Mexico Missouri message., 1903-05-28
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AGRlCtEfURE
spreadlnn 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, 1t can
doubtless handle the manure first
hand as we'll as any crop. Every dry
season clearly demonstrates the Inn
portance of having the manure thor
oughIy incorporated in the soil. When
not we'll rotted, a 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 a compare
lively few days will turn blades brown
where fresh manure has recently been
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 1t becomes humus and unites
with the soil. AS the spring approach
es the manure may be hauled to tho
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 go 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 sc
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 Il
the newly sown pasture land? Here
the exposed parts need not only g
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 it is sure to ge
in its valuable work. The strawy por
tions protect from the wind and sun
1t is a top covering and does not Gu
of capillary action from below. TIL,
permanent blue grass pasture Il
usually hard pressed in summer. /
top dressing of manure after it is to,
late to spread on the corn field woul,
force the old sod to do its best Ell
forts in affording more pasture thai
ever before. AS farmers, we mus
study our work and endeavor to fire.
ourselves as much as possible iron
losses due to unfavorable weather cor
ditions.-W. B. Anderson.