242 AGRICULTURE 



the field. It is a careless, shiftless method of farming that 

 allows this great waste, which is so easily prevented. 



The application of manure. For heavy soils, which 

 need to be made porous by the addition of vegetable matter, 

 it is well to spread manure on the field fresh from the stalls 

 without waiting for it to rot. It should not, however, be 

 allowed to lie long before being plowed under, as much of 

 its strength is lost in this way. For all lighter soils, and 

 especially such as have a tendency to dry out, the manure 

 should be rotted before being applied. 



The practise of throwing the manure in heaps on the 

 field and later spreading it is a mistake. For here also the 

 leaching takes place. Some of the best elements of the 

 manure are drained into the ground immediately under 

 the heap, and some are lost by passing off in the air. The 

 most economical and satisfactory method of spreading man- 

 ure is by use of the manure spreader. This machine saves 

 labor, and distributes the manure more evenly than is pos- 

 sible by hand. 



The amount of manure to be used will depend on the 

 strength of the manure and the condition of the soil. Five 

 tons to the acre is a light application, ten or twelve tons 

 average, and twenty tons a heavy application. 



3. Green Manuring 



As already suggested, the returning of the barnyard 

 manure to the soil, no matter how skilfully done, is not 

 enough to maintain the fertility. Our soils are everywhere 

 being gradually worn out. One of the most successful 

 methods of supplementing barnyard manure is by green 

 manuring. 



Meaning of green manuring. By green manuring is 

 meant plowing under any green crop for the purpose of im- 



