FARM MANURES 



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various piles is often so strongly fertilized that 

 nothing can grow there unless it be rank, coarse 

 weeds. 



When the manure is spread on the surface and 

 allowed to lie for some time it is apt to become dry 

 and hard, and when finally plowed in, decays very 

 slowly. 



When the manure is plowed in or mixed with the 

 soil as soon as applied to the field there results an 

 even distribution of plant food in the soil, fermen- 

 tation takes place gradually and all gases formed 

 are absorbed by the soil, there is very little loss of 

 valuable nitrogen and organic matter, and the fer- 

 mentation taking place in the soil also aids in break- 

 ing down the mineral constituents of the soil and 

 making available the plant food held by them. 



Therefore it seems best to spread the manure and 

 plow it in or mix it with the soil as soon as it is 

 hauled to the field, when not prevented by bad 

 weather and other more pressing work. 



PROPER CONDITION OF MANURE WHEN APPLIED 



A large part of the value of barn manure lies in 

 the fact that it consists largely of organic matter, 

 and therefore has an important influence on soil 

 texture, and during its decay in the soil produces 

 favorable chemical changes in the soil constituents. 

 Therefore it will produce its greatest effect on the 

 soil when applied fresh. For this reason it is gen- 

 erally best to haul the manure to the field and mix 



