28 BULLETIN 995, IT. s. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



and crop production when we consider the number of acres under 

 cultivation and the satisfactory crops that the tillable area is capable 

 of producing Avhen properly fertilized and tilled. Furthermore, a 

 considerable portion of the stable manure produced on most sugar- 

 beet farms is wasted or rendered only partially effective either by 

 not giving it proper care or by the method in which it is handled in 

 connection with crop production. In addition to the humus con- 

 tained in stable manure, considerable quantities of plant food are 

 present, which, if properly handled, add to the fertility of the soil. 

 This plant food is largely soluble: consequently the leaching process 

 to which the stable manure is in most cases subjected, owing to the 

 fact that it is usually exposed to rains and snows, frequently causes 

 much of the fertility to be lost. Again, stable manure is often spread 

 upon the fields and left exposed to the weather, until a large part of 

 the volatile plant foods has passed off into the atmosphere. Much 

 of the nitrogen is often lost in this manner. The best results in 

 utilizing stable manure in connection with sugar-beet production are 

 obtained by applying the manure to the crop preceding the beet 

 crop ; this allows the manure to be thoroughly worked into the soil. 

 It is a common practice in many localities where manure spreaders 

 are not used to haul the manure from the feed yard or stable at 

 times when there is no urgent work to be done and to dump it in 

 piles, to be spread at some convenient time before the ground is 

 plowed. This is a wasteful method, especially if the piles are left 

 for some days or weeks without spreading, often resulting in much 

 loss of valuable material through leaching. However, this method 

 is preferable to spreading the manure and leaving it on the surface 

 of the ground exposed to the action of the sun and wind. If the 

 manure is spread and the ground can not be plowed immediately, 

 it should be disked whenever practicable ; that is, if the ground is 

 not frozen. Fortunately, the manure spreader is becoming more 

 and more common, and where the number of live stock on the farm 

 warrants it there is probably no other implement of greater value to 

 the farmer. The full value of the spreader is not realized, however. 

 unless the manure is plowed under or worked into the soil imme- 

 diately after spreading. 



Green crops. — Green crops plowed under provide another source of 

 humus for soil improvement. Any vegetable matter plowed under 

 and worked into the soil will add humus, though certain crops are 

 more valuable for this purpose than others, because of the plant food 

 as well as the vegetable matter which they contain. Such crops as 

 peas, beans, clover, and alfalfa, are among the best for supplying 

 humus to the soil. These crops should be plowed under in the fall 

 so that they will have abundant opportunity to decay before the 

 growing season begins the following year, In irrigated sections 



