7 ste MESES ws OMI X at x S Sop REN ww YY soesnan: ENE SS POS aut at Aoeahns RAAT CEDARS RE eS re SANS aS Sd x SPOSAesnng ee . * . ox an ws SS ‘ SS ww LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. | hug. Goyuprinbt Do ra ale | \ Sh. elf' Ava tins) A ‘é UNITED STATES OF AMERICA..|f =e. + —- ie ae ce a) SB Cy us TALKS ON MANURES. A SERIES OF FAMILIAR AND PRACTICAL TALKS BETWEEN THE AUTHOR AND THE DEACON, THE DOCTOR, AND OTHER NEIGHBORS, ON THE WHOLE SUBJECT OF MANURES AND FERTILIZERS. gis JOSEPH EARS 7 Mee Ss: AUTHOR OF “WALKS AND TALKS ON THE FARM,” ‘‘HARRIS ON THE PIG,” ETO, NEW AND ENLARGED EDITION, INCLUDING A CHAPTER SPECIALLY WRITTEN FOR IT BY SIR JOHN BENNET LAWES, OF ROTHAMSTED, ENGLAND. er ae BON >. g * Be kobid fo, ee Torr nIGHy. te Ww NEW YORK: — ORANGE JUDD COMPANY, 751 BROADWAY. 1883. - 3 Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1283, ‘by the ORANGE JUDD COMPANY, : In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. CONTENTS. CHAPTER IL . Farming as a Business.—High Farming and Good Farming.—Summer-fallow- ing and Plowing under Clover.—We must raise larger Crops per Acre.— Destruction of Weeds.—Farming is Slow Work.—It requires Personal At- MEIMION ioe wee foixasidacecdue gas caplagae iocae tom aceon mati atetieas aie sees 9 CHAPTER II. What is Manure ?—The definitions given by the Deacon and the Doctor..... 19 CHAPTER III. Something about Plant-food.—All soils on which plants grow contain it.— The Season.—Water, Shade, Light, and Mulch, not Manures.—Several Def- SNTMOBSOR MADRE, oho cas ces ah ais a's aS cceer int ft awl ae Oe Sak eae ae Siecee see CHAPTER IV. Natural Manure. —Accumulated Plant-food in the Soil.—Exhaustion of the Soil.—Why our Crops are so Poor.—How to get Larger Crops.—We must Drain, Cultivate thoroughly, and Make Richer Manure......... dues cist = & |s S | Sol. Insol.| & |S 1S Meoalvannmnten. cs ysl: UP Aacate niet tee 29.9] 88.6/68.5) 57.3 | 9.9 | 154 | 406 | 559 OPLeM WIANMLC Ns sited a eenins ele alelreroeins 38.<|57 3] 95.5) 44.6 | 4.5 | 147 | 658 | 805 “Tt will be seen from the above figures that rotted manure con- tains more soluble phosphate of lime than fresh manure. “ But it does not follow from this fact that any of the insoluble phosphates in fresh manure have been rendered soluble during the fermentation of the manure. “There are more insoluble phosphates in the rotted manure than in the fresh, but we do not conclude from this fact that any of the phosphates have been rendered insoluble during the process of fermentation—neither are we warranted in concluding that any of them have been rendered soluble, simply because we find more soluble phosphates in the rotted manure.” “ Very true,” said the Doctor, “but it has been shown that i the heap of manure, during fermentation, there was an actual tn- erease of soluble mineral matter during the first six months, and, to say the least, it is highly probable that some of this increase of soluble mineral matter contained more or less soluble phosphates, and perhaps Dr. Veelcker had some facts to show that such was the case, although he may not have published them. At any rate, he evidently thinks that the phosphates in manure are ren- dered more soiuble by fermentation.” “Perhaps,” said I, “ we can not do better than to let the matter rest in that form. JI am merely anxious not to draw definite con- clusions from the facts which the facts do not positively prove. I am strongly in favor of fermenting manure, and should be glad to have it shown that fermentation does actually convert insoluble phosphates into a soluble form.” There is one thing, however, that these experiments clearly prove, and that is, that there is a far larger quantity of soludbve 4 4 TALKS ON MANURBS. phosphates in manure than is generally supposed. Of the total phosphoric acid in the fresh manure, 43 per cent is in a soluble condition ; and in the rotted manure, 40 per cent is soluble. This is an important fact, and one which is generally over- looked. It enhances the value of farm-yard or stable manure, as compared with artificial manures. But of this we may have more to say when we come to that part of the subject. I want to make one remark. I think there can be little doubt that the proportion of soluble phosphates is greater in rich manure, made from grain- fed animals, than in poor manure made principally from straw. In other words, of 100 lbs. of total phosphoric acid, more of it would be in a soluble condition in the rich than in the poor ma- nure. Cer a ok ae HOW THE DEACON MAKES MANURE. “T think,” said the Deacon, “ you are talking too much about the science of manure making. Science is all well enough, but practice is better.” ‘“‘That depends,” said I, “‘on the practice. Suppose you tell us how you manage your manure.” “ Well,” said the Deacon, “I do not know much about plant- food, and nitrogen, and phosphoric acid, but I think manure is a good thing, and the more you have of it the better. I do not be- lieve in your practice of spreading manure on the land and letting it lie exposed to the sun and winds. I want to draw it out in the spring and plow it under for corn. I think this long, coarse manure loosens the soil and makes it light, and warm, and porous. And then my plan saves labor. More than half of my manute is handled but once. It is madein the yard and sheds, and lies there until it is drawn to the field in the spring. The manure from the cow and horse stables, and from the pig-pens, is thrown into the yard, and nothing is done to it except to level it down occasionally. In proportion to the stock kept, I think I make twice as much manure as you do.” “Yes,” said I, “twice as much zn bulk, but one load of my manure is worth four loads of your long, coarse manure, composed HOW THE DEACON MAKES MANURE. y 05) principally of corn-stalks, straw, and water. I think you are wise in not spending much time in piling and working over such manure.” The Deacon and I have a standing quarrel about manure. We differ on all points. He is a good man, but not what we call a good farmer. He cleared up his farm from the original forest, and he has always been content to receive what his land would give him. If he gets good crops, well, if not, his expenses are moderate, and he manages to make both ends meet. I tell him he could double his crops, and quadruple his profits, by better farming—but though he cannot disprove the facts, he is unwilling to make any change in his system of farming. And so he continues to make just as much manure as the crops he is obliged to feed out leave in his yards, and nomore. He does not, in fact, make any manure. He takes what comes, and gets it on to his land with as little labor as possible. It is no use arguing with such aman. And it certainly will not do to contend that his method of managing manure is all wrong. His error is in making such poor manure. But with such poor stuff as he has in his yard, I believe he is right to get rid . it with the least expense possible. I presume, too, that the Deacon is not altogether wrong in regard to the good mechanical effects of manure on undrained and indif- ferently cultivated land. I have no doubt that he bases his opinion on experience. The good effects of such manure as he makes must be largely due to its mechanical action—it can do little towards supplying the more important and valuable elements of plant-food. I commend the Deacon’s system of managing manure to all such as make a similar article. But I think there is a more excellent way. Feed the stock better, make richer manure, and then it will pay to bestow a little labor in taking care of it. 46 TALKS ON MANURES. OOH APT GH: eos eae HOW JOHN JOHNSTON MANAGES HIS MANURE. One of the oldest and most successful farmers, in the State of New York, is John Johnston, of Geneva. He has a farm on the borders of Seneca Lake. It is high, rolling land, but needed under draining. This has been thoroughly done—and done with great profit and advantage. The soil is a heavy clay loam. Mr. John- ston has been in the habit of summer-fallowing largely for wheat, generally plowing three, and sometimes four times. He has been a very successful wheat-grower, almost invariably obtaining large crops of wheat, both of grain and straw. The straw he feeds to sheep in winter, putting more straw in the racks than the sheep can eat up clean, and using what they leave for bedding. The sheep run in yards enclosed with tight board fences, and