FERTILIZERS 21 



sandy or open soils, stable manure serves to bind 

 them together and assists in the retention of mois- 

 ture. On being applied to heavy clay soils the 

 manure lightens the soil and improves cultural 

 conditions. There are very few soils not greatly 

 improved by liberal applications of stable manures, 

 especially if the manure is first composted and ap- 

 plied to the land in a partially decomposed state. 

 In this way its real value may be as high as $2.50 

 or $3 a ton. 



The claim has been made by some celery growers 

 that heavy applications of manure to peat or muck 

 lands has a tendency to produce blight. Where 

 these cases have come under observation the 

 trouble has proved to be a firing of the foliage, 

 probably caused by the decomposition of the fresh 

 manure which has been applied in large quantities 

 shortly before planting the crop. The manure 

 should be plowed under in the autumn, or com- 

 posted under shelter during the winter and spread 

 upon the land early in the. spring. If an early crop 

 of peas or beans is grown on the celery land, the 

 manure may be first turned under and again 

 brought to the surface when the soil is re-plowed 

 for planting the celery crop. If the manure is 

 thoroughly composted before spreading it may be 

 applied after the final plowing and harrowed into 

 the soil. 



For the production of a home supply of celery 

 there is no fertilizer so efBcient as well rotted barn- 

 yard manure. The objections to the extensive use 

 of manure in commercial celery growing are the 



