Manuring and Rotations 83 



This is the surest means of preserving soil fertility. Prac- 

 tically every farm produces a quantity of this by-product 

 of animal husbandry, and a wise use of it is fundamental 

 to permanent agriculture. Since the very dawn of history 

 the excreta of animals have been used as fertilizer. Al- 

 though for a long time little was known of the way in 

 which it improved the soil, the increased yield of crops 

 was evident. Manure is now known to benefit the soil 

 by adding directly a quantity of plant-food, by increas- 

 ing the organic matter, and by aiding the work of de- 

 sirable organisms. It may not in all cases be a com- 

 plete and well-balanced fertilizer for beets in all soils, but 

 it can always be recommended with safety. Where sugar- 

 beets have been raised for any length of time, farmers 

 have learned the great value of manure. Probably no 

 other common field crop has done more to promote a 

 careful use of farm manure. 



The amount to apply depends on that available, the 

 nature of the soil, and the rotation used. When beets 

 are raised in a regular rotation, the manure can usually 

 be applied with greater profit to the sugar-beet crop than 

 to almost any other crop in the rotation. An applica- 

 tion of five to twenty tons to the acre usually gives good 

 results ; ten tons is a fair application. The amount de- 

 pends in part on the kind of manure. Quality is influ- 

 enced by the kind of animal producing it and by a number 

 of other factors. Manure produced by poultry and sheep 

 is concentrated and dry; that produced by cattle and 

 horses contains more moisture and coarse material. The 

 manure of any kind of animal is influenced by the kind 

 of food it eats and by its age and work. Old animals 



