24 



nized value the hen manure upon most farms is 

 largely wasted. Best results are secured by cover- 

 ing the dropping boards with a muck or loamy soil 

 to a depth of one-half to one inch at frequent in- 

 tervals. Frequent applications of floats or acid 

 phosphate also prevent the escape of the ammonia 

 and add to the value of the material for fertilizing 

 purposes. The muck or loam retains sufficient 

 moisture to hasten decay, and no loss of the valu- 

 able materials occur. In this way the manure may 

 be saved in barrels or boxes during the winter 

 months and be in excellent condition to apply to the 

 soil when gardening time comes. 



The question as to whether the manure shall be 

 applied fresh or in a well-rotted condition is one 

 still open for argument. In general farming, it is 

 now considered the best plan to apply the manure 

 to the land directly from the stables. This insures 

 against all loss by heating or improper decomposi- 

 tion and materially lessens the cost of handling. 

 Where garden crops are grown in such a way as 

 to be cared for almost entirely by horse power, the 



application of 

 manures in the fresh 

 form is, in most 

 cases, to be pre- 

 ferred, but in the in- 

 tensive operations of 

 TUBULAR ROLLER market gardens or 



even of home gar- 

 dens many conditions arise making it impractical to use 

 the coarser forms of manures in their fresh condi- 

 tion. Their coarse texture prevents their proper 

 distribution through the soil, while with many crops 

 their action is not quick enough to give the best 



