The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-01-15
l0uE FERTILIZER FOR Farm.
SAVING OF FARM MANUREs
CUTS DOWN EXPENSES.
opnpcss Heap II . Means of Multi.
plying . supply o. Manure-Di-
rectiDns for Establishing and
Maintaining = Compost Heap That
y WIN Accompaish what II Ought.

1occcess that the farmers Of the
South be impressed with the import
ancs of giving more attention to the
uaving oil farm manures. The conve-
nlsncc Of commercial fertilizers. the
ssss with which they can be obtain
Cd (thsy can always be bought on
crsdit.) and the fact that their use
requires little forethought have led
1nost VI our farmers to forget or
neslsct the home supply. Another
9oooon why home marures have been
neGi&cted 10 that owing TO the lack
Of intelligent care Of them the re-
suits following their use have not
been satisfactory. II much good has
bencbtained from them. It is usally
xsachsd only by their use IN such
1aroe quantities as II Is dificult to &C.
cure upon the average farm.
N We should not be understood as
. opposing the intelligent and econo-
mtcal use OF commercial fertilizers.
Cornmercial fertilizers have proved
thsmselves OF great value and are
dsssinsd to play even greater part
IN our farm economy; but II Is only
Y when used as supplements to the
\ home product that this will be so.
in the frst place. they are costly;
/, and. secondly. their exclusive use in
p>sed OF cffeoting permanent inn
movement OF the soil actually has
tonD the depletion OF that soil OF its
! plant food 1t Ia only when used with
GPeen manure and barnyard manures
nat the most permanent improve
uont can be accomplished.
N Manure Not Properly Handled.
The small value frequently realized
E|on the use of barnyard manure
1S1scs from the fact that II IL not
properly saved and handled and the
+, znanuse has lost the greater part Of
~ plant food. Barnyard manure
s N>oy be regarded az just 80 much
vssethble matter. It diners. how
ever. from the food from which 1t Is
derived In that. having been once
\ dtFcsted. its fertilizer elements are
more available for plants.
Available plant food means that
plant scod that is easily dscomposed
and soluble in water. II the manure Is
left exposed 10 the elements, the wa
ter from rains easily and rapidly
isaches out xhs soluble plant food.
co the other hand. II the manure
\ Ia allowed to heat large amount of
the nitrogen 10 driven of into the
" atmosphere; 10 In order t0 get tie
most valuable manure both of these
isources OF loss must be avoided.
There are several ways OF accom-
+ piishins this. Probably the best plan
whore II II practicable. IL to haul the
manure direct upon the land and
p)ough Il in--shailow on clay soils,
deeper on sandy loans Again,
especially with horse manure, etc., II
= eood TO allow the manure to re-
nain In the stable. using plenty OF
rt<sr. The animals tramp the ma
nure down. thus excluding the air
and a. u ID kept dry II will keep with
practically no loss. The litter used
IN bedding not only Is itself Of value
- fertilizer. but serves also to alb
sorbe all liquids and prevent their
lon- II not practicable to parsue
eitfer Of these methods. then q
cheap shed can be provided and the
manure stored in II until ready for
use.
There 10 one precaution that must
be observed when shed Is used. and
especially II the droppings. from
horses predomInate. Under these
conditions the manure Is apt to heat,
This should be prevented by dampen-
ing II. For this reason 1t Is a good
plant to have leaky shed--one that
viii not permit the entrance ot
enough water TO leach through, bu,
win leak enough to keep the ma.
nure moist. In case of protracted
drought there should DE artificial
means of watering the compost. The
question may arise with the farmer
whether II Is more economical to &c
To this t'oaole and expense with his
manure or to depend upon CONNER
ciai fertilizers. This question Is soon
answered in the affirmative.
Bear In mind that while the farm
er may buy an equal number OF
pounds OF plant food he cannot get
II In as good form. nor do the COM
mercial fertilizers have as great an
effect. They do not add vegetable
: matter. do not start soil fermentatIol !