have sheds under the barn to lie in at pleasure. Although the soil is rather heavy for Indian corn, Mr. Johnston succeeds in growing large crops of this great American cereal. Corn and stalks are both fed out on the farm. Mr. J. has not yet practised cutting up his straw ard stalks into chaff. The land is admirably adapted to the growth of red clover, and great crops of clover and timothy-hay are raised, and fed out on the farm. Gypsum, or plaster, is sown quite freely on the clover in the spring. Comparatively few roots are raised—not to exceed. an acre—and these only quite recently. The main crops are winter wheat, spring barley, Indian corn, clover, and timothy-hay, and clover-seed. The materials for making manure, then, are wheat and barley straw, Indian corn, corn-stalks, clover, and timothy-hay. These are all raised on the farm. But Mr. Johnston has for many years purchased linseed-oil cake, to feed to his sheep and cattle. This last fact musi not be overlooked. Mr. J. commenced to feed oil-cake when its value was little known here, and when he bought it for, I think, seven or eight dollars a ton. He continued to use it even when he had to pay fifty dollars per ton. Mr. J. has great faith in manure—and it isa faith resting on good evidence and long experience. If he had not fed out so much oil-cake and clover-hay, he would not have found his manure so valuable. “How much oil-cake does he use?” asked the Deacon. ** He gives his sheep, on the average, about 1 1b. each per day.” ~ ee HOW JOHN JOHNSTON MANAGES HIS MANURE. CE If he feeds out a ton of clover-hay, two tons of straw, (for feed and bedding,) and one ton of oil-cake, the manure obtained from this quantity of food and litter, would be worth, according to Mr. Lawes’ table, given on page 45, $34.72. On the other hand, if he fed out one ton of corn, one ton of _ clover-hay, and two tons of straw, for feed and bedding, the manure would be worth $21.65. If he fed one ton of corn, and three tons of straw, the manure would be worth only $14.69. He would get as much manure from the three tons of straw and one ton of corn, as from the two tons of straw, one ton of clover- hay, and one ton of oil-cake, while, as before said, the manure in the one case would be worth $14.69, and in the other $34.72. In other words, a load of the good manure would be worth, when spread out on the land in the field or garden, more than two loads of the straw and corn manure. To get the same amount of nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash, you have to spend more than twice the labor in cleaning out the stables or yards, more than twice the labor of throwing or wheeling it to the manure pile, more than twice the labor of turning the manure in the pile, more than twice the labor of loading it on the carts or wagons, more than twice the labor of drawing it to the field, more than twice the labor of unloading it into heaps, and more than twice the labor of spreading it in the one case than in the other, and, after all, twenty tons of this poor manure would not produce as good an effect the first season as ten tons of the richer manure. “Why so”? asked the Deacon. “Simply because the poor manure is not so active as the richer manure. It will not decompose so readily. Its nitrogen, phos- phoric acid, and potash, are not so available. The twenty tons, may, in the long run, do as much good as the ten tons, but I very much doubt it. At any rate, I would greatly prefer the ten tons of the good manure to twenty tons of the poor—even when spread out on the land, ready to plow under. What the difference would be in the value of the manure ¢n the yard, you can figure for your- self. It would depend on the cost of handling, drawing, and spreading the extra ten tons.” The Deacon estimates the cost of loading, drawing, unloading, and spreading, at fifty cents a ton. This is probably not far out of the way, though much depends on the distance the manure has to be drawn, and also on the condition of the manure, etc. %8 TALKS ON MANURES. The four tons of feed and bedding will make, at a rough estimate, about ten tons of manure. This ten tons of straw and corn manure, according to Mr. Lawes’ estimate, is worth, in the field, $14.69. And if it costs fifty centsa load to get it on the land its value, cn the yard, would be $9.69— or nearly ninety-seven cents a ton. The ten tons of good manure, according to the same estimate, is worth, in the field, $34.72, and, consequently, would be worth, in the yard, $29.72. In other words, a ton of poor manure is worth, in the yard, ninety-seven cents a ton, and the good manure $2.97. And so in describing John Johnston’s method of managing manure, this fact must be borne in mind. It might not pay the Deacon to spend much labor on manure worth only ninety-seven cents a ton, while it might pay John Johnston to bestow some con- siderable time and labor on manure worth $2.97 per ton. “ But is it really worth this sum?” asked the Deacon. “Tn reply to that,” said I, “all I claim is that the figures are com- parative. If your manure, made as above described, is worth ninety-seven cents a ton in the yard, thew John Johnston’s manure, made as stated, is certainly worth, at least, $2.97 per ton in the yard.” Of this there can be no doubt. “Tf you think,” I continued, “ your manure, so made, is worth only half as much as Mr. Lawes’ estimate; in other words, if your ten tons of manure, instead of being worth $14.69 in the field, is worth only $7.85; then John Johnston’s ten tons of manure, instead of being worth $34.72 in the field, is worth only $17.36.” “That looks a little more reasonable,” said the Deacon, “ John Johnston’s manure, instead of being worth $2.97 per ton in the yard, is worth only $1 48 per ton, and mine, instead of being worth ninety- seven cents a ton, is worth forty-eight and a half cents a ton.” The Deacon sat for a few minutes looking at these figures. ‘They do not seem so extravagantly high as I thought them at first,” he said, “and if you will reduce the figures in Mr. Lawes’ table one-haif all through, it will be much nearer the truth. I think my manure is worth forty-eight and a half cents a ton in the yard, and if your figures are correct, I suppose I must admit that John Johnston’s manure is worth $1.48 per ton in the yard.” I was very glad to get such an admission from the Deacon. He did not see that he had made a mistake in the figures, and so I got him to go over the calculation again, HOW JOHN JOHNSTON MANAGES HIS MANURE. 79 “You take a pencil, Deacon,” said I, “and write down the figures : Manure fron a Tower Oll-Gake 2). .s. 0d a0 deb bccdcs $19.72 Manure from a ton of clover-hay..........ece.e.. 9.64 Manure from two tons of straw........cccececces 5.386 $34.72 “This would make about ten tons of manure. We have agreed to reduce the estimate one-half, and consequently we have $17.36 as the value of the ten tons of manure.” ‘This is John Johnston’s manure. It is worth $1.73 per ton in the field. ‘It costs, we have estimated, 50 cents a ton to handle the manure, and consequently it is worth in the yard $1.23 per ton.” “ This is less than we made it before,” said the Deacon. “ Never mind that,” said I, “‘the figures are correct. Now write down what your manure is worth : MBIT arOne Li TOUbOE CORN: 25 cc ca cleuvsawee lu@ees $6.65 Manure’from 8: tons: Of. straw... ccc eos vecscccvecas 8.04. $14.69 “This will make about ten tons of manure. In this case, as in the other, we are to reduce the estimate one-half. Consequently, we have $7.35 as the value of this ten tons of manure in the field, or 734 cents a ton. It costs, we have estimated, 50 cents a ton to handle the manure, and, therefore, it is worth in the yard, 234 cents a ton.” “John Johnston’s manure is worth in the yard, $1.23 per ton. The Deacon’s manure is worth in the yard, 234 cents per ton.” “ There 1s some mistake,” exclaimed the Deacon, “ you said, at first, that one load of John Johnston’s manure was worth as much as two of my loads. Now you make one load of his manure worth more than five loads of my manure. This is absurd.” “Not at all, Deacon,” said I, ‘“‘you made the figures yourself. You thought Mr. Lawes’ estimate too high. You reduced it one- half. The figures are correct, and you must accept the conclusion. If John Johnston’s manure is only worth $1.23 per ton in the yard, yours, made from 1 ton of corn and 38 tons of straw, is only worth 233 cents per ton.” “And now, Deacon,” I continued, “ while you have a pencil in your hand, I want you to make one more calculation. Assuming that Mr. Lawes’ estimate is too high, and we reduce it one-half, 80 TALKS ON MANURES. figure up whet manure is worth when made from straw alone. You take 4 tons of wheat straw, feed out part,and use part for bedding. It will give you about 10 tons of manure. And this 10 tons cost you 50 cents a ton to load, draw out, and spread. Now figure : “Four tons of straw is worth, for manure, according to Mr. Lawes’ table, $2.68 per ton. We have agreed to reduce the figures one-half, and so the 10 tons of manure from the 4 tons of straw is worth. ..