Oxford Democrat., 1907-07-09
The Management of Manures.

HAMMOND, Agricultural Editor Oxford Dem
ocrat. Paris, Ne.
The Management of Manures.
There is no duty of the farmer that is
more apparent than careful consider
alton 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 quart
ers, 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 that of the solid
material, weight for weight. On too
many of our farms there is much loss
from teaching and fermentation. 1t has
been proven by direct experiment that
from one half to two-thirds of the value
of loosely piled manure has been lost by
six months teaching. This can be pre-
vented if the farmer will exercise proper
care. Fermentation must 90 on to
greater or less extent, but too much will
usually mean the escape of ammonia and
nitrogen and the loss of valuable fertil-
izing material. For the generality of
farm uses the unfermented manures are
to be preferred, and so the fermentation
should be checked as much as possible.
For sandy soils, well rotted manures are
better, but for clayey soils the reverse 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 roIted manure; for the most
lasting benefit and maximum 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 judiciously applied, we believe
many farmers fail to realize the ad-
vantages of the farm manures over COM
mercial fertilizers. The farm manures
contain a large amount of humus, which
is especially beneficial to the soil. They
have 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 surface so that the plants
can avail themselves of it, and affording
a measure of protection in drought.
Farm manures are also valuable as a
means of seeding the soil with nitrifying
bacteria.
The barnyard manure should be
and finely spread, so that it
will mix well with the soil and the crops
will have more ready access to it than
when it is dropped in larger portions.
Many of our farmers have recently
adopted the method of hauling their
manure and spreading it with manure |
spreader, and they have said that u
loads thoroughly spread in this way
would be worth as much as 10 placed in
a coarser and more bulky form. |
Whether the manure should be plowed
under or spread on the furrow, in our |
experience depends largely upon the
nature and condition of the soil.
The farmer who gives careful atten-
tion to the matter can largely increase
the amount of his manure by converting |
straw and other waste products into
fertilizing material This not only adds |
to the quantity but it impoves the quail |
ity, as il helps to absorb and retain the |
liquids. Swine can be utilized in con- |
verting some of the roughage into ma |
nure and working over the manure to |
prevent fermentation. 1t is settled |
fact that pork raising is profitable
business in Maine for the farmer who |
gives ii proper attention, and while pro- |
ducing the pork, knows how to make |
the most manure.
The farm manures and commercial |
fertilizers do their best when used in
The chemicals are of |
quick acting nature and will start the
plant and give it its early growth, and
the farm manure will CARRY the crop to |
Every plant, to derive the
most from it, should have the best OF
care and the best of feeding. Economy
does not consist in the use of a limited
amount. Economy consists in the use |
of both the stable and commercial ma
nure in judicious way, applying them |
TO the extent that the growth of the |
plant needs. The important question is,
how much can l make out of my ma |
nures? The farmer who utilizes these to |
the best advantage derives the most |
benefit from them.
In the application of manures more
good is derived from a small application |
yearly than from dressing piece of land
very heavily Gas was the old ideal and
then seeding it down for long time.
The best results are obtained from fire.
luently plowing the land and applying a |
light coat of fertilizer. Prof. j. W.
Sanborn, in addressing the farmers of |
Maine at the farmers 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. Clover roots and stubble are
valuable for this purpose, as
they contain large amounts of nitrogen.
The quality of our farm manures is in
fluenced 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 ma |
nurial value after having been consumed
by the stock. The farmer should re-
member that "the fertilizing value of
feed is substantially determined by its
of protein" The concen-
trated feeds rich in protein are much |
more valuable for manurial purposes
than those with lower protein content. |
Maine Bulletin.
King Alfonso of Spain is about to
start cattle farming on big scale. he