LOSS BY EVAPORATION. 243 



ing, unless in very loose soils, the question will arise, what did 

 become of it ? 



It may be said of dry soils, that the manure may be lost in a 

 great measure, because of the lack of sufficient moisture to 

 cause decomposition ; in such cases the manure should be 

 placed at such a depth as that it will decompose in season for 

 the wants of the crop. 



There is a fear in the minds of a good many farmers, that if 

 the manure is spread on the surface, that there will bo a great 

 loss by evaporation. But it is the opinion of Dr. Voelcker 

 " that the loss by evaporation of ammonia is very small when 

 the manure is spread on the ground, the loss by evaporation of 

 ammonia is when the manure is piled, and rapid fermentation 

 is going on," and further he says, " that the great loss is by the 

 washing of rains," and that the most advantageous way of 

 applying manure would be on the surface, that it may be 

 washed into the soil, by which means its distribution is more 

 uniform than when ploughed in. 



There have been some advocates of winter spreading manure. 

 I was very much interested in reading a short piece written by 

 the editor of the " Country Gentleman," published in that paper 

 of the date of January 16, 1868, upon this very subject, a part 

 of which I will quote : — 



" We often hear the objection that manure will wash away 

 and be lost. We have found this objection to be groundless, 

 unless it is spread in the bottom of hollows, or swales, or in the 

 channels of streams. As soon as the snow melts or the rain 

 falls, there is always enough of unfrozen soil at the surface to 

 absorb the dissolved manure. Even when placed on steep hill- 

 sides we have never found the enriching effects of the manure 

 to extend down the surface more than three feet on grass lands. 

 Those familiar with the process of irrigation are aware that the 

 large quantity of water used for this purpose has its fertilizing 

 portions quickly abstracted from it by the grass among which 

 it runs. After several years' trial, we have become satisfied that 

 winter manuring is much better than applying just before the 

 plougliing is done. At the same time that the injury to the 

 soil in spring by drawing heavy loads upon it is avoided." 



Although it seems to be the opinion of most sensible farmers 

 at the present day, that surface application is the most benefi- 



