220 



NITROGEN, PHOSPHORUS AND POTASSIUM 



fall), and it is easier to incorporate manure in a heavy soil by plow- 

 ing than by disking. Many tobacco growers have found it an excel- 

 lent practice to disk in a light application of manure on crummy 

 silt loams, in addition to the manure plowed under. On light soils 

 best results are usually secured when fine manure is disked in. 



Concerning the Application of Manure to Clover Fields. — 

 It is often asked, ^'Is it not better to apply the manure as a top- 

 dressing to the clover field rather than apply it for corn ? '' This 



r 



Fig. 148. — The returns from one ton of manure. Eight -year average. A, Produce from one 



ton yard manure; B, produce from one ton stall manure; C, produce from one ton 



stall manure reinforced with 40 pounds of rock phosphate. (Ohio Station.) 



can best be determined definitely on any particular field or farm 

 by trying out the two systems. Soil conditions may also determine 

 the course to follow. - X 



Since soil improvement depends largely on the growing of 

 good clover, it seems best, when a soil is low in fertility, to apply the 

 manure as a top-dressing on the clover. This favors growth and 

 root development, so that more hay is secured for feeding, and a 

 better sod is formed which greatly increases the organic matter 

 of the soil when plowed under. A light application of manure on 

 the better clover sod produced in this manner, enables the produc- 

 tion of good corn or any other cultivated crop. 



