Manures and Commercial Fertilizers 99 



off into the air in the form of the volatile carbonate of 

 ammonia which every one can easily smell escaping from 

 a manure heap. The heat engendered in the fermentation 

 causes a rapid oxidation of the organic ihaterials in the 

 manure, and a loss of what would in the soil be making 

 humus. All over the country we see this practice. The 

 heaps in many places are thrown out imder the stable 

 eaves, and there is not only a loss from the fermentation 

 but there is also a great waste through the rain-water 

 falling on the heap and washing out its soluble plant food. 

 We have often seen drains made to carry off this manure- 

 water down hill to some stream that carries it away forever 

 from the farm. Every farmer should understand that the 

 manure from his stock is one of the most valuable assets of 

 the farm, and should use the utmost care in saving and 

 applying it. The sooner the manurial accumulations can be 

 got upon the land where they will feed crops, the better. 

 On many farms it is perfectly possible to haul out the 

 manure and spread it on the land as fast as it is made daily. 



On a farm where a good rotation of crops is practiced 

 there can always be found a place at all seasons of the 

 year where the manure can be spread and go to work 

 feeding plant roots instead of wasting in the barnyard. 

 In summer, after the clover is cut, the manure can be 

 profitably spread on the stubble. Or it can be spread 

 between the rows of com or cotton or any other crop 

 that may be in process of cultivation. During the winter 

 months it can be hauled and spread on the sod that should 

 be ready to go into corn the next spring. 



But it is not always practicable to haul out the manure 

 daily since there will come times when it is not practicable 



