80 TALKS ON MANURES. 



figure up what manure is worth when made from straw alone. 

 1 on take 4 tons of wheat straw, feed out part, and use part for 

 bedding. It will give you about 10 tons of manure. And this 10 

 tons cost you 50 cents a ton to load, draw out, and spread. Now 

 figure : 



" Four tons of straw is worth, for manure, according to Mr, 

 Lawfes' table, $2.68 per ton. We have agreed to reduce the figures 

 one half, and so the 



10 tons of manure from the 4 tons of straw is worth. . .$5.36 

 Drawing out 10 tons of manure at 50 cents 5.00 



Value of 10 tons of straw-manure in yard $0.86 



" In other words, if John Johnston's manure is worth only f 1.C3 

 per ton in the yard, the straw-made manure is worth only a little 

 over 3|- cents a ton in the yard." 



" That is too absurd," said the Deacon. 



" Very well," I replied, "for once I am glad to agree with yon. 

 But if this is absurd, then it follows that Mr. Lawes' estimate of 

 the value of certain foods for manure is not so extravagant as you 

 supposed which is precisely what I wished to prov^." 



" You have not tokl us how Mr. Johnston manages his manure," 

 said the Deacon. 



" There is nothing very remarkable about it," I replied. " There 

 are many farmers in this neighborhood who adopt the same 

 method. I think, however, John Johnston was the first to recom- 

 mend it, and subjected himself to some criticism from some of tiie 

 so-called scientific writers at the time. 



" His general plan is to leave the manure in the yards, basements, 

 and sheas, under the sheep, until spring. He usually sells his fat 

 sheep in March. As soon as the sheep are removed, the manure is 

 either thrown up into loose heaps in the yard, or drawn directly 

 to the field, where it is to ba used, and made into a heap there. 

 The manure is not spread on the land until the autumn. It re- 

 mains in the heaps or piles all summer, being usually turned once, 

 and sometimes twice. Tao manure becomes thoroughly rotted." 



Mr. Johnston, like the Deacon, applies his manure to the corn 

 crop. But the Deacon draws out his fresh green manure in the 

 spring, on sod-lind, and plows it under. Mr. Johnston, on the 

 other hand, keeps his manure in a heap through the summer, 



