Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1897-09-17
ggrifultaral.
Manuring in the Fall,
A E1rm Problem IN Which There are Many
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IFS"
Manure on the farm does not accumu-
late in sufficient quantity to permit Of
applying it over the whole farm, and
during the busy season the opportunity
for handling it is restricted, but after
corn is harvested manure can be spread
wherever it may be deemed advisable.
A question which has been well dis
cussed by progressive agriculturists dur
ing the year is that Of spreading manure
or applying fertilizers in the fall. The
farmer has something to lose and to gain
by so so doing. In it's favor it is claim
ed that by spreading in the fall the labor
can be performed with less interference
with other work, but il done in the
spring the hauling will be more difficult
and other work may be pressing. By
spreading in the fall the manure need
not be decomposed. but should be free Of
bulky stalks or coarse materials that
slowly decompose, the manure being
spread on ground that has been well
plowed, the cultivator working it into
the soil in order to prevent rapid loss by
washing from heavy rains. 1t is main
tanned, however, that a loss is sure TO
occur if manure is spread in the fall
owing to teaching of the soluble por-
tions, but such may happen in the
spring as well, while the keeping Of
the manure 10 the barnyard too long
entails loss Of the soluble portions and
gaseous matter without the soil receiv-
ing those substances at all.
SELECTION OF FALL FERTILIZERS.
The problem also extends to fertilizers.
Although commercial fertilizers are sold
on a guarantee that certain proportions
are soluble, it is known that during
short seasons of growth the plants can
not derive as large an amount Of soluble
plant food as the fertilizers can supply,
aud this happens more especially if the
supply of moisture is limited. If fer
tiIizers are applied in the fall there will
be gain of time, and the loss will not
be large if the soil is heavy and the sub
soil is close. The applications of fer
tiIizers in the fall, however, depends
upon the kinds used It may not be
proper to apply sulphate Of ammonia.
nitrate of soda, sulphate of potash, or
murate of potash. as they are very solu-
BILE, especially if water is abundant, but
there are several forms Of phosphates
that will be more serviceable in the
spring if applied in the fall, and, as
phosphates are cheap compared with the
,,o,osh aol n;tsoua1one nomnouDds tho
cost is but little, and the loss, if any,
during the winter need not be large, as
phosphates that have not been acldu-
lated disintegrate slowly in the soil.
Phosphate rock or ground bone may on
some soils be applied in the fall, using
the soluble fertilizers in the spring, 50
as to have the plant food available at
the proper time.
AVOIDING Loss.
The prevent loss in winter progressive
farmers aim to keep the land covered
with crop If wheat is seeded down
in the fall the young plants will begin
to utilize any plant food rendered solu-
bic, and will make considerable growth
before the ground freezes. If crimson
clover is sown the farmer may add a
small proportion Of potash to the phos'
pilates before applying. The clover
will, like the wheat, arrest loss and re-
duce the amount of heterogeneous fertilizer
intended for the spring application
Should rye occupy the land it will also
prevent loss of available material. 1t
is necessary. then, for the farmer to ap-
ply fertilizer according to the winter
crop that is to occupy the land. But
the question is one of the period Of ap-
plication rather than of use, and the
labor must be considered If the labor
is given when the farmer is not busy in
some other direction its cost is less than
when he has large proportion of work
10 perform The profit from crop is
that portion remaining after all expenses
are paid, which includes interest on
capital, seed, labor, rent of land, manure
and fertilizers, and if the cost can be re-
duced ia any manner the profit becomes
corresPondingly larger. For that reason
any work that can be done in the fall
lessons the urgency of spring, permit
ting the farmer TO utilize more time and
keep his land in better condition.
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