Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1905-01-12
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MANURE AND FERTILIZER.
Comparative Value by the Growing
Text-On EARNS Large md Smnll.

Comparative taiue Dy the GroWihg
Test-On Farms Large and Small.
BY FLOYD w. Robson, Michigan Ex-
pertinent Station.
There Is abundant evidence to show
that commercial fertilizers can never
on the American farm entirely super
sede the use of barnyard manure.
Pound for pound most fertilizers con
tain very much more nitrogen, phos-
phoric acid and potash than does barn
yard manure, but in most instances the
growing test is in favor of the manure.
There is unquestionably an influence
physical, chemical or bacterial or all
together that has a favorable effect On
plant life and that cannot be attrib-
uted solely to the nitrogen, phosphoric
acid and potash present. Where all the
products of the farm are fed on the
premises and cared for properly there
should be sufficient manure ~ keep the
farm In q high state of fertility, and
on such a farm, in our opinion, the use
of commercial fertilizers would be I'M
economical
Commercial Fertilizer.
However, ON small truck farms ana
on others where but little barnyard
manure is available the use of CONNER
cial fertilizers is commendable. 1t is
reasonable to suppose that no system
of farming can be permanent that con-
tinually robs the soil of nutritive mate
rial without returning something to it
There is no question but that barnyard
manure Is the best source at the dis
posal of the farmer to permanently in
crease the productivity Of his land. No
other fertilizer is SO lasting in its eff
fects The great difficulty with large
number of Michigan farms is that it Is
impossible to obtain enough of this ma
nure. On such farms commercial fer
tilizers have been used with great
deal of success, and as the system OF
farming becomes more Intensive the
use of commercial fertilizers must like
wise increase All farmers cannot be
dairymen and stockmen. Some must
sell the wheat, fruits and garden prod
ucts to support the rapidly increasing
city populations, and such farmers
must replenish in commercial fertili-
zers the equivalent at least Of that
which the exported crop removed. The
use Of commercial fertilizers is not
fad and 1t will not down. The man
who has plenty of barnyard manure,
however, will not buy fertilizers exten'
sively, for they are clearly in q class
below the natural manures, but the
farmer who has not barnyard manure
and cannot get it Is compelled to use
commercial fertilizers If he should keep
pace with his neighbor in the produc-
tiveness of his land.
Sources of Manures.
On q still too large number of MicLi-
gan farms the great value of farm ma
nures is not appreciated; neither is
there exhibited great familiarity with
the constituents and properties of these
natural manures. The farmer who
would use manures to the best advan-
tage must become student of the
conditions causing the production of
manures and the sources from which
they are obtained. Comparatively few
indeed are the farms where special eff
fort Is made to preserve the liquid ma
nure from the stock fed, and yet that
is the most valuable portion of the ami
NAL excrement. The author is thor
oughly familiar with countless exam
pies of stables wherein the liquid ex
crement of animals instead of being
saved In the manure seeps through the
cracks and holes in the floor and soaks
into the ground beneath the barn,
where instead of being of value to the
farmer it becomes a constant menace
to the health Of the animals and the
inbohttants of tho uaar rhy dwelling