Norwich bulletin., 1915-11-18
Use Of. Manure.

r7I It lie preFa ling aninion of chem ists well Asa pEaetfcalg men that where5s it ise prac ctfeAble it is best to apply manure andsdfine to the soil in the freshest possible condition. The fertilizing constituents of well routed 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 a fermentation which not only increas- es the availability of it's own fertiliz- ing constituents of the soil. In fact, even with special precautions to pre- vent injurious fermentation under the feet an animals and in the heap, the greatest return is likely to be gotten from manure applied in the fresh con dition.
 The form in which manures should be applied (whether fresh or rot ted) is determined largely by the soil on which it is to be used and on the time of the year.
 manure produces no effect whatever during the first year on account of SlownesS of decomposition, but since the clay possesses very powerful ab- sorptive properties the manure is not lost. The fertilizing constituents are retained in the soil and are finally utilized by the crop. There is there fore little or no danger on this &C., count in applying manure to clay and heavy soils a long while in advance of the planting of the crop. The ap- plication to such soils of large quan- ical condition.
 The behavior Of calcareous soils toward manure is very variable, de- pending upon the compactness of the soil. On the other hand light soils which are sufficiently porous, decom- TnnSifinr with 0idifV and the soluble fertiliZing ConStitu ents formed may be partially carried away in the drainage water before they can be taken up by the plants. For this reason the manure should be applied shortly before it is needed by the crop, if on light land.
 Many experiments have shown that barnyard manure is one of the most effective means of increasing the pro- ductiveness of swamp or muck soils. This is thought to be due largely to the increase of available nitrogen brought about by the application of the manure:
 The climate also may have an i'm portant bearing on this subject. In a warm, damp climate it is matter of comp indifference whether the manure is fresh or well routed when lit is applied, since under these con- ditionS decomposition in the soil will be sufficiently rapid. In "a dry season, however, It Is well known that eXceS- sive applications of undecomposed manure manifest a tendency to "buru out the soil. and this. tendency, as has just been stated, is more marked in light soils than in heavy. In cold climates, where the season is short and the conditions for rapid fernnen- tation in the soil unfavorable, the use of fermented manure is preferable.
 Wood Ashes of Value.
 While the amount of wood ashes that a farmer could accumulate on his own farm would hardly ever be sufficient to supply. his need for pot ash, nevertheless, if they are carefully stored and not permitted to- leach. they may be of considerable value to him.
 Wood ashes may be proftably ap- piled as a top dressing to lawns and other parts of the farm where they will encourage the growth of clover and better kinds of grasses, which will then crowd out inferior kinds and weeds Wood ashes may also be used for corn and small trees, and shrubs. Because of their lime content they are not so good for potatoes. although