92 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



has been formed. It is clearly advisable to apply during 

 the winter to the more level fields ; but even on those with 

 considerable slope, if ploughed across the slope in the fall, 

 there will be little wash. The dressing of manure will help 

 to prevent it, as well as to protect soils of the lighter class 

 from the loss of fine particles by the action of wind. 



The portion remaining upon the surface in spring has lost 

 most of its virtue, and it may either be worked in with the 

 harrow or ploughed in, as circumstances render advisable. 

 It should perhaps be pointed out that a heavy application of 

 manure while the soil is frozen will hinder the comino; out 

 of the frost in spring, so that it may be inexpedient to follow 

 this plan where early garden crops are to be raised. 



The plan of hauling out manure during winter and early 

 spring, and putting into large heaps, to be forked over and 

 later spread, has little to recommend it for the common 

 farmer. It of course improves the mechanical condition of 

 the manure, but it involves much labor, and the pile under 

 ordinary conditions is subject to loss through leaching and 

 fermentation. Let an}^ farmer who has been accustomed to 

 follow this practice try the plan I recommend, and I believe 

 he will become convinced of its superiority. 



Use Manure and Fertilizer Together. 

 Upon most of our farms the supply of manure is in- 

 sufiicient. The majority of farmers use some fertilizer. It 

 is generally wise for the ordinary crops of the farm to use 

 these in connection with each other, rather than separately. 

 The physical effect of the manure is generally desirable, and 

 cannot be obtained by the use of fertilizers. It prevents 

 in a measure the cohesion of the particles in heavy clay, and 

 thus lessens the prolmbility of baking and cracking, and it 

 seems to increase the capacity of the lighter soils for moist- 

 ure. The constituents of manure are also in many cases 

 less promptly available than in fertilizers. It is desirable to 

 employ the latter to give the crop a quick start. And, 

 finally, the manure is more complete in its composition than 

 the fertilizer. The manure replaces at least in part the soda, 

 magnesia, silica, etc., removed in crops, while most fer- 

 tilizers do not. 



