274 Bureau of Farmers' Institutes. 



Fresh manure gives better results than rotted manure on 

 heavy clay soils, when one desires to lighten the condition of the 

 soil. However, when one desires direct fertilizing ' action 

 promptly, fresh manure gives sufficiently quick returns on light 

 soils, becoming available as fast as the plant needs it, if the season 

 is not too dry. On heavy clay soils, manure decomposes slowly 

 and the constituents of fresh manure may not become available 

 as fast as needed. On this account, it may happen that on heavy 

 soils little benefit is seen from the application of fresh manure 

 until the second season after its application. 



In dry, hot seasons an excessive application of fresh stable 

 manure tends to " burn out " the soil, this tendency being more 

 noticeable in light than in heavy soils. 



Fresh manure used alone and in large quantities has a tendency 

 to favor rapid growth of foliage and stems at the expense of fruit 

 and grain. It is, therefore, more suitable for grasses, forage 

 plants and leafy crops than for grains, when used exclusively and 

 liberally. 



Such crops as potatoes, sugar beets and tobacco appear to be 

 injured in quality by the direct application of stable manure. 

 However, on some soils, usually heavy ones, it can be used satis- 

 factorily in growing sugar beets. It is advised in such cases to 

 apply the manure in the fall previous to the spring in which the 

 crops are to be put in, thus allowing time for a considerable 

 amount of decomposition; or it may be applied to corn, following 

 this with the crop liable to be injured by direct application. 



When fresh stable manure contains much coarse, undecom- 

 posed litter, it is better not to apply it until the coarse portion has 

 become more or less decomposed. 



Use of Rotted Manure. — In half-rotted manure, the fertiliz- 

 ing constituents, as a whole, are in readily available form for the 

 use of plants. Such manure is less bulky and more easily dis- 

 tributed than fresh manure. For the improvement of the me- 

 chanical condition of a soil, the best results come from using 

 rotted manure on light soils. It must, however, be remembered 

 that on such soils there is more or less danger that some portion 

 of the valuable fertilizing constituents may be leached out and 

 lost. On this account it is found advisable to apply such manure 

 to light soils only a short time before it is needed by the crop. 

 In general, rotted manure is better adapted to spring applications. 

 It is better to apply rotted manure on light soils at frequent inter- 

 vals in small amounts. 



