manure has a much higher crop-producing power than its composition indicates. The 

 reason for this is that manure furnishes humus-forming materials; most commercial 

 fertilizers do not. This constitutes the fundamental difference between manure and 

 fertilizer. 



Manure is never of any greater value than it is at the moment of its production. 

 For certain purposes, rotted manure is more desirable than fresh manure, but these 

 need not be discussed. Except for such purposes, it should be at once drawn to the fields 

 and distributed. Manure not so utilized loses from one to two-thirds of its initial 

 value. Even under the best conditions, it is impossible to rot manure without loss, 

 but the loss is least where manure is kept compact and moist and protected from rain. 

 By getting the manure on the field while still fresh, the farmer returns to the soil seven- 

 tenths of the plant food taken from the soil in crop growth. 



Comparatively small applications at short intervals are more effective than larger 

 dressings applied frequently. It is therefore more economical to feed the soil year 

 by year than to endeavour to load it up, say once in five or ten years. 



Manure should not be too deeply buried. The food should be where the feeding 

 roots are, and where the moisture is, say within the first six inches of soil. There will 

 be a larger return if the manure is lightly turned under, or merely carried into the 

 prepared surface by discing, than by burying it by deep ploughing. Usually there is 

 at best only a limited amount of manure, and in this way the most will be made of it. 



THE VALUE OF CLOVER 



Rational farming means the return to the soil of a large proportion of the plant 

 food taken from the soil by the crops grown upon it. There are only two means of 

 doing this, one through the production and right use of manure, and the other through 

 the growth of clovers. By the introduction of clover or other legumes into the rotation, 

 in districts where these crops grow luxuriantly, a marked increase in soil fertility is 

 invariably the result. It is frequently found that the resultant increase in yield is 

 equal to that obtainable from a five to ten ton application, per acre, of barnyard manure. 



The unique property of the legumes is that they are able, with the aid of certain 

 bacteria that live in little swellings on their roots (called nodules) to secrete nitrogen 

 from the air. 



When such crops are turned under, they may add from 50 to 150 pounds of nitrogen 

 per acre, thus vastly increasing the soil's productiveness. Even when cut and used for 

 fodder, the soils will still be richer in nitrogen because of the roots left in the soil. 

 Legumes leave the soil richer in nitrogen; all other crops leave it poorer in nitrogen. 

 Alfalfa with its heavy root system appropriates the most nitrogen; red clover comes 

 second. 



As to the conditions of soil favourable for the growth of legumes: These crops 

 need a certain amount of available lime, and soils that are acid or "sour" will not 

 produce a thrifty growth. In such cases the application of lime or ground limestone 

 gives very beneficial results. 



Some soils are deficient in nitrogen-fixing bacteria. To overcome this, cultures 

 of the required bacteria have been put on the market. Because of liability to loss of 

 vitality, they are very often unsuccessful, and their general use cannot be recommended. 

 A better method is to take a certain quantity of soil from a field where clover, alfalfa 

 or sweet clover is growing luxuriantly. Apply from 100 to 300 pounds per acre, as 

 soon as possible after taking from the field. Make the application on a damp grey 

 day if possible and harrow in immediately. 



THE PROFITABLE USE OF FERTILIZERS 



The profit from fertilizers depends on their intelligent use. Their intelligent use 

 depends partly on a knowledge of soil conditions and crop requirements; partly on the 

 combination of the materials and the amount used. These questions have so many 



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