VOL. LXIII
INDIANAPOLIS  SEPT. 26, 1908.
NO. 39
%xpzxi&utt §ZV&XttU£Ut
THE MANURE CROP.
A Manure-Clover Rotation.
lst Premium.—I have learned by observation, practice and study that the old
way of allowing the manure to pile up iu
cur barnyards to be hauled just anj tirr.e
we haven't anything else to do and then
to be hauled where most convenient aud
possibly thrown in piles for a number of
weeks to be leached and washed away
decs not pay. It pays best to haul direct-
lv to the field and to scatter ni:e ami
even. By the use of a spreader this can
be done far better and more rapidly, as
well as at a great saving in manure, on
account of a more even distribution, and
it will be a saving of at least one-third.
Sometimes we wonder at the lightest application of barnyard manure that can be
applied with a spreader, how so Uttle
plant food can effect such a wonderfu'
amount of good, quite equal at times to a
much heavier application. This is caused
by the bacteria in the manure. The
listeria not only act on the manure itself
1 nt seem to have a decomposing effect upon tbe soil arouud the manure. This
should cause the moderate application of
manure upon as large an area as possible.
'Ihe sooner the manure can be put en the
ground, the better, so as to secure the
l.enefit of the entire period of decomposition directly in contact with the soil.
Where best applied must be decided by
the farmer himself. There is no crop
grown on the farm that does not amply
repay a farmer for the work of scattering
out the manure. The only real trouble
that farmers have with the manure question is where to procure enough to supply
the demands of the soil, but that can be
answered in this way: Toil should 'lever
cease until we have our field in prime con-
slition so it will produce a full crop of
.rrain, then turn our attention to another
lield with manure and continue number
one with elover until the round is made
of the fields upon the farm.
As for myself, I have a special preference for applying manure as a top dress
ing on any wheat field. I apply all [
oan collect before drilling my wbeat, then
at any time before the wheat is up we can
npply a thin dressing, and also an? time
in winter when tne ground will permit.
This will not only benefit the wheat but
will also greatly aid in procuring a good
''ven stand of clover.
It is truly said that the manure waste
is one of the greatest wastes upou the
farm. The liquid manure is worth
three-fifths more than the solids, and but
few of us are equipped for saving the liquids. This can be greatly reme 'ied by
"sing plenty of bedding as absorbents,
both in barn and yards. Do not aiell of
burn the straw. Save all the corn stover
and get it shrssddsed. Keep plenty of
stock, using all the straw and refuse
stover for bedding, and buy some if netd-
P<1, and the victory is sure in the shape of
banner crops. Farmer.
The Value of the Spreader.
-d Premium.—The purpose of lUiliziii/
«H manure is to add to the productiveness of the soil. It can be readily seer,
mat if all tbe properties of the Soil withdrawn from it by the crops were return-
*•• its fertility would not be depleted;
""I this is impossible since the wheat and
clove* seed are usually sold, and a portion
of the constituents of the feed is taken up
bj the growing stock, and more is Isis!
through fermentation before getting the
manure back into the soil. It is apparent that the value of the manure ai.'d
the benefits resulting from its application
aie dependent, iu a large measure, on
cur returning it in the shape most required by the soil and with the least possible
loss of fertilizing properties. The method whieh enables us best to do this is
therefore mest profitable.
All other things being equal    the quic''-
be taken to preserve the liquid manure, ns
tbis is by fur the most valuable. Use
plenty of litter to absorb this, and do net
delay the hauling till much of the nitrogen
i;   lost  through   fermentation. It  hns
been learned through experiments that
where manure lies in heaps exposed *o the
weather for several months it loses from
one-third  to  one-half  its value.
In the spring it may be put on tho corn
anil oats ground, iu tbe summer on the
meadows, and in Uie fall on the wheat
and ground that is intended for potatoes
Home of Geo. W. Morris,   Madison  County.
er the manure is gotteu onto the fields ths
more  profitable  it   is. In   doing   this'
however, it is necessary to exercise judgment in putting it where it may be most
readily utilized and not be lost by washing into drains and hollows. Well rotted
manure usually brings a more immediate
return as its constitutents are more avail
able, but in rotting much of its value i!
lost. If the manure could be preserved
in sueh a way as to prevent fermentation
nnd leaching it would be in better condition after becoming partially rotted, but
it is doubtful whether it pays to incur r.
ocnsislerable expense iu building sheds or
vets. A basin may be concreted at but
little expense, which will catch and retain the liquid manure, but beyond this
ir is doubtful if anything is gained by
delay. It is objected that in a dry sea
son where fresh manure is applied the soil
may   burn   out. Notwithstanding   this
ic is generally conceded that the manure
should be hauled out as fast as it accumulates, and evenly spread on the fields.
