

Farm Manure. 137 



fermentation and nitrification. In clay soils it is possible to 

 bury the manure so deeply as to prevent decay, while in open 

 sandy soils this danger is not so great. In very compact soils it 

 has been recommended that the depth should not exceed 4 inches. 

 During very dry seasons much harm may result from plowing 

 under large amounts of coarse manure, as there may not be suf- 

 ficient moisture in the soil to bring about the decay of the organic 

 matter. This undecayed material may result in a physical in- 

 jury to the soil. 



Applied to sod. A practice that is highly recommended is to 

 apply the manure as it is made to meadow or sod land that is 

 to be plowed and planted the following spring. In this way what 

 is applied in summer or early fall is partly used by the growing 

 crop, thus avoiding losses, and when the sod is plowed under the 

 entire plant food can be used by the succeeding crop. Manure 

 applied to pasture or meadows during the summer or fall aids 

 in conserving the moisture by its action as a mulch, as well as 

 supplying plant food and inducing a longer season of growth. 



Fresh and rotted manure. The form in which manure should 

 be applied is determined largely by the soil on which it is to be 

 used. On heavy soils containing large amounts of clay, more 

 benefit will be derived from fresh manures than from those that 

 are well rotted. The fresh manure warms these cold soils, makes 

 them more porous, and the fermentations that take place during 

 decay tend to make the soil more mellow. 



On light or sandy soils, on the other hand, those manures that 

 are well rotted will be found most beneficial. Such soils are 

 likely to suffer from the drying and heating effect of raw, coarse 

 manure, and to have their porosity increased to an undesirable 

 extent. "While it is doubtful if moderate quantities of fresh ma- 

 nure are seriously injurious to these soils, nevertheless, if applied 

 in large quantities, it is much safer to have the manure well 

 rotted. It will then improve the mechanical condition of the soil 

 and increase its water retaining power. 



Fresh manure has a forcing effect and tends to produce stems 



