STABLE MANURES 49 



lent intervals. About six months are required to secure 

 the proper decomposition. A manure shredder is used 

 by some Boston gardeners. This powerful machine, 

 operated by an engine, is placed alongside of the compost 

 pile and the manure is shredded before applying in the 

 field. The shredder is provided with a tongue, so it may 

 be shifted with a team whenever necessary. 



87. Time of application. — The proper time of applica- 

 tion depends upon the age, the texture and the kind of 

 manure, the crops to be grown, and the systems and the 

 rotations to be followed. In the growing of truck crops 

 in rotation with general field crops, perhaps, the manure 

 should be applied at any convenient time previous to 

 planting, and preferably upon grass land. If the manure 

 is fine and the supply limited, it may be an advantage to 

 use it as a top dressing after plowing, thoroughly incor- 

 porating it with the soil by harrowing. This is unques- 

 tionably the best method for hen, sheep and hog manures. 

 In intensive gardening a crop may be removed, the 

 manure applied, and the land plowed, harrowed and 

 planted the same day. If 50 tons of manure to the acre 

 are available annually and several crops are to be grown 

 during the season, it is considered preferable to appor- 

 tion the manure for each crop as may seem desirable 

 rather than to use the entire amount at any one time. 



88. Method of application. — ^As indicated in the pre- 

 vious paragraph, coarse manures should be plowed under, 

 while those of fine texture will be most beneficial when . 

 used as a top dressing after plowing, especially upon 

 heavy soils of moderate fertility. Surface applications 

 after plowing certainly have a marked effect in improv- 

 ing physical conditions, in making soils warmer, more 

 friable, and less subject to baking and washing. 



A common practice in soils of rather low fertility is to 

 use stable manures in hills or drills. This plan is seldom 

 practiced by gardeners cultivating soils of high fertility, 



