MAINTAINING THE ORGANIC MATTER OF SOILS 167 



real value to the farmer can be determined only by the money 

 returns secured from increased yields. This depends upon several 

 factors: the soil itself, the crop grown, the price received for the 

 crop, the rate of application and the cost of the manure. 



As a general rule the better the soil the less need there is for 

 manure and the smaller the returns per ton from its use. The 

 poorer the soil the greater the need and the larger the returns. 

 Farmers recognize this fact and usually apply manure to the poorer 

 place.-; on their farms. 



All crops do not respond equally well to manure. Its value 

 may be increased by applying to the right crop. Timothy, corn 

 and wheat usually give good returns from applications of manure, 



Fio. 83. Manure spreader in action. The manure is torn apart so aa to be scattered uni- 

 formly. (J. C. Beavers, Cir. 49 Purdue Station.) 



yet corn may be a complete failure after manure. This is not 

 usually the fault of the manure, but of the amount applied and 

 subsequent management. Strawy manure plowed under late in 

 the spring without disking is very likely to injure corn because of 

 the effect on moisture movement. 



The common impression is that heavy applications of manure 

 are most profitable. The greatest profit, per ton of manure is ob- 

 tained from light applications when well distributed. This may 

 best be accomplished with the manure spreader. At the Ohio Sta- 

 tion at Woostor an average of twenty years shows a valuo of $3. -18 

 per ton where four tons of manure were applied. $2.70 with 8 tons 

 and $2.24 with lf> tons per acre. 



