The Republican journal., 1907-07-04
FARM And COMMERCIAL
MANURES.
Bulletin State Dept. of Agriculture. ]

more apparent than careful cOnSidera-
ton of the subject of this Bulletin. A
knowledge of how to increase, preserve
and apply the manureS of the farm, so
as to obtain the most possible benefit
from them, is of fundamental import
ance in our farming operations. In the
construction of his stables, the farmer
should consider not only that the ami
mails have comfortable, sanitary quar-
tiers, so as to keep them in the best of
health, but that there is an adequate
provision for the preservation of the
manure. Care should be exercised that
all of the liquids, as we'll as the solid
eXcrementS, are carefully saved as it
has been estimated that the value OF
the liquid manure is double tina. of the
solid material, weight for weight. On
too many of our farms there is much
loss from teaching and fermentation.
III has been proven by direct expert
ment that from one-half to two-thirds
OF the value of loosely piled manure
has been lost by six months teaching
This can be prevented if the farmer
Will exercise proper care. Fermenta-
ton must go on to a greater or less eX-
tent, but too much will usually mean
the escape of ammonia and nitrogen
and the loss OF valuable fertiliZing
material For the generality of farm
uses tile unfermented manureS are to
be preferred, and SO the fermentation
should be checked as much as possible.
For sandy soils, we'll rotted manures
are better, but for clayey soils the re-
verse is true. There is always danger
of loss by teaching when rotted manures
are used on sandy soils, so they should
be applied shortly before the plants are
to make use of them. Fresh manure
will impair the quality of certain crops,
among which are potatoes, and when
used for such it is better to apply the
previous fall. For prompt returns
when used alone, use rotted manure;
for the most lasting benefit and maxi
mum returns, use fresh manure.
While the purchase of commercial
fertilizers to certain extent is neces-
sary for most farmers, and while these
are undoubtedly economical plant food
When judiclously applied, we believe
many farmers fail to realize the ad-
yantages of the farm manures over
commercial fertilizers. The farm
manures contain large amount of
humus, which is especially beneficial to
the soil. They have a double value;
first, as plant food, and second for their
mechanical effect upon the soil They
tighten the soil so that the sun and air
can work INTO it; and thus act as
sponge, holding the water near the sur
face so that the plants can avail them
selves of it, and affording measure of
protection in drought. Farm manures
are also valuable as means of seeding
the soil with nitritying bacteria.
The barnyard manure should be
thoroughly and finely spread so that it
Will mix well with the soil and the
crops will have more ready access to it
than when 1t is dropped in larger por-
tons. Many OF orr farmers have re-
Gently adopted the method of hauling
their manure and spreading it with
manure Spreader, and they have said
that 70 loads thoroughly spread in this
way would be worth as much as Is
placed in a coarser and more bulky
form. Whether the manure should be
ploWed under OF spread on the furroW,
III our experience depends largely upon
the nature and condition of the soil.
The farmer who gives careful atten-
ton to the matter can largely increase
the amount of his manure by convert
lng straw and other waste products in
TO 1ertillZlng material. Tins not only
ADDS to the quantity but it improves
the quality, as 1t helps to absorb and
ed III converting some Of the roughage
into manure and working over the
manure to prevent fermentation. 1t is
a settled tact that pork raising is a
profitable business i'll Maine for the
farmer who gives it proper attention,
and White producing the pork, knows
how to make the most manure.
Inc farm manureS and commercial
fertilizers do their best when used in
conjunction. The chemicals are of a
quick acting nature and will start the
plant and give it its early growth, and
the farm manure will carry the crop to
maturity. Every plant, to derive the
most from it, should have the best of
care and the best of feeding Economy
does not consists i'll the Use of a limited
amount. Economy consists in the use
OF both the stable and commercial
manures in judicious way, applying
them to the extent that the growth of
the plant needs. The important ques-
ton is, how much can | make out of
my manures: The farmer who utilities
these to the best advantage derives the
most benefit from them.
In the application of manures more
good is derived from a small applica-
ton yearly than from dressing piece
of land very heavily (as was the old
idea and then seeding it down for
long time. The best results are OBJ
tanned from frequently blowing the
land and applying light coat of fertil-
iZer. Prof. j. W. Sanborn, in address
ing the farmers of Maine at the farm
ers' institutes few years ago, said that
he fed every acre of his land every year.
both the tillage and the meadows. The
fields should be plowed often, and when
they are in good heart the roots and
stubble will be worth much toward
feeding the coming crop. Glover roots
and stubble are especially valuable for
this purpose, as they contain large
amounts of nitrogen.
The quality of our farm manures is
influenced somewhat by the character
of the food which the animal consumes.
In the buying of commercial feeding
stuffs it should be remembered that
these have two values, one what the
animal receives and the other the
manurial value after having been con-
sumed by the stock. The farmer should
remember that "the fertilizing value of
a feed is substantially determined by
its percentage of protein" The CON
centrated feeds rich in protein are
much more valuable for manurial pur
poses than those with lower protein