434 MISCELLANEOUS FARM SUBJECTS 



applied to light soils shortly before it is likely to be needed by the 

 crop. In general, it may be said that for spring application the 

 more readily available rotted manure is preferable to the fresh un- 

 rotted material. 



On clay soils it often happens that manure produces no effect 

 whatever during the first year on account of slowness of decomposi- 

 tion, but since the clay possesses very powerful absorption proper- 

 ties the manure is not lost. The fertilizing constituents are retained 

 in the soil and are finally utilized by the crop. There is therefore 

 little or no danger on this account in applying manure to clay soils 

 a long while in advance of the planting of the crop. During dry 

 seasons the manure may produce little effect, but with a sufficient 

 amount of moisture its action is likely to be considerable. The 

 application to such soils of large quantities of manure improve their 

 physical condition. 



The behavior of calcareous soils toward manure is very varia- 

 ble, depending upon the compactness of the soil. In those which are 

 sufficiently porous decomposition goes on with great rapidity, and 

 the soluble fertilizing constituents formed may be partially carried 

 away in the drainage water before they can be taken up by the 

 plants. For this reason, as in case of light soils, the manure should 

 be applied shortly before it is needed by the crop. 



Many experiments, notably those made by the Michigan and 

 [Wisconsin stations in this country, have shown that barnyard ma- 

 nure is one of the most effective means of increasing the produc- 

 tiveness of swamp or muck soils. This is thought to be due largely 

 to the increase of available nitrogen brought about by the applica- 

 tion of the manure. 



The climate also may have an important bearing on the sub- 

 ject. In a warm, damp climate it is a matter of comparative in- 

 difference whether the manure is fresh or well rotted when it is 

 applied, since under these conditions decomposition in the soil will 

 be sufficiently rapid. In a dry season, however, it is well known 

 that excessive applications of undecomposed manure manifest a 

 tendency to burn out the soil, and this tendency, as has just been 

 stated, is more marked in light soils than in heavy. In cold cli- 

 mates, where the season is short and the conditions for rapid fer- 

 mentation in the soil unfavorable, the use of fermented manure 

 is preferable. 



Fresh manure has a forcing effect and tends to produce stems 

 and leaves at the expense of fruit and grain. It is therefore better 

 for early garden truck, grasses, and forage plants than for cereals 

 or fruits. 



Direct application of fermenting manure, as is well known, 

 seriously injures the quality of tobacco, sugar beets, and potatoes, 

 although mangel-wurzels appear to profit by large applications. 

 For these reasons it is advisable in the case of cereals, tobacco, po- 

 tatoes, and sugar beets to use only well-rotted manure or to apply 



