220 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL CANADIAN INSTITUTE.  [VOL. XI 
Weight for weight, fresh manure has given yields almost equal to those 
obtained from rotted manure, in spite of the fact that the latter contain 
higher percentages of plant food. This has been proved by careful 
experiments at Ottawa conducted over a considerable number of years. 
The reason for this is rather obscure. Possibly it is due in part to the 
fresh manure inoculating the soil with desirable micro-organisms to a 
greater extent than does the rotted and in part to the greater warmth 
set up by the fermentation of the fresh manure in the soil and the heat 
so developed benefiting the crop in its early stages. Be that as it may, 
the fact remains that rotting manure in large heaps in the fields—a 
method which is still quite common—is very wasteful. In general 
farming manure has no greater value than at the time of its production; 
indeed we may safely say, for the average farmer its initial value is its 
maximum value and the quicker it can be got into the land the 
better. 
If it is impracticable by reason of the depth of snow, or the condition 
of the land, to immediately spread the manure on the fields, the pile 
should be kept compact and moist, sheltered from the rain and unless 
heating takes place not turned. Manure made in loose boxes or pens, 
in which fresh litter as required is added and the manure allowed 
to accumulate under the cattle, is the best made on the farm, but this 
plan cannot be adopted for dairy cattle. 
In the winter small piles of 500 to 800 lbs. can be made on the fields 
to be dressed. Over the greater part of the Dominion such piles freeze 
through solidly and lose but little of their value. They can be spread 
as soon as the snow disappears. j 
For teaming the fresh manure from the farm buildings and its 
distribution on the land a manure spreader should be used. It is an 
implement that saves labour and in distributing the manure more evenly 
than can be done by hand, does most effective work. Undoubtedly its 
employment means a more even crop and larger returns from the 
manure than were obtainable before its invention. 
With the limited amount of manure usually at the command of our 
farmers it does not seem desirable to plough it under too deeply; if well 
incorporated with say the first five inches of soil it will by its fermentation — 
warm the surface soil and increase its moisture holding capacity and thus 
serve to nourish and feed the young crop when it is least able to forage 
deeply for its food. It is seldom indeed that there is a sufficiency of 
manure on the farm to allow of more than one application in each 
rotation. To which crop then shall it be applied? We counsel that 
manure should be applied for hoed crops in the rotation—potatoes 
mangels, corn, etc., for thereby the greater return will be obtained. 
