162 Our Farming. 



them and put them separate. A buyer came and quickly offered 

 me my price for the 1000 bushels. But I knew I must make the 

 good sell the poor. Well, after much time I sold the lot to him 

 for five cents a bushel less than he offered for the 1000 bushels, 

 and agreed to hand pick the 1500 bushels, and take out 200 

 bushels at least of the poorest and then mix the two lots in the car, 

 putting the best on last. No more of this kind of work for me. 

 And still I have neighbors who put fresh manure on potato land 

 and are not troubled yet. I cannot say why, whether they have 

 not the germs of scab in their soil , or whether manure made on a 

 cement floor with all the urine in it makes a difference in the re- 

 sult. But I find that many are afraid to use fresh manure any 

 more. 



Some manure in the hill, but this now is mostly done by 

 gardeners and not by large growers. I would not think of doing 

 so. Get the manure mixed all through the soil as thoroughly as 

 possible. The roots will find it and it is better for them to be en- 

 couraged to spread out and feed widely. In case of drouth they 

 are in better shape to get all the moisture there is. Spread manure 

 very evenly in the fall on sod, if you prefer this plan, and let the 

 rains wash it down. The roots will practically prevent waste and 

 it will be well mixed in with the sod in the spring, and then you 

 plow with a lap furrow, not too flat over, and the fertility is well 

 scattered all through, but principally in the lower part, where po- 

 tatoes naturally like to have it. Corn will feed on manure nearer 

 the surface and sun to advantage (hence I would plow under 

 shallower for corn). Potatoes naturally love coolness and mois- 

 ture, and hence a deep soil and food rather deep is best, if the 

 land is well drained. I manured an acre heavily last fall with 

 rotten manure mostly, for experimental work. After the rains 

 had washed it down in the sod all winter, I still was not satisfied, 

 but went over the field twice with the cutaway harrow, which mixed 

 the manure and surface soil very nicely . It was practically all out of 

 sight when I got through . A year ago last spring a neighbor had a 

 sod all covered during the winter and spring with manure, but 

 somewhat roughly. I wondered if he would plow it under in that 

 shape, as many do. He did not, but got a big bush and fairly 

 bushed it until hardly any of it could be seen. That was doing 

 just right. And I think he never had as fine potatoes or as good 

 a prospect for wheat as he now has. We do not want to see how 

 little work we can get along with, but how much we can do that 

 pays well. Thorough pulverization of manure, and mixing with 

 soil where practicable, will always pay well. I have spoken of it 

 before, but can hardly say too much on so important a point. 



In regard to how to use fertilizers, I have nothing to say, as 

 they do not pay me on my soil. They do not even show any 

 effect whatever. The time may come when mineral matter may 

 be needed, more than is in the soil, or clover can pump up. 



