supplement and in some cases promote bacterial action, 

 without which stable manure, and even the organic portion 

 of the fertilizer, would be barren in results. The progressive 

 farmer, therefore, supplements and improves his stable manure 

 by the use of concentrated fertilizers in the same way that he 

 supplements and improves his hay with the use of concentrated 

 grain foods in feeding his stock. 



While it is absolutely true that stable manure is a good 

 source of fertility, yet it is by no means the cheapest if one has 

 to buy it, neither is it absolutely essential in the growing of 

 many farm crops. This is shown by the enormous and rapidly 

 increasing areas which are planted annually to com, cotton, 

 tobacco, wheat, potatoes and vegetables on commercial fer- 

 tilizers as the sole dependence in the matter of plant food. In 

 fact, the best potatoes and vegetables are now grown on com- 

 mercial fertilizers as a rule. 



Incidentally, it should be noted that twenty years ago 

 manure sold in city stables at about $10 a cord. Today, 

 unless a stable is very advantageously located, farmers and 

 gardeners are getting manure at a nominal price, and, in many 

 cases, for the hauling. The introduction of commercial manures 

 has been one of the causes of the reduction in the price of stable 

 manure, for which the farmers should be thankful. 



The Germans have a phrase which signifies "manure sick 

 land." With cheap stable manure we are likely to have such a 

 condition around large cities. On such land commercial ma- 

 nures should be applied, and occasionally lime or wood ashes, 

 in order to promote the slightly alkaline condition of the 

 soil which is necessary for satisfactory crop growth. 



Finally, the question as between the purchase of stable 

 manure ' and commercial fertilizers resolves itself into two 

 parts: First: Do one's soil and the character of the 

 crops to be grown reqmre the excessive humus of stable 

 manure for the most profitable returns? Second: How much 

 can one afford to pay for this humus, knowing that it can often 

 be obtained, or all that is needed, by a rotation of crops or by 

 plowing in stubble or green crops ? Assuming that the actual 

 plant food in a cord of stable manure is worth, on a fertilizer 

 basis, $3 per cord, what is the humus, the remainder of the 

 cord, worth, and how much will it cost to haul or freight it and 

 apply it to one's own soil and crop requirements? 



29 



Manure 

 Not 



Cheapest 

 Source 



Manure- 

 Sick 

 Land 



Count the 



Cost 



before 



Buying 



Manure 



