Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1913-08-01
HOME COURSE
IN SCIENTIFIC
AGRICULTURE
THIRD ARTICLE-BARN
YARD MANURE.
0y ". H. BEAL OF the Office OF FL.
pertinent Stations, Department
OF Agriculture.

"a there are in the United States,
In round numbers, l9.50O,0o0
horses. mules, etc, CT 100000
cattle. 100000 hogs and 5l,6o0,ooO
sheep. Experiments indicate that If
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 or
mule annually would be S27, by each
head Of cattle $50. by each hog S. and
by each sheep 81.
These estimates are based on the val
ues usually assigned to phosphoric
acid, potash and nitrogen In CONNER
cial fertilizers and are possibly some
what too high from a practical stand
point Professor Roberts has suggest
ed $3.50 as a conservative estimate Of
the value of the manure produced dur
ing seven winter months on a small
farm carrying four horses. twenty
cows. fifty sheep and ten hogs.
II we assume that one-third of the
value Of manure ia annually lost by
present methods of management. and
this estimate Is undoubtedly conserv-
alive one. the total loss from this
source in the United States. as indi-
Gated BY the FIRST figures, would be
about $70S. acc. 600, or. using Roberts
figures, the annual loss for each farm
would amount to $83.33.
It should be clearly understood tina,
when the farmer sells meat, milk.
grain. hay. fruits. vegetables. ETC.. from
his farm. or neglects to save and use
the manure produced. he removes from
his soil q certain amount Of potash.
phosphoric acid and nitrogen that must
be restored sooner or later II produc.
tiveness 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 must
be hauled to the field in spring. other
wise the loss Of manure IL sure to be
very great. the waste in six months
amounting to fully one-half Of the
gross manure and nearly 40 per cent Of
the nitrogen that It contained"
It Is the prevailing opinion Of chem
lists a. well as practical men that
where 1t IL practicable 1t Is best to ap-
ply manure and urine to the soil In
the freshest possible condition. The
fertillxing constituents Of well r0tted
manure are more quickly available to
plants. and the manure itself Is less
bulky and easier to distribute. On the
other hand. fresh manure mixed with
the soil readily undergoes fermenta-
ton which not only increases the avail
ability of its own fertilizing constit-
soluble the hitherto insoluble fertiliz-
ing constituents Of the soil. In fact.
even with special precautions to pre-
vent injurious fermentation under the
feet OF the animals and In the heap.
the greatest return Is likely to be got
from manure applied In the fresh con-
dition.
Methods Of Applying Manure.
In applying manure to the aeld three
methods are pursued: First. the ma
uure Is placed in larger or smaller
heaps over the field and allowed to re-
main some time before being spread;
second. 1t IL broadcasted and allowed
to lie on the surface for some time or
plowed In Immediately. and. third, 1t is
applied In the hill or drill with the
seed.
It has been the general experience
that probably the best way to utilize
barnyard manure is in combination
with such materials as supplement and
conserve its fertilixIng constituents.
Certain substances. such as kainit and
superphosphate. which are sometimes
employed as preservatives may also
be used to advantage to improve the
fertilizlng value Of the manure. but II
II necessary to do more than this II q
well balanced fertilizer is desired. for.
as has been shown. barnyard manure
considered simply IA suppIier of nj
trogen. phosphoric acid and potash is
comparatively ponr
Should Be Saved and Used.
Summarizing the experience Of OBJ.
servation in the use OF barnyard ma.
nue.. It may he said that II is the most
important manurial resource Of the
farm and should be carefully saved
and used. 1t represents fertility.
which Is drawn from the soil and
must be returned to II II productive
ness IL to be maintained. II not only
enriches the soil with the nitrogen.
phosphoric acid and potash. but II also
renders the stored up materials OF the
soil more available. improves the me.
chanical condition Of the SOIL makes ii
warmer and ena bles 1t to retain more
moisture
The urine is by far the most valua
BILE part OF the excreta OF animals II
is especially rich In readily availa BILE
nitrogen. which rapidly escapes into
the air II special precautions are not
taken 70 prpypnf its loss II iS Alxo