$5.36 Drawing out 10 tons of manure at 50 cents............ 5.00 Value of 10 tons of straw-manure in yard...........-.. $0.36 “In other words, if John Johnston’s manure is worth only $1.23 per ton in the yard, the straw-made manure is worth only a, little over 34 cents a ton in the yard.” “That is too absurd,” said the Deacon. “Very well,” I replied, ‘‘ for once [am glad to agree with you. But if this is absurd, then it follows that Mr. Lawes’ estimate of the value of certain foods for manure is not so extravagant, as you supposed—which is precisely what I wished to prove.” “You have not told us how Mr. Johnston manages his manure,” said the Deacon. “There is nothing very remarkable about it,” I replied. ‘‘ There are many farmers in this neighborhood who adopt the same method. I think, however, John Jobnston was the first to recom- mend it, and subjected himself to some criticism from some of the so-called scientific writers at the time. “‘ His general plan is to leave the manure in the yards, basements, and shes, under the sheep, until spring. He usually sells his fat sheep in March. As soon as the sheep are removed, the manure is either thrown up into loose heaps in the yard, or drawn directly to the field, where it is to be used, and made into a heap there. The manure is not spread on the land until the autumn. It re- mains in the heaps or piles all summer, being usually turned once, and sometimes twice. The manure becomes thoroughly rotted.” Mr. Johnston, like the Deacon, applies his manure to the corn crop. But the Deacon draws out his fresh green manure in the spring, on sod-land, and plows it under. Mr. Johnston, on the other hand, keeps his manure in a heap through the summer, HOW JOHN JOHNSTON MANAGES HIS MANURE. 8] spreads it on the sod in September, or the first week in October. Here it lies until next spring. The grass and clover grow up through manure, and the grass and manure are turned under next spring, and the land planted to corn. Mr. Johnston is thoroughly convinced that he gets far more benefit from the manure when applied on the surface, and left ex- posed for several months, than if he plowed it under at once. I like to write and talk about John Johnston. I like to visit him. He is so delightfully enthusiastic, believes so thoroughly in good farming, and has been so eminently successful, that a day spent in his company can not fail to encourage any farmer to re- newed efforts in improving his soil. ‘‘ You must drain,” he wrote to me; “when I first commenced farming, I never made any money until I began to underdrain.” But it is not underdraining alone that is the cause of his eminent success. When he bought his farm, “‘ near Geneva,” over fifty years ago, there was a pile of manure in the yard that had lain there year after year, until it was, as he said, “as black as my hat.” The former owner regarded it as a nuisance, and a few months before young Johnston bought the farm, had given some darkies a cow on condition that they would draw out this manure. They drew out six loads, took the cow—and that was the last seen of them. Johnston drew out this manure, raised a good crop of wheat, and that gave him a start. He says he has been asked a great many times to what he owes his success as a farmer, and he has replied that he could not tell whether it was “dung or credit.” It was probably neither. It was the man—his intelligence, industry, and good common sense. That heap of black mould was merely an instrument in his hands that he could turn to good account. His first crop of wheat gave him “ credit,’ and this also he used toadvantage. He believed that good farming would pay, and it was this faith in a genercus soil that made him willing to spend the money obtained from the first crop of wheat in enriching the land, and to avail himself of his credit. Had he lacked this faith— had he hoarded every sixpence he could have ground out of the soil, who would have ever heard of John Johnston? He has been liberal with his crops and his animals, and has ever found them grateful. This is the real lesson which his life teaches. He once wrote me he had something to show me. He did not tell me what it was, and when I got there, he took me to a field of grass that was to be mown for hay, The field had been in winter wheat the year before. At the time of sowing the wheat, the 82 TALKS ON MANURES. whole field was seeded down with timothy. No clover was sown either then or in the spring; but after the wheat was sown, he put on a slight dressing of manure on two portions of the field that he thought were poor. He told the man to spread it out of the wagon just as thin as he could distribute it evenly over the land. It was a very light manuring, but the manure was rich, and thor- oughly rotted. I do not recollect whether the effect of the manure was particularly noticed on the wheat; but on the grass, the fol- lowing spring, the effect was sufficiently striking. Those two por- tions of the field where the manure was spread were covered with a splendid crop of red clover. You could see the exact line, in both cases, where the manure reached. It looked quite curious. No clover-seed was sown, and yet there was as fine a crop of clover as one could desire. On looking into the matter more closely, we found that there was more or less clover all over the field, but where the manure was not used, it could hardly be seen. The plants were small, and the timothy hid them from view. But where the manure was used, these plants of clover had been stimulated in their growth until they covered the ground. The leaves were broad and vigorous, while in the other case they were small, and almost dried up. This is probably the right explanation. The manure did not “bring in the clover ;” it simply increased the growth of that already in the soil. It shows the value of manure for grass. This is what Mr. Johnston wanted to show me. “I. might have written and told you, but you would not have got a, clear idea of the matter.” This is true. One had to see the great luxuriance of that piece of clover to fully appreciate the effect of the manure. Mr. J. said the manure on that grass was worth $30 an acre—that is, on the three crops of grass, before the field is again plowed. I have no doubt that this is true, and that the future crops on the land will also be benefited—not directly from the manure, per- haps, but from the clover-roots in the soil. And if the field were pastured, the effect on future crops would be very decided. MY OWN PLAN OF MANAGING MANURE. 