MANUAL OF GENERAL AGEICULTUEE. 45 



(1) Compare the appearance of this oil (fat) with 

 that from flaxseed. Are the oils in flaxseed and the yolk 

 of an egg volatile ? 



45. ABSORPTION OF MANURE BY THE SOIL. 



Materials : A pan, a tall quart can, a large funnel, n, 

 beaker and quart of well rotted stable manure. 



Soak a quart of well rotted stable manure for two 

 days in enough water to cover it. Perforate the bottom 

 of a tall, narrow can, holding about a quart, and fill it 

 with dry soil. Set it in a large funnel. Pour off the water 

 from the manure and note its color. A large part of the 

 fertilizing value of the manure has dissolved in the water. 

 This suggests that the practice of piling manure in heaps 

 and letting it lay exposed to the leaching action of the 

 winter rains is a very wasteful one. Slowly pour the ma- 

 nure water over the soil and let it drain through into a 

 beaker. Compare the color of the drainage with that 

 before adding it to the soil. Has the soil absorbed the val- 

 uable part of the manure ? A common practice is to pile 

 a load of manure in a place, throughout the field, and scat- 

 ter the piles after they have rotted all winter. Will this 

 give an even distribution of the fertilizing part of the 

 manure ? 



46. FERTILIZER FIELD TESTS. 



This set of tests should be carried on in co-operation 

 with some progressive farmer whose farm is near the 

 school. Select a field that is not yielding well. Lay out 

 the field of uniform soil, or as nearly as may be, in plats 

 of 2 rods or 33 feet by 4 rods or 66 feet. There will be 

 one-twentieth of an acre in each plat. Put stakes at the 

 corners and keep an accurate record as to treatment. 

 When the soil is thoroughly prepared, and just before 

 seeding, apply the fertilizers by sowing them broadcast, 

 being careful that all parts of the plat receive the same 

 quantity of fertilizers. The eight plats should be fertil- 

 ized as follows : 



