Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1910-01-19
HOME FERTILIzIlR FOR FARM,
Saving of Farm Nanurcs Cuts Down
Expenses Materially.


Of giving more attention to the saw
ing OF farm manures. The conven-
'ience Of commercial fertilizers, the
ease with which they can be obtain
ed (they can always be bought on
credit) and the fact that their use
REQUIRES little forethought have led
most Of our farmers to forget or neg
lect the home supply. Another rea-
sAwhy home manures have been
ected Is that owing to the lack
of intelligent care OF them the re-
suits following their use have not
been satisfactory. If much good has
been obtained from them, it is usu-
ally reached only by their use in
such large quantities as 1t is diff
cult to secure upon the average farm.
We should not be understood as
opposing the intelligent and econom-
ical use Of commercial fertilizers.
Commercial fertilizers have proved
themselves Of great value and are
destined to play even a greater part
In our farm economy; but 1t is only
when used as supplements to the
home product that this will be so. In
the first place. they are costly; and,
secondly their exclusive use instead
OF erecting a permanent improve
ment of the soil actually hastens the
depletion of that soil of it's plant
food. 1t IS only when used with
s.Neen manures and barnyard ma
Wufes that the most permanent i'm
provement can be accomplished.
Manure Not Properly Handled.
The small value frequently real
lied from the use OF barnyard ma
nure arises from the fact that it is
not properly saved and handled and
the manure has lost the greater part
OF It's plant food. Barnyard manure
may be regarded as just so much
vegetable matter. 1T differs, how
ever, from the food from which it is
derived in that, having been once
digested, its fertiliZing elements are
more available for plants.
Available plant food means plant
food that Is easily decomposed and
soluble in water. If the manure is
left exposed to the elements, the wa
ter from rains easily and rapidly
teaches out the soluble plant food.
On the other hand, If the manure
Is allowed to heat a large amount OF
the nitrogen is driven off into the
atmosphere, so in order to get the
most valuable manure both Of these
sources Of loss must be avoided.
There are several ways Of accom-
plan, where 1t Is practicable, is to
haul the manure direct upon the
land and plough it in-shallow on
clay soils, deeper on sandy loans.
Again, especially with horse ma
nure, ETC., 1t Is good to allow the
manure to remain in the stable JUS
ing plenty Of litter. The animals
tramp the manure down, thus eX-
cluding the air, and as it is kept dry
it will keep with practically no loss
The litter used in bedding not only
Is itself Of value as a fertilizer, but
serves also TO absorb all liquids and
prevent their loss. If not practical
bic to pursue either Of these meth
Mods, then cheap shed can be pro-
vided and the manure stored in 1t
until ready for use.
There Is one prccaution that
must be observed when a shed is
used, and especially If the droppings
from horses predominant. Under
these conditions the manure Is apt to
heat. This should be prevented by
dampening 1t. For this reason it Is
good plan to have leaky shed
one thai will not permit the entrance
of enough water to leach through,
but will leak enough to keep the ma
.3Aure moist. In case Of protracted
5arought there should be artificial
means Of watering the compost. The
question may arise with the farmer
whether it is more economical to go
to this trouble and expense with his
manure or to depend upon CONNER
cial fertilizers. Ihis question is soon
answered in the Affirmative
Bear in mind that while the far
mer may buy an equal number Of
pounds Of plant food he cannot get
1t 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 fermenta-
tion and do not correct mechanical