No. 4.] NITROGEN AND FERTILITY. 187 



fallow should never be practised from the standpoint of the 

 nitrogen supply. The aim should be to practise thorough 

 and frequent cultivation, and always keep a crop growing 

 on the land. This is even more important in the summer 

 and fall than in the first of the season. 



Handling and Value of Farm Manure. 



As has been already stated, the value of farm manure is 

 frequently greater because of the bacteria it supplies to the 

 soil than because of the plant food it carries. 



There is less loss of nitrogen if the manure is applied 

 about as soon as dropped by the animals, provided it can be 

 at once worked into the soil. 



Storing in compact and well-moistened piles retards fer- 

 mentation and reduces loss of nitrogen. 



The addition of litter, as straw, etc., tends to allow access 

 ijf air, and also supplies organic matter for the use of the 

 oacteria as food. Such additions hasten the decomposition, 

 increase the danger of loss of nitrogen and are usually not 

 to be recommended. For the same reason, it is better not 

 to mix horse manure with that from neat stock. 



Where practicable, it is better not to mix the urine with 

 the solid manure, because it ferments more rapidly and in- 

 creases the danger of loss of nitrogen. 



Nitrate of soda should never be mixed with farm manure, 

 as the bacteria may break it up ; and the nitrogen, if set 

 free, will escape into the air and be lost. 



Well-rotted farm manure is rich in nitrates, and should 

 be applied at such times that the loss from leaching will be 

 at a minimum, and to quick-growing crops that will speedily 

 use this very elusive but essential form of nitrogen. 



In order to get the best efiect from manure, it should, 

 whether applied fresh or rotted, be evenly spread. Putting 

 small piles in the field and spreading from these is a bad 

 practice. Even if the piles are not allowed to remain long 

 before spreading, the maniu'e will be very unevenly distrib- 

 uted. Even if a manure spreader is not used, it can be 

 better distributed by shovel from the cart than from the 

 gi'ound. 



