1 84 



SOILS AND FERTILIZERS 



spread, is not uniform in composition. Oats grown on land 

 manured in this way presented an uneven appearance. 



There were 



small patches, 

 thrifty and 

 overfed, cor- 

 responding to 

 the places 

 formerly occu- 

 pied by the 



FIG. 38. Unmanured Land. 



manure piles, while large areas of half-starved oats 

 might be observed. 



208. Rate of Application. -- The amount of manure 

 that should be applied depends upon the nature of the 

 soil and the crop. On loam soils intended for general 

 truck purposes, heavier applications may be made than 

 when grain is raised. For general farm purposes, 8 

 tons per acre are usually sufficient. It is better 

 economy to make frequent and light applications than 

 heavier ones at long intervals. When manure is 

 spread frequently the soil is kept in an even state 

 of fertility, and losses by percolation, denitrification, and 

 ammonification are prevented. Too often the manure 

 is not evenly distributed about the farm ; fields adjacent 

 to stables are heavily manured, while those at a distance 

 receive none. 



For growing garden crops, 20 tons and more per 

 acre are sometimes used. It is better, however, not 



