20 ILLINOIS STATE DAIEYMEN's ASSOCIATION. 



waste of labor. I will simply say that from my own experience, which is 

 limited, and from what I read of the experience of others, I am decidedly 

 in favor of piling manure until it is thoroughly decomposed, and then of 

 applying it as top-dressing to meadow land as soon as possible after haying. 



In applying it at this time it will promote a vigorous growth of after 

 math, which is valuable both for food for cattle and as a protection to the 

 meadow in winter. Plants will not take up manure until it is decomposed. 

 If applied in a fresh state to the soil, it must decompose in the soil before it 

 is of 'ciiyj use to the plants. This takes a long time, especially in clayey land. 

 Manure acts quicker for being fermented before l^eing applied to the land. 

 If you apply it to the land and it is not taken up the first year by the plants, 

 the ammonia, phosphoric acid, and potash, enter into combination with 

 certain ingredients in the soil, become nearly insoluble, and it takes time 

 to get them back. 



It is objected to top-dressing that there is a waste by evaporation ; but 

 the experiences of many years have shown that in top-dressing meadow 

 land with well rotted manure, that there is no waste of anything but water, 

 of which all barnyard manure contains a great deal. Again, it is said to 

 give the grass a rank taste ; but if it is well spread and thoroughly harrowed 

 in, as it should be, this taste will be found not to exist. Another advantage 

 of applying it in a well decomposed condition is, that it is reduced nearly 

 one-half in bulk, we ao not need to haul so much water, and at the same 

 time its plant food is rendered more soluble. 



John Johnson, of New York, who is a very hign authority in sucli matters, 

 says in the New York Agriculturist, that he has " found by actualtrial, that 

 one load of well rotted manure applied as top-dressing to grass land in the 

 autumn, and the land plowed up and planted to corn in the spring, is worth 

 as much as three loads of fresh manure plowed under. ' 



E. H. Sewaud, Marengo, related some experiments mad*^ 

 with various fertilizers by the Kishwankee Clnb, of Marengo, 

 Illinois. These experiments constituted several varieties of 

 manures: barnyard, green and decomposed, plaster, salt, 

 bone-dust, and ashes, put upon equal amounts of ground, 

 with varied results, the test crop being corn, witli the yield 

 produced greatly in favor of salt as a fertilizer, the salt cost- 

 ing but four dollars per acre, while the barnyard manure cost 

 eight dollars. ^ 



Hon. Wm. Patten said such experiments were of real 

 importance, and afforded great satisfaction. Too much guess 

 work had been indulged in by the farmer. He should know 

 exactly the results of his labors. He had thought to draw 

 green manure to the field the best plan. It always gave a 



