such an extent that the plants
cannot use q sufficient quantity. There.
fore, while food supplies may be ample
the plants may be starving because Of
the excess OF water IN which they are
dissolved. Where such a condition pre-.
walls % Is evident that the land needs
thorough drainage. This. Of course. cam
not be attempted while a hocd crop Is on
the ground But sometimes burrows
may be plowed In such a way as to carry
on a large part OF the surplus water
In doing this work many plants would
be destroyed, but the remainder would