Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1903-05-14
Spreading the Manure.

From Farmers Review: The usual
plan is to spread the manure direct
from the stall to the corn land Since
corn is a ravenous feeder, it can
doubtless handle the manure first
hand as well as any crop. Every dry
season clearly demonstrates the i'm
portance Of having the manure thor
oughly incorporated In the soil. When
not well rotted. drouth prevents de-
composition and the spread material
acts as foreign body to prevent free
capillary action of moisture from be-
low, and giving nothing to the crop In
the form of plant food. In fact, its
presence in the soil is a positive in
jury reducing the quality and yield Of
grain and fodder. Every farmer Is
familiar with corn firing on the rank
growth of stalks In the richest part
Of the field. The greatest danger from
firing comes from the late spreading
of manure. That scattered just be-
fore breaking is most likely to cause
the greatest loss through firing.
Where the land is quite rolling and
well exposed to the south sun and pre-
vailing winds, a drouth of compare
lively few days will turn blades brown
where fresh manure has recentlyobeen
plowed under. To prevent any dan
ger of firing from the spreading OF
manure from the stables it should
not be taken to the high parts OF the
field later than January. The rain
and snow from January until crop
time will so decompose the strawy
material that soon after it is plowed
under it becomes humus and unites
with the soil. AS the spring approach
es the manure may be hauled to the
more level portions of the field. Sag
gy parts of the field may be made dry
and productive by hauling coarse ma
terial as straw and stalks upon them
Just before breaking. 1t Is certainly
an unwise policy to continue manur-
ing sharp, yellow points and cliffs late
in the season when a short dry spell
is almost sure to greatly injure the
future crop. 1t is only when abund-
ant rains fall to suit the growing crop
that such postponed spreading OF man
ure will fertilize the crop.
The question naturally arises, what
will we do with the stable and shed
accumulations of March and April.
The stock cannot 60 to pasture until
the grass is large enough to support
them. For convenience they are kept
in the shelter and fed In their winter
quarters. The accumulation of man.
ure goes on and If left in the sheds
until fall it not only represents so
much idle capital invested, but it is
likely to waste and get away through
the summer. To leave this manure
in the lots until fall induces weed
growth, is very untidy, harbors dis
ease, and is indeed in many ways OBJ.
jectionable.
Instead of hauling this late manure
to the corn field, why not take it to
the newly sown pasture land? Here
the exposed parts need not only a
surface mulch to prevent evaporation
but need plant food to support the
young plant. There is no risk in scat
tering late upon the grass field
Whether wet or dry 1t is sure to get
in it's valuable work. The strawy por,
lions protect from the wind and sun
it is a top covering and does not cut
off capillary action from below. The
permanent blue grass pasture is
usually hard pressed in summer. A
top dressing of manure after it is too
late to spread on the corn field would
force the old sod to do it's best eff,
forts in affording more pasture than
ever before. AS farmers, We must
study our work and endeavor to free
ourselves as much as possible from
losses due to unfavorable weather con.
ditions.-W. B. Anderson.