i3 
Manures and Manuring 
winter, when ridging is being done. In these cold, stiff 
soils fermentation goes on very slowly during the winter 
months, therefore there is little fear of much plant food 
being washed away. Horse manure is often mixed with 
a considerable amount of straw or peat. It is not so rich 
in plant food as some of the other animal manures. 
Cow manure is cold and moist, and should be applied 
to light, sandy, or gravelly soils. It tends to bind the 
larger particles of such soils together, keeps it cooler in 
summer, and helps it to hold the moisture better for the 
use of the crops during times of drought. It is richer in 
plant food than horse manure, and should be applied to 
light soils in early spring in a well-decomposed state. If 
applied to such soils in autumn or winter a considerable 
portion of the plant food would be washed out, or sink 
down into the subsoil beyond the reach of the plant roots. 
Pig manure also is cold and moist, after the nature of 
cow manure, and may be used in the same way. It is, 
however, very rich, and should be used sparingly; other- 
wise some damage may be done to the crops through an 
overdose. If the pig sties have been thoroughly bedded 
with straw, leaves, or fresh weeds — which have no ripened 
seeds on them — there is less fear of damage being done 
by a fair application of this manure for vigorous-growing 
crops. 
Poultry jnanure is a very rich manure, and should be 
used with considerable caution. It is not produced in very 
large quantities, and is most economically used when put 
into a barrel that has been previously sunk into the ground. 
One bushel of manure should be used to a barrel of water. 
Stir the contents, and allow to settle before using. Some- 
