Oxford Democrat., 1916-02-29
Liquid Manure without Absorbents.

In reply to an Ohio correspondent l
will give little OF our own experience
along the line concerning which inquiry
is made. Quite q number of years ago
we put q cement floor in our COW stable
45 feet In length, with two vats under
meath to hold the liquids that would
run into them. The COWS were well
bedded with cut straw and that OF course
absorbed some, but most found It's way
into the vats. We use discarded, wood
on, sap, gathering tank for drawing ont
the liquids. This large square box holds
three barrels. 1t is placed on . stone-
boat from which 1t runs out In thin
sheet upon the land or crop to which 1t
10 applied.
Where there is large amount Of this
fertilizer 1t would be better to have Q
distributor adapted to the purpose.
This could be either Of wood or other
material filed with small holes for the
outlet, somewhat like street sprinkler.
Have never paid particular attention as
to how much was applied to the acre.
but should judge from Is to 30 barrels.
Your INQUIRER can best settle this matter
for himself by trial, but it would not be
best to apply too large quantity at first,
as It is quick-acting, strong fertilizer,
-as We found out.
We have applied it mostly to grass
land. 1t has proved itself we'll adapted
to this crop and has thus far produced
excellent results. We apply In fall, win
ter or spring, as often as the tanks get
filed. 1t should be applied to grass
when wet to prevent coloring and posi-
bly, injury, and not after 1t gets to be
very high.
An application was once made when
the grass was nearly foot high and
when 1t was dry. This was mistake as
was soon found. The liquid was so
strong that 1t turned the grass to yel-
low color and my son feared he had in
jured 1t, but it soon regained Its natural
color and made an excellent growth.
1t happened last year that the liquid
was applied In winter to narrow strip
of land that was to be sown to oats and
seeded to grass. This was a mistake for
the liquid was 80 strong that 1t prodnc-
ed large, tender growth of the oats
that fell fat to the ground, where they
remained to the injury of the crop 10
heading and filling. Where this was
the case the grass seeding was killed
outright and had to be renewed.
From this experience would not ap-
ply 1t on sown grain crops liable to lodge
or fall down. I presume II 1t were
spread on land to be devoted to corn,
say on the sod and plowed under in the
fall, it would do all right. Neither
would use it with potatoes, as 1t might
encourage the rot. But for grass under
the conditions mentioned have great
faith in its good results. But l would
not at first undertake to get large crops
from a meadow or field on which the
grass is far gone or run out. Such land
should 6rst be plowed, we'll manured,
and put into a good, thoroughly Guilt
waited crop, like corn, and then seeded to
grass. Then with moderate amount of
with manure or the liquid
fertilizer as often as needed, maximum
crops of the best hay should be secured
for several years, when the process OF
rotation should be repeated.
Here is hoping that this inquirer and
all others interested will seek after the
best methods in the making, saving, and
using of all manurial substances pos.
sible, both solid and liquid, as herein
lies in large measure the success to be
secured on the fsrm.-E. R. Towle, In
HOard's Oairyman.