POISONED MANURE. 



Manure made from straw that has been affected by rust, 

 mildew, smut and bunt, should not be mixed with the general 

 manure. The spores of the fungi that cause these diseases are in 

 the straw as well as in the grain. They hibernate well until the 

 spring in farmyard manure, and are then ready for active life. 

 Such a manure should not be used to manure cereals, otherwise 

 one is sure to have another attack of these diseases in the next 

 crop. The land from which the diseased crop has been removed 

 should not be used for cereals or the same class of crop at least for 

 two years following. It is very possible that some of the failures 

 of rust-proof wheats that have occurred have been due to the 

 application of infected manures, or through being sown in land 

 where fungoid spores were lying dormant until the time of the 

 growth of the crop commenced. The haulms and diseased tubers 

 of potatoes that have been attacked by the potato disease should 

 not be thrown on the manure heap. If they are mixed with the 

 manure the fungus of the potato disease is introduced into the whole 

 of the dung. The diseased tubers and haulms should be burnt. 

 For manure made from straw affected by the fungi of either rust, 

 mildew, smut, or bunt, Griffiths recommends an application of 

 ferrous sulphate, one pound to the gallon of water, to be applied to 

 the manure before ploughing it into the land. He also recommends 

 a top dressing of half a cwt. of ferrous sulphate per acre to wheat 

 likely to be attacked by the fungi, shortly after it has appeared 

 above ground. 



Farmyard manure is estimated to contain from 13 to 14 per 

 cent, of organic matter containing -4 to '65 per cent, of nitrogen. 

 The mineral matter from 4 to 6-5 per cent., containing 4 to 7 per 

 cent, of potash and -2 to -4 per cent, of phosphoric acid. 



From these ligures Warington has calculated that one ton of 

 farmyard manure contains from 9 to 15 Ibs. of nitrogen and potash, 

 and 4 to 9 Ibs. of phosphoric acid. These quantities of nitrogen 

 and phosphoric acid calculated to (95 per cent.) nitrate of soda (97 

 per cent.) sulphate of ammonia, and (25 p r cent.) superphosphate, 

 give respectively equal to 96 Ibs. of nitrate of soda, 45 to 75 Ibs. of 

 sulphate of ammonia and 35 to 79 Ibs. of superphosphate. 



A light dressing of farmyard manure is from 7 to 10 ton- per 

 acre, medium or ordinary from 12 to 18 tons, heavy 20 to jS tons, 

 and very heavy 30 tons. Farmyard manure should always be used 

 in conjunction with artificial manures. 



IRRIGATION WITH Liorin MANTRK. 



It is held by not a few practical market gardeners that it is an 

 economical method to apply the liquid portion of farmyard 

 manure, by irrigation, as a top dressing to the voting crop. 

 It not only supplies moisture, but also a large amount ot soluble 

 plant food easily assimilated by the young crop, which will enable 