83 OCH ASE Ee Ris XX. MY OWN PLAN OF MANAGING MANURE. One of the charms and the advantages of agriculture is that a farmer must think for himself. He should study principles, and apply them in practice, as best suits his circumstances. My own method of managing manure gives me many of the advantages claimed for the Deacon’s method, and John Johnston’s, also. _ “T do not understand what you mean,” said the Deacon; “my method differs essentially from that of John Johnston.” “True,” I replied, “‘ you use your winter-made manure in the spring; while Mr. Johnston piles his, and gets it thoroughly fer- mented; but to do this, he has to keep it until the autumn, and it does not benefit his corn-crop before the next summer. He loses the use of his manure for a year.” I think my method secures both these advantages. I get my winter-made manure fermented and in good condition, and yet have it ready for spring crops. In the first place, | should remark that my usual plan is to cut up all the fodder for horses, cows, and sheep. For horses, I some- times use long straw for bedding, but, as a rule, I prefer to run everything through a feed-cutter. We dojot steam the food, and we let the cows and sheep have a liberal supply of cut corn-stalks and straw, and what they do not eat is thrown out of the mangers and racks, and used for bedding. I should state, too, that I keep a good many pigs, seldom having less than 50 breeding sows. My pigs are mostly sold at from two to-four months old, but we probably average 150 head the year round. A good deal of my manure, therefore, comes from the pig-pens, and from two basement cellars, where my store hogs sleep in winter. In addition to the pigs, we have on the farm from 150 to 200 Cotswold and grade sheep; 10 cows, and 8 horses. These are our manure makers. The raw material from which the manure is manufactured con- sists of wheat, barley, rye, and oat-straw, corn-stalks, corn-fodder, clover and timothy-hay, clover seed-hay, bean-straw, pea-straw, potato-tops, mangel-wurzel, turnips, rape, and mustard. These are all raised on the farm; and, in addition to the home-grown oats, peas, and corn, we buy and feed out considerable quantities 84 TALKS ON MANURES. of bran, shorts, fine-middlings, malt-combs, corn-meal, and a little oil-cake. I sell wheat, rye, barley, and clover-seed, apples, and potatoes, and sometimes cabbages and turnips. Probably, on the average, for each $100 I receive from the sale of these crops, I purchase $25 worth of bran, malt-combs, corn-meal, and other feed for animals. My farm is now rapidly increasing in fertility and productiveness. The crops, on the average, are certainly at least double what they were when I bought the farm thirteen years ago; and much of this increase has taken place during the last five or six years, and I expect to see still greater improvement year by year. “Never mind all that,” said the Deacon; “we all know that manure will enrich land, and I will concede that your farm has greatly improved, and can not ne but improve if you continue to make and use as much manure.’ “IT expect to make more and more manure every year,” said I. “The larger the crops, the more manure we can make; and the more manure we make, the larger the crops.” The real point of difference between my plan of managing ma- nure, and the plan adopted by the Deacon, is essentially this: I aim to keep all my manure in a compact pile, where it will slowly ferment all winter. The Deacon throws his horse-manure into a heap, just outside the.stable door, and the cow-manure into an- other heap, and the pig-manure into another heap. These heaps are more or less scattered, and are exposed to the rain, and snow, and frost. The horse-manure is quite likely to ferment too rap- idly, and if in a large heap, and the weather is warm, it not unlikely “ fire-fangs” in the center of the heap. On the other hand, the cow-manure lies cold and dead, and during the winter freezes into solid lumps. I wheel or cart all my manure into one central heap. The main object is to keep it as compact as possible. There are two advan- tages in this: 1st, the manure is less exposed to the ram, and (2d), when freezing weather sets in, only a few inches of the ex- ternal portion of the heap is frozen. I have practised this plan for several years, and can keep my heap of manure slowly fer- menting during the whole winter. But in order to ensure this result, it is necessary to begin mak- ing the heap before winter sets in. The plan is this: Having selected the spot in the yard most convenient for mak- ing the heap, collect all the manure that can be found in the sheep- bale “— MY OWN PLAN OF MANAGING MANURE. 85 yards, sheds, cow and horse stables, pig-pens, and hen-house, to- gether with leaves, weeds, and refuse from the garden, and wheel or cart it to the intended heap. If you set a farm-man to do the work, tell him you want to make a hot-bed about five feet high, six feet wide, and six feet long. I do not think I have ever seen a farm where enough material could not be found, say in November, to make such a heap. And this is all that is needed. If the ma- nure is rich, if it is obtained from animals eating clover-hay, bran, grain, or other food rich in nitrogen, it will soon ferment. But if the manure is poor, consisting largely of straw, it will be very de- sirable to make it richer by mixing with it bone-dust, blood, hen- droppings, woollen rags, chamber-lye, and animal matter of any kind that you can find. The richer you can make the manure, the more readily will it ferment. A good plan is to take the horse or sheep manure, a few weeks previous, and use it for bedding the pigs. It will absorb the liquid of the pigs, and make rich manure, which will soon ferment when placed in a heap. If the manure in the heap is too dry, it is a good plan, when you are killing hogs, to throw on to the manure all the warm water, hair, blood, intestines, etc. You may think I am making too much of such a simple matter, but I have had letters from farmers who have tried this plan of managing manure, and they say that they can not keep it from freezing. One reason for this is, that they do not start the heap early enough, and do not take pains to get the manure into an active fermentation befcre winter sets in. Much depends on this. In starting a fire, you take pains to get a little fine, dry wood, that will burn readily, and when the fire is fairly going, put on larger sticks, and presently you have such a fire that you can burn wood, coal, stubble, sods, or anything you wish. And so it is with a manure-heap. Get the fire, or fermen- - tation, or, more strictly speaking, putrefaction fairly started, and there will be little trouble, if the heap is large enough, and fresh material is added from time to time, of continuing the fermenta- tion all winter. Another point to be observed, and especially in cold weather, is to keep the sides of the heap straight, and the top level. You must expose the manure in the heap as little as possible to frost and cold winds. The rule should be to spread every wheel-har- rowful of manure as soon as it is put on the heap. If left un- spread on top of the heap, it will freeze; and if afterwards cov- ered with other manure, it will require considerable heat to melt it, and thus reduce the temperature of the whole heap. 86 TALKS ON MANURES. It is far less work to manage a heap of manure in this way than may be supposed from my description of the plan. The truth is, I find, in point of fact, that it is no¢ an easy thing to manage ma- nure in this way; and I fear not one farmer in ten will succeed the first winter he undertakes it, unless he gives it his personal attention. It is well worth trying, however, because if your heap should freeze up, it will be, at any rate, in no worse condition than if managed in the ordinary way; and if you do succeed, even in part, you will have manure in good condition for im- mediate use in the spring. ee As I have said before, I keep a good many pigs. Now pigs, if fed on slops, void a large quantity of liquid manure, and it is not always easy to furnish straw enough to absorb it. When straw and stalks are cut into chaff, they will absorb much more liquid than when used whole. For this reascn we usually cut all our straw and stalks. We also use the litter from the horse-stable for bedding the store hogs, and also sometimes, when comparatively dry, we use the refuse sheep bedding for the same purpose. Where the sheep barn is contiguous to the pig-pens, and when the sheep bedding can be thrown at once into the pig-pens or cellar, it is well to use bedding freely for the sheep and lambs, and re- move it frequently, throwing it into the pig-pens. I do not want my sheep to be compelled to eat up the straw and corn-stalks too close. I want them to pick out what they like, and then throw away what they leave in the troughs for bedding. Sometimes we take out a five-bushel basketful of these direct from the troughs, for bedding young pigs, or sows and pigs in the pens, but as a rule, we use them first for bedding the sheep, and then afterwards use the sheep bedding in the fattening or store pig-pens. ‘““And sometimes,” remarked the Deacon, “ you use a little long straw for your young pigs to sleep on, so that they can bury themselves in the straw and keep warm.” “ True,’ I replied, “and it is not a bad plan, but we are not now talking about the management of pigs, but how we treat our manure, and how we manage to have it ferment all winter.” A good deal of our pig-manure is, to borrow a phrase from the pomologists, “ double-worked.” It is horse or sheep-manure, used for bedding pigs and cows. It is saturated with urine, and