The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1913-04-17
HOME COURSE
IN SCIENTIFIC
AGRICULTURE
THIRD ARTICLE BARN.
YARD MANURE.
By w. H. BEAL Of the Office of Ex
pertinent Stations, Department
Of Agriculture.

"A there are in the United Suites oa'
~ in round numbers. l9.50O.GM.
horses, mules. etc, G1.WO.ON
cattle, 100000 hogs and 5l.GOo.oM
sheep. Experiments indicate that ii
these animals were kept in stalls or pens
throughout the year and the manure
carefully saved the approximate value
Of the fertilizing constituents OF the
manure produced by each horse OF
mule annually would be SGT. by each
head of cattle $40. by each hog 50 and
by each sheep 81.
These estimates are based on the val!
ues usually assigned to phosrhorif
acid, potash and nitrogen in CONNER
cial fertilizers and are possibly some
what too high from d practical stand
point. Professor Roberts has suggest
ed $3.50 as conservative estimate OF
the value of the manure produced dur
ing seven winter months on small
AOuA ho'SS''
cows. fifty sheep ana ten hogs
II we assume that one-third Of the
value of manure il annually lost by
present methods of management. and
this estimate is undoubtedly u ronSeTv
alive one, the total loss from this
source in the United States. as indi
Gated by the first figures, would be
about $7OS. 466. 600. or. using Roberts
figures, the annual loss for each farm
would amount to 1898.
1t should be clearly understood tina,
when the farmer sells meat. milk
grain, hay. fruits. vegetables. etc. IRON
his farm. or neglects to save and use
the manure produced. he removes FROM
his soil a certain amount OF potash
phosphoric acid and nitrogen that mus
be restored sooner or later If produc
tiyeness is to be maintained.
Spring the Time to HAUL.
Speaking of the loss Of valuable ma
nurial constituents by teaching. fer
mentation, etc, the Kansas station con
cludes that farmyard manure mus
be hauled to the field in spring. other
wise the loss of manure is sure to bs
very great. the waste in six months
amounting to fully one-half of thu
gross manure and nearly 40 per cent q
the nitrogen that it contained
It is the prevailing opinion of chem
lists as we'll as practical men tina
where it is practicable it is best to ap
ply manure and urine to the soil IL
the freshest possible condition. Thu
fertilizing constituents of well rottet
manure are more quickly available t.
plants, and the manure itself Is les!
bulky and easier to distribute. On thu
other hand, fresh manure mixed will
the soil readily undergoes fermenta
ton which not only increases the avail
ability of it's own fertiiiZing couStit
uents, but also assists in rendern:
soluble the hitherto insoluble fertile
ing constituents of the soil! In fact
even with special precautions to pre-
vent injurious fermentation under tn
feet of the animals and in the heap
the greatest return is likely to he so
from manure applied in the fresh con
dition.
Methods Of Applying Manure.
In applying manure to the field thre
methods are pursued: First. the ina
nure is placed in larger or smalle
heaps over the field and allowed to re
main some time before being spread
second. it is broadcasted and allowe'
to lie on the surface for some time o
plowed in Immediately. and. third, it /
applied in the hill or drill with TIL
seed.
1t has been the general experience
that probably the best way to utiliz
barnyard manure is in combination
with such materials as supplement AM
conserve its .fertilizing constituent:
| Certain substances. such as kainit an
superphosphate. which are sometime
employed as preservatives. may ais
be used to advantage to improve tn
fertilizing value of the manure. but
is necessary to do more than this If
we'll balanced fertilizer is desired. fol
as has been shown. barnyard manur
considered simply as a supplier Of n
trogen. phosphoric acid and potash
comparatively poor.
Should Be Saved and Used.
Summarizing the experience of OF
servation in the use of barnyard ms
nue.. it may be said that 1t is the mos
important manurial resource Of til
farm and should be carefully save
and used. 1t represents fertilit.
which Is drawn from the soil an
must be returned to it II productiv,
ness is to be maintained. 1t not onl
enriches the soil with the nitrogen
phosphoric acid and potash. but it ais
renders the stored up materials of til
soil more available. improves the m
chanical condition of the soil. makes
warmer and enables 1t to retain moi
moisture.
The urine is by far the most valu,
BILE part of the excreta of animals.
Is especially rich in readily availab
nitrogen. which rapidly escapes I'M
the mir II special precautions are n,
taken to prevent its loss. 1t is ais