208 ■ HANDY-BOOK OF HUSBANDRY. 



good arguments in favor of plowing it in, I am inclined to very 

 strongly recommend that it be spread upon the furrow, — after 

 rolling, if the roller is used at all ; if not, after once harrowing, — 

 and then be thoroughly worked into the surface with the culti- 

 vator. Shares' harrow, or common harrow. So treated, it will lie 

 where the earliest roots of the crop will feel its effect, and its 

 constituents will be more evenly distributed by rains than if it 

 were more deeply covered. 



I have lingered over this branch of my subject, and have given 

 it what may seem to be an undue share of attention ; but the uni- 

 versal applicability and usefulness of manure made by the domes- 

 tic animals, together with its almost universal production, give 

 greater importance to the methods of its preservation and use than 

 attaches to any other fertilizer. 



There remains, still, one question connected with the manure 

 of the farm that is of some consequence. That is, as to the rela- 

 tive value of the excrements of different animals. The broad 

 statement of the case is, that the quality of the manure depends 

 on the food, and not on the animal by which it is consumed ; 

 that is, no matter what animal it may be to which we feed a 

 bushel of corn, if he is of mature age, not increasing in any of 

 his parts, be he horse, ox, sheep, or hog, he will return, in his ma- 

 nure, the full equivalent of the nitrogen and earthy parts of his 

 food. In proportion as parts of his food are taken to make bone, 

 flesh, wool, etc., the manure will be of less value ; but the bones 

 of a horse do not differ materially from those of other animals, 

 nor does his muscle. The difference of fertilizing power must be 

 attributed, mainly^ to a difference of food. Still, the completeness 

 of digestion varies somewhat, in the various species, and this has 

 an effect on the character of the manure — more, however, on the 

 rapidity than on the amount of its action. 



There is not very much to be said as to the use to be made of 

 the different manures, when well rotted, save with reference to 

 that of the pig-sty, which should never be used, no matter how 

 thoroughly decomposed it may be, for any of the hrassica tribe, 

 (cabbage, cauliflower, ruta-baga, or any of the smooth-leaved tur- 