is much richer in nitrogenous material than ordinary manure, and consequently will ferment or putrify much morerapidly. Usually pig-manure is considered “cold,” or sluggish, but this double- MY OWN PLAN OF MANAGING MANURE, 87 worked pig-manure will ferment even more rapidly than sheep or horse-manure alone. Unmixed cow-manure is heavy and cold, and when kept in a heap by itself out of doors, is almost certain to freeze up solid dur- ing the winter. We usually wheel out our cow-dung every day, and spread on the manure heap. This is one of the things that needs attention. There will be a constant tendency to put all the cow-dung together, instead of mixing it with the lighter and more active manure from the horses, sheep, and pigs. Spread it out and cover it with some of the more strawy manure, which is not so liable to freeze. Should it so happen—as will most likely be the case—that on looking at your heap some morning when the thermometer is below zero, you find that several wheel-barrowfuls of manure that were put on the heap the day before, were not spread, and are now crusted over with ice, it will be well to break up the barrowfuls, even if necessary to use a crowbar, and place the frozen lumps of manure on the outside of the heap, rather than to let them lie in the center of the pile. Your aim should be always to keep the center of the heap warm and in a state of fermentation. You do not want the fire to go out, and it will not go out if the heap is prop- erly managed, even should all the sides and top be crusted over with a layer of frozen manure. During very severe weather, and when the top is frozen, it is a good plan, when you are about to wheel some fresh manure on to the heap, to remove a portion of the frozen crust on top of the heap, near the center, and make a hole for the fresh manure, which should be spread and covered up. When the heap is high enough, say five feet, we commence an- other heap alongside. In doing this, our plan is to clean out some of the sheep-sheds or pig-pens, where the manure has accumulated for some time. This gives us much more than the daily supply. Place this manure on the outside of the new heap, and then take a quantity of hot, fermenting, manure from the middle of the old heap, and throw it into the center of the new heap, and then cover it up with the fresh manure. I would put in eight or ten bushels, or as much as will warm up the center of the new heap, and start fermentation. The colder the weather, the more of this hot manure should you take from the old heap—the more the better. Fresh manure should be added to the old heap to fill up the hole made by the removal of the hot manure. 88 TALKS ON MANURES. ‘“You draw out a great many loads of manure during the winter,” said the Deacon, “and pile it in the field, and I have al- ways thought it a good plan, as you do the work when there is little else to do, and when the ground is frozen.” Yes, this is an improvement on my old plan. I formerly used to turn over the heap of manure in the barn-yard in March, or ag soon as fermentation had ceased. The object of turning the heap is (1st,) to mix the manure and make it of uniform quality; (2d,) to break the lumps and make the manure fine; and (3d,) to lighten up the manure and make it loose, thus letting in the air and inducing a second fermentation. It is a good plan, and well repays for the labor. In doing the work, build up the end and sides of the new heap straight, and keep the top flat. Have an eye on the man doing the work, and see that he breaks up the manure and mixes it thoroughly, and that he goes to the bottom of the heap. My new plan that the Deacon alludes to, is, instead of turning the heap in the yard, to draw the manure from the heap in the yard, and pile it up in another heap in the field where it is to be used. This has all the effects of turning, and at the same time saves a good deal of team-work in the spring. The location of the manure-heap in the field deserves some consideration. If the manure is to be used for root-crops or po- tatoes, and if the land is to be ridged, and the manure put in the ridges, then it will be desirable to put the heap on the head- land, or, better still, to make two heaps, one on the headland top of the field, and the other on the headland at the bottom of the field,as shown in the annexed engraving. We draw the manure with a cart, the horse walking between two of the ridges (D), and the wheels of the cart going in C and KE. The manure is pulled out at the back end of the cart into small heaps, about five paces apart. chs “That is what I object to with you ar B Manure Heaps ;¢@, agricultural writers,” said the Doctor; “you DE, Ridges, 22 ft. apart. gay ‘about five paces,’ and sometimes ‘ about five paces would mean 4 yards, and sometimes 6 yards; and if you ° Q ° 0 ) 9 D ° C °o ° ie] fe] ‘io MY OWN. PLAN OF MANAGING MANURE, 89 put 10 tons of manure per acre in the one case, you would put 15 tons in the other—which makes quite a difference in the dose.” The Doctor is right. Let us figure a little. If your cart holds 20 bushels, and if the manure weighs 75 lbs. to the bushel, and you wish to put on 10 tons of manure per acre, or 1,500 bushels, or 13} cart-loads, then, as there are 43,560 square feet in an acre, you want a bushel of manure to 29 square feet, or say a space 2 yards long, by nearly 5 feet wide. Now, as our ridges are 24 feet apart, and as our usual plan is to manure 5 ridges at a time, or 124 feet wide, a load of 20 bushels of manure will go over a space 464 feet long, nearly, or say 154 yards; and so, a load would make 38 heaps, 154 feet apart, and there would be 63 bushels in each heap. If the manure is to be spread on the surface of the land, there is no necessity for placing the heap on the headland. You can make the heap or heaps.—‘‘ Where most convenient,” broke in the Dea- con.—‘‘ No, not by any means,” I replied; “for if that was the rule, the men would certainly put the heap just where it happened to be the least trouble for them to draw and throw off the loads.” The aim should be to put the heap just where it will require the least labor to draw the manure on to the land in the spring. On what we call “rolling,” or hilly land, I would put the heap on the highest land, so that in the spring the horses would be going down hill with the full carts or wagons. Of course, it would be very unwise to adopt this plan if the manure was not RODS, o; Si Qi <10.RODS(— 7p} RODS, 40 RODS 7p 10 ROD: gi a oi ei o: =H gl! 4 < Field, 40x20 Rods, showing Position of two Heaps of Manure, a, a. drawn from the yards until spring, when the land was soft; but I am now speaking of drawing out the manure in the winter, when there is sleighing, or when the ground is frozen. No farm- er will object to a little extra labor for the teams in the winter, if it will save work and time in the spring. 50 TALKS ON MANURES. If the land is level, then the heap or heaps should be placed where the least distance will have to be traveled in drawing the manure from the heap to the land. If there is only one heap, the best point would be in the center of the field. If two heaps, and the field is longer than it is broad, say 20 rods wide, and 40 rods long, then the heaps should be made as shown on the previous page. If the field is square, say 40 x 40 rods, and we can have four heaps of manure, then, other things being equal, the best points for the heaps are shown in the annexed figure : Field, 40x40 Rods, showing Position of four Heaps of Manure, a. a, a, @ Having determined where to make the heaps, the next question is in regard to size. We make one about 8 feet wide and 6 feet high, the length being determined by the quantity of the manure we have to draw. In cold weather, it is well to finish the heap each day as far as you go, so that the sloping side at the end of the heap will not be frozen during the night. Build up the sides square, so that the top of the heap shall be as broad as the bottom. You will have to see that this is done, for the average farm- man, if left to himself, will certainly narrow up the heap like the roof of a house. The reason he does this is that he throws the manure from the load into the center of the heap, and he can not build up the sides straight and square without getting on to the heap occasionally, and placing a layer round the outsides. He MY OWN PLAN OF MANAGING MANURE, 91 should be instructed, too, to break up