82 THE AMERICAN FARMER. 



twelve per cent, phosphoric acid, and from six to eight per cent, of potash. This is said to 

 prove valuable for either Southern sugar-cane or sorgo, and to greatly increase the quantity 

 of saccharine matter produced by the stalks. 



They also have a formula for cotton, containing from three to four per cent, of ammonia 

 and from ten to fourteen per cent, of available phosphoric acid. 



Dr. Nichols also has a formula for imitating barn-yard manure in its constituents and 

 results, but which is said to act rather more slowly than that substance, yet is more lasting in 

 its effects. It is as follows: One cord of seasoned muck, sixty-five pounds of crude nitrate 

 of soda, two bushels of wood-ashes, one peck of common salt, ten pounds of fine bone-meal, 

 two quarts of plaster, and ten pounds of Epsom salts. These are all to be carefully composted 

 before applying to the soil. 



The manufacturers of nearly all special fertilizers make use of the same materials, but, in 

 different proportions, some giving potash a larger proportion than others, while some rely 

 more upon nitrogen and phosphoric acid than potash. 



Application Of Manures. Formerly, it was the custom to plow in farm manure, 

 even on sod lands, it often being plowed under so deep as to be beyond the reach of most of 

 the plant roots during the first season after its application, while so large a portion of the 

 fertilizing elements were washed still lower by the rains, that they failed to benefit subse 

 quent crops; hence, much of the value of the material applied was wasted and lost to the 

 crops it was intended to benefit. 



Light covering and surface application were afterwards practiced with more satisfactory 

 results, and at the present time we find none among the more intelligent farmers, who would 

 think of covering manure heavily with soil. 



The reasons for receiving the most benefit with manures near the surface are obvious. 

 In order to obtain a vigorous start, plants need the stimulus supplied by this plant-food in the 

 early stages of life; and in order to be benefited by it, it must lie near them, where their short 

 and tender rootlets can reach it. If it is beyond their reach, they cannot be nourished by it. 

 By having it near the surface, they can grasp it readily, otherwise they will need to wait until 

 they can grow to the depth in which their food is hidden, before they can be benefited by it, 

 and this may be a slow and starving process. By having the plant-nourishment at the start, 

 a much larger crop will not only be secured, but it will mature earlier, and be more perfect 

 in its development. 



There is a tendency in manures generally to sink deeper in the soil; this fact argues in 

 favor of surface application. The principal objection brought against the latter is, that when 

 exposed to the atmosphere much of the ammonia contained in the manure is evaporated and 

 lost. This may be true to a certain extent, but we think the loss occasioned in this manner 

 not as great as is generally supposed. 



When stable manure is applied to the surface of lands, the moisture dries very quickly, 

 and as soon as dried, all evaporation and consequent loss of ammonia ceases; it is then left 

 for the rains and dews to gradually dissolve and take to the soil, where the rootlets can feed 

 upon it. The greatest loss to manure from exposure to sun and air, is during the process of 

 fermentation ; that occasioned by such exposure after this process being very slight, while 

 the benefits resulting from surface application are very apparent, and many times counter 

 balance the loss occasioned by it. 



When green manure is applied to grass-lands, many of our most successful farmers sow a 

 moderate supply of plaster upon it, as soon as spread, in order to hasten decomposition and 

 aid in preventing the escape of the ammonia. 



Seeds are generally mixed with unfermented manure, and often noxious weeds, that may 

 prove very troublesome to eradicate, are sown by its application ; they, however, will not take 

 root as readily on grass lands, where the turf is compact, as on a pulverized soil; hence 