For this purpose a manure spreader is indispensible as with it the manure may be
spread more evenly and in finer particles,
which makes it more available for au immediate return.
The rate of application depends on several considerations, on the kind of crop it
is intended to grow, the condition of the
toil, the length of time since the last application, etc. Usually from 10 to 15
itons per acre is considered ample. It
is better to put on this amount more frequently than to apply more heavily at less
frequent intervals.      Especial care >.hoald
the following seasou. In the winter it
may be put on the meadows and ground
that is to be broken in the spring, where
it is level. Where the ground is rolling
it is better to apply immediately before
plowing.
If the cost of a spreader seems heavy,
two or three may purchase one in partnership, but have a spreader by all
means. Have enough stock to make a.1
the manure possible, and get it out without delay that its entire value may be
utilized. J. Ii. H.
How Manure Deteriorates.
3d. Premium.—Barnyard manure is the
most important manurial resource of the
farm and should be carefully saved and
used. It represents fertility drawn from
tl.e soil and must be returned to it if
productiveness is to be maintained. In
many rases it has been demonstrated tbat
the value of the manure obtained in cattle
feeding represents largely, if not entirely, the profit of feeding. Manure contains all the fertilizing elements required
by plants, in forms that insure plentiful
en ps and permanent fertility to the soil.
It not only enriches the soil with the nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash which
it contains, but it also renders the stored-
up materials of the soil more available,
improves the mechanical condition of the
so'l, makes it warmer, and enables it to
tetiaiu more moisture or to draw it up
from below.
The deterioration of manure residts
trim two chief causes, weathering or
leaching  and   fermentation.       Loss   from
leaching may be prevented by storage under cover or in pits. The loss from
destructive fermentation may be almost
entirely prevented by the use of proper
absorbents and by keeping the manure
moist and compact.
It is best to apply manure in the fresh
eoodition. Fresh manure is best adapted for the improvement of heavy soil, and
well-rotted manure to light soils. Fresh
manure has a forcing effect, and is better united to forage and grasses tban to
plants grown for seed. It often proves
i.ijurious to put manure direct upon root
crops,    such as potatoes and sugar beets.
The rate of application must be determined by circumstances. No fixed niles
eai. be given. Manure should be spread
wl.en carried to the field, and not left in
heaps to leach. It is much better to
manure lightly, and frequently than to
apply a large amount at longer intervals.
Gssod sods are the foundation of good
farming for most land. Top dressing
the meadows with manure will give double results. There would be more lia-.
for feeding and more fertility ini the clover
sod. A light dressing of manure, work-
■ I into the surface soil before seeding
down, a dressing after harvest will bring
bigger returns than an equal amount of
manure could bring iu the form of corn.
The man who can make heavy sods will
Snd tbat soil fertility will take care of
itself in a large measure.
Another very profitable way is to use
the manure spreader and spread a thin
leycr of manure over the wheat alo.ig in
tbe winter. In top dressing corn ground,
begin the fall before the ground is plowed and continue up to within four to six
weeks of plowing time. This method is
preferable to that of spreading it on the
giouud after the ground is plowed. When
the manure is applied after the ground is
plowed, unless the season is long anil
not too dry, it does but little good for
that crop, as the plant food in the manure does not become dissolved in time to
belp  the  corn.
The Farmers' Bulletin recomniensis
having a convenient covered barnyard f-v
the manure. It states that sueh a build
ing would be inexpensive and reasonably
durable. It would serve as a place for
depositing manure when needed and it
wculd shelter the animals while they aTc
being watered and the stables are being
cleaned and aired, and prevent loss of
valuable fertilizing material either by
leaching or firing. Mannre well cared
lor mny be safely taken as one of the surest indications of thrift and success in
fanning. B.   I;.  K
No. 655, Oct. 3.—Tell how to dehorn
ccttle?     Is it advantageous?   Is it cruel?
Ho; 056, Oct. 10.—Give an estimate of
the value of the proper and systematic
dragging and grading of country roads.
No. 657, Oct. 17.—What legislation is
needed that would be of especial interest
to  farmers?
Mayor Perfirlo Diaz, Jr., son of President Diaz of Mexico, will visit Omaha
during the National Corn Exposition in
December, and has advised the exposition management that he will be accom-
pauied by Lie. Luis Gorozpe who will deliver a lecture at the agricultural congress, to be held in connection with the
exposition, on the subject of "Agricultural Conditions in Mexico." The lecture
will be illustrated with views of Mexico,
tind the sister republic will also have an
exhibit at the National Corn Exposition,