the lumps, and mix the ma- oure, working it over until it is loose and fine. If there are any frozen masses of manure, place them on the east or south outside, and not in the middle of the heap. If there is any manure in the sheds, or basements, or cellars, or pig-pens, clean it out, and draw it at once to the pile in the field, and mix it with the manure you are drawing from the heap in the yard. We generally draw with two teams and three wagons. We have one man to fill the wagon in the yard, and two men to drive and upload. When the man comes back from the field, he places his empty wagon by the side of the heap in the yard, and takes off the horses and puts them to the loaded wagon, and drives to the heap in the field. If we have men and teams enough, we draw with three teams and three wagons. In this case, we put a reliable man at the heap, who helps the driver to unload, and sees that the heap is built properly. The driver helps the man in the yard to load up. In the former plan, we have two teams and three men; in the latter case, we have three teams and five men, and as we have two men loading and unloading, instead of one, we ought to draw out double the quantity of manure in a day. If the weather is cold and windy, we put the blankets on the horses un- der the harness, so that they will not be chilled while standing at the heap in the yard or field. They will trot back lively with the empty wagon or sleigh, and the work will proceed briskly, and the manure be less exposed to the cold. oe “ You do not,” said the Doctor, “‘ draw the manure on to the heap with a cart, and dump it, as I have seen it done in England?” I did so a few years ago, and might do so again if I was piling manure in the spring, to be kept over summer for use in the fall. The compression caused by drawing the cart over the manure, has a tendency to exclude the air and thus retard fermentation. In _ the winter there is certainly no necessity for resorting to any means for checking fermentation. In the spring or summer it may be well to compress the heap a little, but not more, I think, than can be done by the trampling of the workman in spreading the manure on the heap. “You donot,” said the Doctor, “ adopt the old-fashioned English plan of keeping your manure in a basin in the barn-yard, and yet Ishould think it has some advantages.” 92 TALKS ON MANURES. “T practised it here,” said I, “for some years. I plowed and scraped a large hole or basin in the yard four or five feet deep, with a gradual slope at one end for convenience in drawing out the loads—the other sides being much steeper. I also made a tank at the bottom to hold the drainage, and had a pump in it to pump the liquid back on to the heap in dry weather. We threw or wheeled the manure from the stables and pig-pens into this basin, but I did not like the plan, for two reasons: (1,) the manure being spread over so large a surface froze during winter, and (2,) during the spring there was so much water in the basin that it checked fermentation.” . Now, instead of spreading it all over the basin, we commenced a small heap on one of the sloping sides of the basin; with a horse and cart we drew to this heap, just as winter set in, every bit of manure that could be found on the premises, and everything that would make manure. When got all together, it made a heap seven or eight feet wide, twenty feet long, and three or four feet high. We then laid planks on the heap, and every day, as the pig-pens, cow and horse stables were cleaned out, the manure was wheeled on to the heap and shaken out ana spread about. The heap soon commenced to ferment, and when the cold weather set in, although the sides and some parts of the top froze a little, the inside kept quite warm. Little chimneys were formed in the heap, where the heat and steam escaped. Other parts of the heap would be covered with a thin crust of frozen manure. By taking a few forkfuls of the latter, and placing them on the top of the ‘‘chimneys,” they checked the escape of steam, and had a tendency to distribute the heat to other parts of the heap. In this way the fermentation be- came more general throughout all the mass, and not so violent at any one spot. “But why be at all this trouble ?”—For several reasons. First. It saves labor in the end. Two hours’ work, in winter, will save three hours’ work in the spring. And three hours’ work in the spring is worth more than four hours’ work in the winter. So that we save half the expense of handling the manure. 2d. When manure is allowed to lie scattered about overa large surface, it is liable to have much of its value washed out by therain. Inacom- pact heap of this kind, the rain or snow that falls on it is not more than the manure needs to keep it moist enough for fermentation. 38d. There is as much fascination in this fermenting heap of manure as there is in having money ina savings bank. One is continually trying to add to it. Many a cart-load or wheel-barrow- ful of material will be deposited that would otherwise be allowed MY OWN PLAN OF MANAGING MANURE. 93 to run to waste. 4th. The manure, if turned over in February or March, will be in capital order for applying to root crops; or if your hay and straw contains weed-seeds, the manure will be in good condition to spread as a top-dressing on grass-land early in the spring. This, I think, is better than keeping it in the yards all summer, and then drawing it out on the grass land in Septem- er. You gain six months’ or a year’s time. You get a splendid growth of rich grass, and the red-root seeds will germinate next September just as well as if the manure was drawn out at that time. If the manure is drawn out early in the spring, and spread out immediately, and then harrowed two or three times witha Thomas’ smoothing-harrow, there is no danger of its imparting a rank flavor to the grass. I know from repeated trials that when part of a pasture is top-dressed, cows and sheep will keep it much more closely cropped down than the part which has not been manured. ‘The idea to the contrary originated from not spread- ing the manure evenly. “But why ferment the manure at all? Why not draw it out fresh from the yards? Does fermentation increase the amount of plant-food in the manure ?”—No. But it renders the plant-food in the manure more immediately available. It makes it more soluble. We ferment manure for the same reason that we de- compose bone-dust or mineral phosphates with sulphuric acid, and convert them into superphosphate, or for the same reason that we grind our corn and cook the meal. These processes add nothing to the amount of plant-food in the bones or the nutriment in the corn. They only increase its availability. So in fermenting manure. When the liquid and solid excrements from well-fed animals, with the straw necessary to absorb the liquid, are placed in a heap, fermentation sets in and soon effects very important changes in the nature and composition of the materials. The in- soluble woody fibre of the straw is decomposed and converted into humic and ulmic acids. These are insoluble; and when manure consists almost wholly of straw or corn stalks, there would be little gained by fermenting it. But when there is a good propor- tion of manure from well fed animals in the heap, carbonate of ammonia is formed from the nitrogenous compounds in the manure, and this ammonia unites with the humic and ulmic acids and forms humate and ulmate of ammonia. These ammoniacal salts are soluble in water—as the brown color of the drainings of a manure heap sufficiently indicates. Properly fermented manure, therefore, of good quality, is a much more active and immediately useful fertilizer tnan fresh, un- 94 TALKS ON MANURES. fermented manure. There need be no loss of ammonia from evaporation, and the manure is far less bulky, and costs far less labor to draw out and spread. ‘The only loss that is likety to occur is from leaching, and this must be specially guarded against. Cs AS Pil di icc ok kU, THE MANAGEMENT OF MANURES.