222 NITROGEN, PHOSPHORUS AND POTASSIUM 



Nei Value of the Increases per Ton oj Manure Reinforced with Phosphates 







Net value of 







increases per 



Manure and treatment 





ton of 

 manure * 

 (Including 







3 crops) 



Yard manure (untreated) t 





$2.55 



Stall manure (imtreated) , 





3.31 



Yard manure +40 poimds rock phosphate per 



ton 



3.54 



Stall manure +40 pounds rock phosphate per 



ton 



4.49 



Yard manure +40 pounds acid phosphate per 



ton 



4.10 



Stall manure +40 pounds acid phosphate per 



ton 



4.82 



* Eight tons of manure were applied to the acre once m a three-year rotation of corn, 

 wheat and clover The yard manure was taken from the open yard, where it had been ex- 

 posed to the weather for 3 or 4 months during the winter The stall manure was hauled 

 from the stable directly to the field and spread at once in the early part of winter The 

 fertilizer was dusted over the manure-spreader loads. 



t The cost of the fertihzer was deducted before computing the net values of increases 

 per ton of manure. 



Though farming with livestock is recognized as an excellent 

 way to keep up the fertility, because of the opportunity of returning 

 to the land much of the fertilizing elements/^ yet it cannot be 

 assxmied that because a farmer has stock on his farm he need 

 give no thought whatever to the future of his soil. Manure is 

 often poorly cared for, causing enormous losses annually. It is 

 evident that the farmer who understands the care, reinforcing 

 and proper use of manure will secure far greater returns from his 

 land, and be able to pass his farm on to others in a much better 

 condition, than the man who farms it without livestock or who 

 farms it without any definite plan for maintaining the fertility 

 of the soil. 



Illustration Material for Lessons. — ^Have on hand four-quart samples of 

 the fertilizers important m your section. Include the four classes, also a few 

 miscellaneous samples. 



Demonstrations. — Material Needed. — ^Enough unproductive soil to fill 

 8 two-gaUon jars; 16 quarts of a light sandy soil; about 3 pounds of green clover 

 finely chopped, or its equivalent in dry clover chaff; 12 two-gaUon jars; 3 one- 

 quart Mason jars; some corn and oat seeds; 8 grams each of sodium nitrate, 

 sodium acid phosphate and potassium sulfate; about 2 quarts of fresh horse 

 dimg; and a few strips of red litmus paper. 



^^ It is commonly believed that when all crops are fed on the farm, and the 

 manure is carefuUy cared for and hauled to the fields, soil fertihty can be 

 maintained indefinitely. This is impossible, because in the feeding transaction 

 unavoidable losses of the fertiHzing elements occur — ^particularly of phos- 

 phorus. 



