1891.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 4. 25 



Professor Whitcher. I would rather have it put on the 

 land in August or September than late in the fall or in the 

 winter. 



Secretary Sessioxs. "Why? 



Professor "Whitcher. Because the fall rains would wash 

 the plant food into the soil, and there would he no danger 

 of its running off, as there is when the soil is frozen. I 

 believe the safe rule, the correct rule, is to apply manure 

 just as soon as possible after it is produced. If it lies in the 

 barn cellar it ferments, and there is some loss ; if it lies 

 under the eaves there is a washing out, — a big loss. If it is 

 put onto the soil as soon as produced, whatever leaching 

 there is goes into the soil. I would draw out manure any 

 day in the year after the field was cleared so that a team 

 could get there, even if the snow were two feet deep. We 

 practice this method, and I believe it is the correct one. 

 Get it out of the stable and onto the ground as soon as pos- 

 sible. Putting manure on a field at any time, unless the 

 ground is very steep, in my opinion does not involve any 

 loss. 



Mr. Charles Parker of Holden. "Would it not be far 

 better to use a harrow or plough when it is put on the field 

 in" August or September, and cover it up? 



Professor "Whitcher. Yes, it would be better because of 

 the fact that, if the manure dries on the surface, it gets into 

 very hard lumps; whereas, if it is worked into the soil, it 

 will be kept moist. Still, that practice could not be carried 

 out with us, because we draw it out when the land is frozen ; 

 but I think the suggestion is a good one, — that it should be 

 mixed with the soil, if possible. 



Mr. Hersey. Is there not another loss in allowing 

 manure to decompose in a heap, through the escape of car- 

 bonic acid gas ? Is not that beneficial to the soil ? When 

 it escapes in the soil, does it not hasten the decomposition of 

 the soil itself, and thus let loose the plant food that is in the 

 soil, and may it not be also beneficial to the growth of plants? 

 As common air contains only about 6 parts in 10,000 of car- 

 bonic acid gas, would it not be beneficial to the growth of 

 plants to have some of it escape from the soil while it was 

 escaping from the manure in the process of decomposition ? 



