DAIRY MEETING. 1 79 



worth i8c. a pound passing off into space. In constructing the 

 bottom of the shed, scoop it out so that it is sHghtly concave 

 and be sure that no drainage from the pile runs off down the 

 hillside. It often becomes necessary to remove a part of the 

 manure from the cellar or shed during the winter to make room 

 for more that is being produced. In making the compost 

 heap in the field observe the same precaution. Do not build 

 the pile on a hillside but rather where the ground slopes toward 

 the center, and make the pile compact and keep it flat on the 

 top. 



The best method of applying in the field is a matter which 

 usually causes considerable discussion. The three common 

 ways are to draw daily from the stable and spread on the land, 

 to pile in small heaps, and let these remain for some length of 

 time, and to draw spring and fall from the pile and apply to 

 land plowed or to be plowed in the future. On account of the 

 amount of snow we have in this state the first is impossible 

 although it is the most desirable of the three. In my judgment 

 the second should never be practiced. The small pile of two or 

 three bushels offers the best opportunity imaginable for leach- 

 ing, heating and fermentation, so should be avoided. We 

 have then the third way left as the only alternr.tive. When- 

 ever possible I would advise getting the manure into the soil 

 either by plowing or harrowing as soon as possible. The soil 

 has certain powers of fixing nitrogen to a slight degree, and 

 potash and phosphoric acid to a greater extent, hence loss is 

 prevented. The practice of allowing a covering of valuable 

 stable manure to remain on sod land especially during variations 

 in temperature and when the ground beneath is frozen, is a 

 questionable practice, and should be avoided whenever possible. 

 Besides the loss of plant food the strawy matter valuable later 

 to form humus is often blown away and lost. Whenever it 

 can be afforded I would recommend the use of the manure 

 spreader. It is a great time saver to say nothing of its ability 

 to spread the manure more evenly and break it up finer. An 

 experiment tried last week on the college farm showed that a 

 man and team could haul out and spread 1-3 more manure with 

 a manure spreader than with a cart in a day's time. 



The figures that I have given you show something of the 

 value of the stable manure commonly produced, but often 

 ignored on many farms of the state. 



