FARM MANURKS 45 



1. Manure Produces a Better Moisture Condition. — Manure when 

 added to soils increases the water holding power of those soils 

 because of its humus content. Humus absorbs water readily. 

 A soil that has had manure added to it will resist drought better 

 than one where there is little or no humus. During a heavy 

 rainfall the soil with humus will absorb a great deal more water 

 and give it up more gradually than one without humus.* Manure 

 helps to conserve the moisture supply of soil during dry seasons. 



2. Manure Improves the Texture of the Soil. — Manure has a 

 very beneficial effect on most soils in improving the texture. 

 The addition of manure to sandy soils makes them more binding 

 and increases their water holding capacity. Clay soils are made 

 niore porous by the addition of manure. Some soils may pro- 

 duce good crops during favorable seasons without much organic 

 matter but when the season is bad it is almost impossible to get 

 the soil in good mechanical condition for crops. 



Number of Mangoi^d Plants Taking ioo as the Possible.' 

 Average of 7 years, 1901-7. 



The plot receiving rape cake, which was applied at the rate 

 of 2,000 pounds per year, shows the best results, but rape cake 

 like manure supplies a great deal of humus. A better stand was 

 produced with farm manure than with the artificial fertilizer. 



3. Manure Prevents Mechanical Losses by Winds. — The losses 

 occasioned by heavy winds on certain soils are sometimes more 

 than one would expect. Dry light soils devoid of organic mat- 

 ter are easily blown away by heavy winds. The addition of ma- 

 nure to such soils tends to keep them moist and prevents such 

 loss. 



4. Manure Benefits Grass Land. — Manure benefits grass land 

 not only by supplying plant food and increasing the moisture hold- 

 ing capacity, but also in protecting this crop from the frosts 



1 Hall, Fertilizers and Manures. 



