The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1920-08-06
Poultry Manure

is overestimated. Its content of plant
food is one-half greater than that of
horse manue, ton for ton. The avail
ability of the nitrogen is so great that
returns from applications are immedi-
ate and give the impression of greater
strength than is possessed. It's avail
ability makes it excellent for plants
that need forcing. For such use it
needs reinforcing only with acid phos-
phate, but as a general manure it
should have the addition of potash.
Acid phosphate should be used in the
poultry-house to prevent loss of nitro
gen, which escapes quickly on ac-
count of rapid fermentation, and to
supply phosphoric acid. Twenty
pounds of acid phosphate to each 100
pounds of the manure gives mixture
containing one pound of nitrogen, three
pounds of phosphoric acid, and two
fifths of pound of potash. The ad-
dition of four pounds of muriate Of
potash makes the mixture well bal
anced and effective fertilizer when
used at the rate of 500 to 1000 pounds
per acre. Dry muck or loan should
be mixed with it to serve as an alb
sorbent and to give good physical con-
Gition.
The Use of Stable Manure
The farm supply of stable manure
is a carrier of plant-food, returning
to the soil four-fifths OF all the fer
tiIity removed in the crops fed, but it
is much more than this. Land which
receives only plant-food, as may be
the case when fertility is supplied in
commercial fertilizers, loses good ply
sidal condition. Organic matter is
needed for maintenance of physical
condition, the retention of soil mois-
ture, the freeing of inert minerals ir
the land, and the promotion of BAG.
terial life in the soil. No small share
of the value of a ton of manure is due
to it's organic matter This is a fac
tor in the problem when deciding
what disposition of the manure will
pay best. One field may be in con-
dition to respond fully to the use Of
commercial fertilizers, while another
is too deficient in humus for best re-
suits. Some crops are more insistent
,inon supplies of organic matter thar
others.
Again, the disposition of the manure
depends upon the supply. If most
crops are fed on the farm, the manure
is a leading source of fertility for all
fields and crops, and may be used
once or twice in the crop rotation on
every field If the manure is in small
amount, due to a scheme of farming
involving the growing of crops for
market, the function of the manure
may be only to encourage the starting
of sods, in which legumes are lead
ing factor.
Direct Use for Corn
The practice of spreading manure
on grass land for corn is based upon
much good experience. The custom
is nearly universal in regions where
corn is an important part of four, five,
or six years rotation, and all of the
corn and hay is fed on the farm. This
disposition the manure permits the
handling at times when other work
does not rush. The supply carried
over from the spring is put on in late
summer, and the manure made in the
early part of winter can be drawn to
the field as fast as made. Manure
spread Immediately before the sod is
broken is less effective, as no teaching
of soluble elements into the surface
soil occurs before the coarse materia!
is buried in the bottom of the furrow.
The use of fresh manure for corn
is rational, because corn is a gross
feeder and requires much nitrogen
All plants having heavy foliage can
use nitrogen in large amounts. 1t is
possible to apply manure in excessive
amount for this cereal, the growth of
stalk becoming out of proportion to
the ear, but the instances are rela-
lively few. Ordinarily corn suffers
from lack of itrogen. When the farm
manure is in large amount, it's direct
use for corn is good practice.
Effect Upon Moisture
arse manures should not be
I'D down late in the spring, as they
ase the i'll effects of drouth. De.
vegetation, we'll mixed with the
Increases the soils water-holding
ity. but undecayed material in
bttom of the furrow Is harmful.
strawy manure, mad. immedi-
before the time for breaking a