200 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



them twice in the spring, the nitrification begins in that 

 manure pile long before it does out doors in the field, and 

 develops the nitrates so that when we apply it to our early 

 crops the nitrates are immediately available and the crops 

 the finest. Another point which the speaker made, and 

 which I thought was very fine, is the intensive cultivation 

 which he recommended. It lets the air into the soil, and 

 oxygen is essential to nitrification. Is that correct? 



Dr. Woods. Yes, sir ; that is correct. 



Mr. Howard. I think those are very fine points, that 

 we should let the air into the soil to sweeten it ; and don't 

 be led astray with the idea you are losing nitrogen by put- 

 ting bedding under your animals and getting it into your 

 manure. You are letting the air into the soil by the use of 

 this horse manure, and you are doing more good than you 

 can ever lose through the loss of nitrogen. You are really 

 helping the soil to develop its nitrogen, and putting it where 

 it will be of benefit to you. In using fall manure I would 

 say that I think there is very little loss from fall manuring 

 where it can be plowed in. But where the crops raised are 

 those which you want early in the season, it would pay the 

 farmer far better to })ile his manure and overhaul it in 

 the spring and apply it then, because the nitrates are there 

 ready for the crop. 



Question. We have a piece, of low ground which is 

 largely composed of vegetable matter. When we plow it, 

 it turns over dark colored. What kind of manure or fertil- 

 izer can I put on that to the best advantage ? I can guess 

 that ashes might be good ; I can guess that stable manure 

 might be good ; I can guess that hen manure might be good. 

 I have those fertilizers. Which of those three fertilizers 

 that I have mentioned would be best for me to use? 



Dr. Woods. It is hard for me to answer that, without 

 knowing a little more about the low ground than I do ; but 

 the chances are, if it hasn't been thoroughl}^ well drained, it 

 will be a little acid, and conse(iuently ashes and lime would 

 help that. If deficient in nitrogen-transforming organisms, 

 stable manure would i)i-obably give returns far beyond any 

 manui'iul value that is in the manure itself because of the 



