MANURE 



MARANTA 



98 



Limited amounts of bedding were used in the tests from 



wtiich tlie foregoing figures were made. 



Ei7id of animal. Value per year. 



Fowls (1,000 lbs. of) $31 10 



Sheep " " 2B 09 



Calves '■ " 24 45 



Pigs " " 60 88 



Cows '[ '[ 29 27 



Horses " " 27 74 



Usuall5' these animals are kept in the stables but half of 

 the year, and inevitably some loss will occur, therefore 

 it will be safe to estimate the recovered value per year 

 at one-third to one-fourth of the above. 



Heretofore the waste of the valuable constituents of 

 Manures in the United States has been very great. Until 

 recently, large, open barnyards have been the rule. In 

 the northern and central parts of the United States the 

 rainfall exceeds 30 inches per annum. Many barnyards 

 contain from a quarter to half an acre. One inch of 

 rainfall equals 113 tons of water per acre. If this be mul- 

 tiplied by thirty, a fairly accurate estimate is secured of 

 the water which largely passes through or over the Ma- 

 nure and carries off its most soluble and hence most 

 valuable constituents. The loss of value in JNIanures 

 exposed at Ithaca, in loose heaps of from two to ten tons, 

 during six mouths, was as follows: 



1889. Horse manure 42« 



1890. Horse manure 62 « 



1890. Cow manure 30 i 



1889. Mixed, compacted 9» 



Even in horticulture, where a more liberal use of 

 Manure than in general farming is admissable, too much 

 reliance is often placed on Manures and too little on 

 tillage. Manures may furnish plant-food, improve the 

 physical condition of the soil, conserve and increase 

 heat and moisture. Ten to twenty times as much food 

 as the plants can utilize is sometimes applied. Growth 

 and development are more largely determined by the 

 amount of moisture than by the amount of plant-food. 

 Five tons of preserved barn Manure contain of nitrogen, 

 phosphoric acid and potasli, 60, 30 and 45 

 pounds, respectively. Twenty-flve bushels 

 of wheat, with straw, contain 45 lbs. of nitr" <= 

 gen, 18 lbs. of phosphoric acid, and 27 U>s. 

 of potash. Blost soils contain large amounts 

 of unavailable or diflficultly available plant- 

 food. Manures should be used largeiy to feed 

 plants between the time the nutrients in the 

 seed have been exhausted and that when the 

 plants have secured a i]rm hold on the soil 

 by manifold rootlets. Except where other- ^^M 



wise most suitable and convenient, barn Ma- B/lJi 



nures should be spread thinly in the autumn 

 or early winter on the surface where plants 

 are growing, thus imitating nature s methods of main- 

 taining and increasing productivity. \^ p^ Roberts. 



MAFANIA (aboriginal name). Cyperdcew. Perhaps 

 6 or 8 described species in tropical countries, compris- 

 ing strong perennial herbs, with broad and strong Ivs. 

 arising from the crown, and large fl. -clusters on mostly 

 leafless scapes: the small, perfect fls. contain usually 6 

 hypogynous scales, usually 3 stamens, and 3 flliforra 

 stigmas: nutlet sessile. 3 angled. The only species in 

 the Amer. trade is M. pandanaefolia, Sander. Its nativity 

 is not given, and it is possible that it does not belong to 

 this genus ( see Gt. 46, p. 522 ) . The plant is represented 

 as pandanus-like, 3-4 ft. high, with long, narrow, grace- 

 ful, stifflsh Ivs. G.C. III. 21 :349. Gt. 40, p. 523. In 

 European garden literature, M. Itcida, N. E. Brown, 

 and M. hiimilis, Vill. (from Malaya), are also described. 

 Index Kewensis regards these species as one. j)/, hn mills 

 being the older name. It is an erect-growing plant with 

 oblong strong-ribbed Ivs., which are produced into long 

 petioles and taper into long tail-like points. I.H. 32:557. 

 It is also known as Pa)uhinoph\illum Wendlandi, Hort. 



L. H. B. 



MAPLE. See .loir. Flowering M.=J6hY(7o)i. 



MARANTA (B.Maranta.Venetian botanist, died 17.i4). 

 Scitamini'iet'i . About 10 or 12 tropical American lit-rbs, 

 very closely allied to Calathea, but distinguished amongst 



other things by having 2 of the 3 locules in the fruit 

 empty. Most of the plants cultivated as Marantas are 

 Calatheas; and the true Marantas are treated the 

 same as those plants. These plants are often named be- 

 fore the tlowers are known, and some of the following 

 plants may belong to the genus Calathea. 



A. Leaves greeii, pnbeseevt heveath. 



arundinEicea, Linn Figs. 1370-71. Branched. 2-5 ft. 

 high, tuberous: Ivs. ovate-oblong and pointed: fls. 

 white in an open cluster, the upper lip roundish. Trop. 

 Amer. B. M. 2307. — One of the sources of arrow-root 

 (see Arroir-root), the plant being often called Bermuda 

 Arrow-Root. The starch is obtained from the roots. It 

 thrives along the Gulf coast, although little cultivated 

 There is a form with leaves variegated green and yellow 

 AA. Leaves green, marked with strong, parallel light 

 colored bars extending from midrib towards h 

 gin or with a wJiitish central stripe. 



spl§ndida, Lera. Glabrous: Ivs. 2 ft. or less long, 

 large, oblong-lanceolate, with base subcordate or some 

 what cuneate, short-acuminate at apex, above shininf 

 dark green and marked with pale green transverse bars 

 beneath violet-red. Brazil. I.H. 13:467-8. — By some re 

 garded as Calathea {C. splendida, Kegel). Resembles 

 Calathea Veitchiana. but more robust. 



1370. Maranta arundi 



lA. Lea I 



(X %). 

 th dark colors {some- 



hlotched orbai 



times contrasted H 



unduUta. Lind. & Andr^ (properly Calathea loidiildta, 



Kegel). Six to 8 in. high, compact: Ivs. ovate-oblong, 



the blade about 4 in. long, subcordate and unequal at 



