l8o THE FIRST BOOK OF FARMING 



it with the soil as soon after it is produced as pos- 

 sible. 



If coarse manures are mixed with light, sandy 

 soils it is best to follow with the roller, otherwise 

 the coarse manure may cause the soil to lie so loose 

 and open that both soil and manure will lose moist- 

 ure so rapidly that fermentation of the manure will 

 be stopped and the soil will be unfit for planting. 



If it is desired to apply manure directly to deli- 

 cate rooted truck and vegetable crops it is best to 

 let it stand for some time until the first rank fer- 

 mentation has taken place and the manure has be- 

 come rotten. 



A good practice is to apply the manure in its fresh 

 condition to coarse feeding crops like corn, and then 

 follow the corn by a more delicate rooted crop 

 which requires the manure to be in a more decom- 

 posed condition than is necessary for the corn. In 

 this case the corn is satisfied and the remaining 

 manure is in proper condition for the following crop 

 when it is planted. 



Another practice is to broadcast the coarse ma- 

 nure on grass land and then when the hay is har- 

 vested the sod and remaining manure are plowed 

 under for the following crop. 



A study of root development in Chapter II. tells 

 us that most of the manure used for cultivated crops 

 should be broadcasted and thoroughly mixed with 

 the soil. A small amount may be placed in the 

 drill or hill and thoroughly mixed with the soil 

 for crops fhat are planted in rows or furrows in 



