Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-01-11
Spreading Manure on the Field.

On p. 1l22 notice an article by <. b.
Hart of the University of Wisconsin.
His idea of saving manure is to take II
fresh from the stable and spread it over
the fields where crops are to be grown.
This might not result in serious loss on
the level lands of Wisconsin or Illinois,
but il certainly would on the hills OF
New England, southern New York, and
northern Pennsylvania. There is prac-
tically no level land in those regions.
The hillsides are frozen hard during
three or four months of the winter.
IL the farmer spreads his fresh ma
nure on these frozen fields, ii certainly
cannot get down into the soil till the
frost gets out. What happens9 Along
in March there comes a sudden melting
of the snow or heavy fall of rain. For
a time at least the soil is a frozen crust
and the flow of water goes down the
side-hill and takes with it most of the
soluble parts of the manure and a good
deal of the solids. These 60 down into
the creek and are carried along to fertil-
ize some mill pond or lake below.
These results might not be visible from
the observatory of university, but the
farmer who walks over his fields can see
them plainly enough.
But this is not all. Suppose the farm
er spreads his fresh manure on field
which he proposes to plant with corn in
the spring. He plows the field in May,
and what is left of his manure, after the
spring washing, is turned under about
six or seven inches deep. The corn is
planted near the surface, and until the
roots go down about six inches they
have no help from the fertilizer at the
time when they specially need it to give
them a vigorous start.
My idea of saving manure, especially
that from cattle, is to pile it under cover
and keep il there year or year and a
half. 1t will then be black and crumbly
and in just the condition that market
gardeners like. Then, after l had plow-
ed my field for crop, would spread
my manure on the surface, give II
light narrowing, and SOW or plant the
seed as soon as possible afterward. The
manure is then just where it should be
to help growth when the roots first
sprout, and is in just the condition to be
used Immediately. 1t is all saved.-Cor.
Country Gentleman.
Editorial rejoinder in the Country
Gentleman:
While an interesting point is brought
up, it would not seem just to condemn
an entire practice because of one draw,
back, which can, in most cases, be over
come. New England, southern New
York, and northern Pennsylvania dc
have some level land, aud the wise farm
or, having both kinds, would plan to
spread his manure on the level land
during the winter. Then again, billy
laud that was to be planted in the spring
might be fall-plowed along the contour
lines, thus having ridges to prevent the
washing Of the manure.
On certain farms, indeed, where the
land was very billy and in grass, there
would doubtless be serious loss from
washing. But on gently-sloping grass
land, the slight loss by washing would
be equalized by the saving in time ant
labor (there being one handling of th'
manure instead of two). and would prob
ably not be any more than would 0ccu
IL the manure were stored all winter a
customary. The practice of rottini
manure before applying is very we'll TO
truck growers, but is scarcely suited Il
ordinary farming.