OFFICIAL INSPFCTIONS 62. II3 



writer would recommend were sufficient potash available. Al- 

 though such a formula could not be expected to give results if 

 used year after year the writer believes that by the use of such 

 a mixture there will be no very material reduction in the yields 

 per acre for a single year. It is self evident that 1915 is not a 

 year in which there should be a reduction in the acreage of hoed 

 crops particularly upon moderately heavy soils. It may not be 

 advisable to plant light sand}' soils in 191 5 unless there is a fair 

 amount of farm manure available. Even with a diminished 

 yield the higher prices that it seems likely will prevail will tend 

 to maintain the net profit. 



Farm Manure. 



With the introduction of commercial fertilizers there has 

 been an increasing apparent indifference to farm manure as an 

 agricultural resource. Too many of our farmers lose sight of 

 the fact that commercial fertilizers should supplement rather 

 than replace the manurial supply of the farm. It is the purpose 

 to call attention to the value of farm manures in Maine, and 

 particularly to Farmers' Bulletin 192 on Barnyard Manure 

 which is published by the United States Department of Agri- 

 culture, a copy of which may be obtained by anyone writing to 

 their Congressman. 



According to the State Assessor's report for 191 3 there were 

 in the State, in round numbers, 130,000 horses; 250,000 head 

 of neat stock; 40,000 swine; 120,000 sheep and 2,000,000 hens, 

 ducks and geese. If all of the manure was saved from these 

 animals it would amount in a single year to nearly 4,000,000 

 tons and would carry approximately 19,000 tons of nitrogen, 

 i2,coo tons of phosphoric acid and 18,000 tons of potash. This 

 plant food in the world's market would cost about $10,000,000, 

 or sufficient to buy 300,000 tons of high grade commercial fer- 

 tilizer. It is doubtful if by present methods of management 

 one-half of this plant food is actually returned to the soil. 



The intelligent farmer recognizes that when he sells meat, 

 milk, grain, hay, fruit, vegetables, etc., from his farm or neg- 

 lects to save and use the manure produced, he removes from his 

 soil a certain amount of potash, phosphoric acid and nitrogen 

 that must be restored sooner or later if production is to be 

 maintained. If the farmer instead of selling off his crops feeds 



