The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1901-11-27


farm. is usually the saving and prepar-
alton of manure. 1t is well known that
the more thoroughly the manure Is
decomposed the smaller its bulk. but If
properly cared for while promoting
decomposition of the manure there Is
but little loss of plant food. On the
contrary. should the farmer neglect
the heap. he will lose much OF its
value without materially reducing the
bulk. 1t is bulk that entails labor
in the care OF manure. for when
large mass is handled. hauled and
spread on the ground. more work is
required of men and teams. Manure
that has been exposed is not only re-
duced in value. but the farmer hauls a
large amount of water. L. is esti.
mated that a cord of manure. Weighing
$500 pounds. contains about 5000
pounds OF water and 500 pounds Of
silica, all OF which must be handled IN
the stable and heap, loaded. hauled
and spread probably requiring two or
three loads. in order to apply about
20 pounds OF nitrogen, ~ of phos.
land, as these substances are the real
plant foods of the manure. hence the
farmer goes to heavy expense in haul.
ing large amount OF material which
ne does not want. the total value OF
all the substances in the 4500 pounds
Of Ilanure not being as much as $5
II the farmer can reduce this bulk by
A In o.
also induce fermentation. so as to have
all coarse materials made fine. the
saving in labor will not alone be the
gain. for the manure will be then in
better condition for crops than when
the bulk is greater The amount of
filler in the bags of fertilizers is but
small matter compared with the
hauling of 5000 pounds of water and
800 pounds of silica, as well as other
materials in the manure, in order to
supply less than 100 pounds of actual
plant food to the soil.
The making of manure of the best
quality on the farm can be effected ut
all seasons. but winter is the most ap-
propriate period. The farmer can
proper manipulation of his feeding
stuffs than to attempt to eliminate
labor bp allowing the animals to tram
pie the coarse materials. The time
is going by when the farmer will prac-
tice the methods so long in vogue II
is now known that ii is cheaper and
better to reduce all materials to a
in A.
coarse and bulky refuse into the barn
yard to remain until such work is done
by the feet of cattle. Frequently the
labor of handling manure containing
undecomposed cornstalks is Of greater
value than the stalks. as long exposure
results in loss of plant food and the
coarse pieces, when spread upon the
land, do not decompose until TOO late
TO impart benefit to the crop. But
when the farmer shreds the stalks and
sends every pound of straw through
the feed cutter. he not only induces
his live stock to consume larger guam
titles of 1t, but the materials are also
then better for bedding. The stalls
are also more easily cleaned out of
the way, the manure and absorbents
are more rapidly handled, and decom.
position will begin Immediately.
| Cleanliness of the stable and in the
handling of the manure will be the re-
suit, while the heap will be richer in
available plant foods.
1t is much easier to give hay or
straw to cattle, and let them masticate
1t, instead of using the feed cutter, but
farmers overlook the fact that, in the
! feeding of such foods as linseed meal,
cottonseed meal. bran. middlings and
cornmeal better results will be OBJ
tanned lherefrom when such concen-
trated foods arc diluted with the fine
ly-cut straw, hay or fodder. and that
both the concentrated and bulky foods
are rendered more valuable by the
combination. A large proportion of
the value of all feeding stuffs is IN that
which is voided by the animals, but
the profit is derived from that which
is digested. BY careful preparation
OF the foods more OF them is digested,
while the manure itself Is richer
when concentrated foods are used.
The proper way to mix hay and bran
is in the body of the animal, but less
bran will be required If it is used on
cut feed, and better results will be OBJ.
tanned from it. If the cattle foods are
given in prepared condition the man.
are will be really prepared with little
labor, for all cut food that is uneaten
such as shredded stalks and straw,
after being used as bedding will go TO
the heap ready prepared for decompo-
sition; and decomposition is the way
all manure is made. as that which
comes from the animal is simply the
coarse foods masticated and decom-
posed (digested within the body OF
the animal in a short time. while the
farmer. by reducing all coarse foods
with shredder or cutter, performs
the same thing decomposition in the
manure heap, but in a longer PERIOD
Philadelphia Record.