—ConrTInveEp. WHY DO WE FERMENT MANURE? However much farmers may differ in regard to the advantages or disadvantages of fermenting manure, I have never met with one who contended that it was good, either in theory or practice, to leave manure for months, scattered over a barn-yard, exposed to the spring and autumn rains, and to the summer’s sun and wind. All admit that, if it is necessary to leave manure in the yards, it should be either thrown into a basin, or put into a pile or heap, where it will be compact, and not much exposed. We did not need the experiments of Dr. Voelcker to convince us that there was great waste in leaving manure exposed to the leaching action of our heavy rains. We did not know exactly how much we lost, but we knew it must be considerable. No one ad- vocates the practice of exposing manure, and it is of no use to dis- cuss the matter. AJl will admit that it is unwise and wasteful to allow manure to lie scattered and exposed over the barn-yards any longer than is absolutely necessary. We should either draw it directly to the field and use it, or we should make it into a compact heap, where it will not receive more rain than is needed to keep it moist. ° One reason for piling manure, therefore, is to preserve it from loss, until we wish to use it on the land. “ We all admit that,” said the Deacon, “ but is there anything actually gained by fermenting it in the heap ?”—In one sense, no; but in another, and very important sense, yes. When we cook corn-meal for our little pigs, we add nothing to it. We have no more meal after it is cooked than before. There are no more starch, or oil, or nitrogenous matters in the meal, but we think the pigs can digest the food more readily. And so, in fermenting THE MANAGEMENT OF MANURES. 95 manura, we add nothing to it; there is no more actual nitrogen, or phosphoric acid, or potash, or any other ingredient after fer- mentation than there was before, but these ingredients are rendered more soluble, and can be more rapidly taken up by the plants. In this sense, therefore, there is a great gain. One thing is certain, we do not,in many cases, get anything like as much benefit from our manure as the ingredients it con- tains would lead us to expect. Mr. Lawes, on his clayey soil at Rothamsted, England, has grown over thirty crops of wheat, year after year, on the same land. One plot has received 14 tons of barn-yard manure per acre every year, and yet the produce from this plot is no larger, and, in fact, is frequently much less, than from a few hundred pounds of artificial manure containing far less nitrogen. For nineteen years, 1852 to 1870, some of the plots have received the same manure year after year. The following shows the aver age yield for the nineteen years: Wheat Straw peracre. per acre, Plot 5.—Mixed mineral manure, alone.............-- 17 bus. 15 cwt. ‘¢ 6.—Mixed mineral manure, and 200 lbs. ammo- [peter URC ee ge eke A gh ap le aA Ee ARS Ee Ia 27¢ bus. 25 cwt. ‘¢ %—Mixed mineral manure, and 400 lbs. ammo- MIRCHI Rallis (siterip edasevete Mae. tis 36 bus. 36 cwt. ‘¢ 9,—Mixed mineral manure, and 550 lbs. nitrate RES BG cietare cas eieine was Sa wie oa aa wiaresn mentale 37 bus. 41 ewt. rOe 2 — Ae LORS TARMI-VALC: QUBE saclay qwacis qe-celeeeee 36 bus. 34 ewt. The 14 tons (31,360 lbs.) of farm-yard manure contained about 8,540 Ibs. organic matter, 868 lbs. mineral matter, and 200 lbs. ni- trogen. The 400 lbs. of ammoniacal salts, and the 550 lbs. nitrate of soda, each contained 82 lbs. of nitrogen; and it will be seen that this 82 lbs. of nitrogen produced as great an effect as the 200 Ibs. of nitrogen in barn-yard manure. Similar experiments have been made on barley, with even more striking results. The plot dressed with 3800 Ibs. superphosphate of lime, and 200 lbs. ammoniacal salts per acre, produced as large a crop as 14 tonsof farm-yard manure. The average yield of barley for nineteen crops grown on the same land each year was 48 bus. and 28 cwt. of straw per acre on both plots. In other words, 41 lbs. of nitrogen, in ammoniacal salts, produced as great an effect as 200 Ibs. of nitrogen in farm-yard manure! During the nineteen years, ene plot had received 162,260 lbs. of organic matter, 16,492 Ibs. of mineral matter, and 3,800 lbs. of nitrogen; while the other had received only 5,700 lbs. mineral matter, and 779 lbs. of nitrogen— and yet one has produced as large a crop as the other. 96 TALKS ON MANURES. Why this difference ? It will not do to say that more nitrogen was applied in the farm-yard manure than was needed. Mr. Lawes says: “ For some years, an amount of ammonia-salts, con- taining 82 lbs. of nitrogen, was applied to one series of plots (on barley), but this was found to be too much, the crop generally being too heavy and laid. Yet probably about 200 lbs. of nitrogen was annually supplied in the dung, but with it there was no over- luxuriance, and no more crop, than where 41 lbs. of nitrogen was supplied in the form of ammonia or nitric acid.” It would seem that there can be but one explanation of these accurately-ascertained facts. The nitrogenous matter in the ma- nure is not in an available condition. It is in the manure, but the plants can not take it up until it is decomposed and rendered sol- uble. Dr. Veelcker analyzed “ perfectly fresh horse-dung,” and found that of free ammonia there was not more than one pound in 15 tons! And yet these 15 tons contained nitrogen enough to furnish 140 lbs. of ammonia. ‘‘ But,” it may be asked, “ will not this fresh manure decompose in the soil, and furnish ammonia?” In light, sandy soil, I pre- sume it will do so to a considerable extent. We know that clay mixed with manure retards fermentation, but sand mixed with manure accelerates fermentation. This, at any rate, is the case when sand is added in small quantities to a heap of fermenting manure. But I do not suppose it would have the same effect when a small quantity of manure is mixed with a large amount of sand, as is the case when manure is applied to land, and plowed under. At any rate, practical farmers, with almost entire unanimity, think well-rotted manure is better for sandy land than fresh manure. As to how rapidly, or rather how slowly, manure decomposes in a rather heavy loamy soil, the above experiments of Mr. Lawes afford very conclusive, but at the same time very discouraging evidence. During the 19 years, 3,800 lbs. of nitrogen, and 16,492 Ibs. of mineral matter, in the form of farm-yard manure, were ap- plied to an acre of land, and the 19 crops of barley in grain and straw removed only 3,724 lbs. of mineral matter, and 1,064 lbs. of nitrogen. The soil now contains, unless it has drained away, 1,736 lbs. more nitrogen per acre than it did when the experiments commenced. And yet 41 lbs. of nitrogen in an available condition is sufficient to produce a good large crop of barley, and 82 lbs. per acre furnished more than the plants could organize. ‘‘ Those are very interesting experiments,” said the Doctor, “and show why it is that our farmers can afford to pay a higher price for nitrogen and phosphoric acid in superphosphate, and other ar- THE MANAGEMENT OF MANURES. 97 tificial manures, than for the same amount of nitrogen and phos- phoric acid in stable-manure.” We will not discuss this point at present. What I want to as- certain is, whether we can not find some method of making our farm-yard manure more readily available. Piling it up, and let- ting it ferment, is one method of doing this, though I think other methods will yet be discovered. Possibly it will be found that spreading well-rotted manure on the surface of the land will be one of the most practical and simplest methods of accomplishing this object. ““We pile the manure, therefore,” said Charley, “ first, because we do not wish it to lie exposed to the rain in the yards, and, second, because fermenting it in the heap renders it more soluble, and otherwise more available for the crops, when applied to the land.” That is it exactly, and another reason for piling manure is, that the fermentation greatly reduces its bulk, and we have less labor to perform in drawing it out and spreading it. Ellwanger & Barry, who draw several thousand loads of stable-manure every year, and pile it up to ferment, tell me that it takes three loads of fresi manure to make one load of rotted manure. This, of course, has reference to buik, and not weight. Three tons of fresh barn-yard manure, according to the experiments of Dr. Veelcker, will make about two tons when well rotted. Even this is a great saving of labor, and the rotted manure can be more easily spread, and mixed more thoroughly with the soil—a point of great importance. ‘¢ Another reason for fermenting manure,” said the Squire, “is the destruction of weed-seeds.” “That is true,” said I, “ and a very important reason; but I try not to think about this method of killing weed-seeds. It isa great deal better to kill the weeds. There can be no doubt that a fer- menting manure-heap will kill many of the weed-seeds, but enough will usually escape to re-seed the land.” It is fortunate, however, that the best means to kill weed-seeds in the manure, are also the best for rendering the manure most efficient. I was talking to John Johnston on this subject a few days ago. He told me how he piled manure in his yards. “T commence,” he said, ‘‘ where the heap is intended to be, and throw the manure on one side, until the bare ground is reached.” “ What is the use of that ?” I asked. “Tf you do not do so,” he replied, “there will be some portion of 5 98 TALKS ON MANURES. - the manure under the heap that will be so compact that it wil] not ferment, and the weed-seeds will not be killed.” “You think,” said I, “ that weed-seeds can be killed in this way?” ‘‘] know they can,” he replied,” but the heap must be carefully made, so that it will ferment evenly, and when the pile is turned, the bottom and sides should be thrown into the center of the heap.”’ LOSS OF AMMONIA BY FERMENTING MANURE, If you throw a quantity of fresh horse-manure into a loose heap, fermentation preceeds with great rapidity. Much heat is produced, and if the manure is under cover, or tkere is not rain enough to keep the heap moist, the manure will “ fire-fang”’ and a large pro- portion of the carbonate of ammonia produced by the fermentation will escape into the atmosphere and be lost. As I have said before, we use our horse-manure for bedding the store and fattening pigs. We throw the manure every morning and evening, when the stable is cleaned out, into an empty stall near the door of the stable, and there it remains until wanted to bed the pigs. We find it is necessary to remove it frequently, especially in the summer, as fermentation soon sets in, and the escape of the ammonia is detected by its well known pungent smell. Throw this manure into the pig-cellar and let the pigs trample it down, and there is no longer any escape of ammonia. At any rate, I have never perceived any. Litmus paper will detect ammonia in an atmosphere containing only one seventy-five thousandth part of it; and, as Prof. S$. W. Johnson once remarked, “Tt is certain that a healthy nose is not far inferior in delicacy to litmus paper.” I feel sure that no ammonia escapes from this horse-manure after it is trampled down by the pigs, although it contains an additional quantity of ‘ potential ammonia” from the liquid and solid droppings of these animals. Water has a strong aitraction for ammonia. One galion of ice- cold water will absorb 1,150 gallons of ammonia. If the manure, therefore, is moderately moist, the ammonia is not likely to escape. Furthermore, as Dr. Veelcker has shown us, during the fermentation of the manure in a heap, ulmic and humic, crenic and aprocrenic acids are produced, and these unite with the ammonia and “fix” it—in other words, they change it from a volatile gas into a non-volatile salt. If the heap of manure, therefore, is moist enough and large enough, all the evidence goes to show, that there is little or no loss of ammonia. If the centre of the heap gets so hot and so dry that the ammonia is not retained, there is still no necessity for loss, THE MANAGEMENT OF MANURES. 99 The sides of the heap are cool and moist, and will retain the car- bonate of ammonia, the acids mentioned also coming into play. The ammonia is much more likely to escape from the top of the heap than from the sides. The heat and steam form little chim- neys, and when a fermenting manure-heap is covered with snow, these little chimneys are readily seen. If you think the manure is fermenting too rapidly, and that the ammonia is escaping, trample the manure down firmly about the chimneys, thus closing them up, and if need be, or if convenient, throw more manure on top, or throw on a few pailfuls of water. It is a good plan, too, where convenient, to cover the heap with soil. Isometimes do this when piling manure in the field, not from fear of losing ammonia, but in order to retain moisture in the heap. With proper precautions, I think we may safely dismiss the idea of any serious loss of ammonia from fermenting manure. THE WASTE OF MANURE FROM LEACHING. As we have endeavored to show, there is little danger of losing ammonia by keeping and fermenting manure. But this is not the only question to be considered. We have seen that in 10,000 Ibs. of fresh farm-yard manure, there is about 64 lbs. of nitrogen. Of this, about 15 lbs. are soluble, and 49 Ibs. insoluble. Of mineral matter, we have in this quantity of manure, 559 lbs., of which 154 Ibs. are soluble in water, and 405 lbs. insoluble. If we had a heap of five tons of fermenting manure in a stable, the escape of half an ounce of carbonate of ammonia would make a tremendous smell, and we should at once use means to check the escape of this pre- cious substance. But it will be seen that we have in this five tons of fresh manure, nitrogenous matter, capable of forming over 180 lbs. of carbonate of ammonia, over 42 lbs. of which is in a soluble condition. This may be leached day after day, slowly and imperceptibly, with no heat, or smell, to attract attention. How often do we see manure lying under the eaves of an un- spouted shed or barn, where one of our heavy showers will satu- rate it in a few minutes, and yet where it will lie for hours, and days, and weeks, until it would seem that a large proportion of its soluble matter would be washed out of it! The loss is unques- tionably very great, and would be greater if it were not for the coarse nature of the material, which allows the water to pass through it rapidly and without coming in direct contact with only the outside portions of the particles of hay, straw, etc., of which the manure is largely composed. If the manure was ground up very fine, as it would be when prepared for analysis, the loss of 100 TALKS ON MANURES. soluble matter would be still more serious. Or, if the manure was first fermented, so that the particles of matter would be more or less decomposed and broken up fine, the rain would wash out a large amount of soluble matter, and prove much more injurious than if the manure was fresh and unfermented. “That is an argument,” said the Deacon, “against your plan of piling and fermenting manure.” “Not at all,’ I replied; “it is a strong reason for not letting manure lie under the eaves of an unspouted building—especially good manure, that is made from rich food. The better the manure, the more it will lose from bad management. I have never recommended any one to pile their manure where it would receive from ten to twenty times as much water as would fall on the sur- face of the heap.” “ But you do recommend piling manure and fermenting it in the open air and keeping the top flat, so that it will catch all the rain, and I think your heaps must sometimes get pretty well soaked.” “Soaking the heap of manure,” I replied, ‘‘ does not wash out any of its soluble matter, provided you carry the matter no further than the point of saturation. The water may, and doubtless does, wash out the soluble matter from some portions of the manure, but if the water does not filter through the heap, but is all absorbed by the manure, there is no loss. It is when the water passes through the heap that it runs away with our soluble nitrogenous and min- eral matter, and with any ready formed ammonia it may find in the manure.” * How to keep cows tied up in the barn, and at the same time save all the urine, is one of the most difficult problems I have to deal with in the management of manure on my farm. The best plan I have yet tried is, to throw horse-manure, or sheep-manure, back of the cows, where it will receive and absorb the urine. The plan works well, but it is a question of labor, and the answer will depend on the arrangement of the buildings. If the horses are kept near the cows, it will be little trouble to throw the horse- litter, every day, under or back of the cows. In my own case, my cows are kept in a basement, with a tight barn-floor overhead. When this barn-floor is occupied with sheep, we keep them well-bedded with straw, and it is an easy matter to throw this sciled bedding down to the cow-stable below, where it is used to absorb the urine of the cows, and is then wheeled out to the manure-heap in the yard. At other times, we use dry earth as an absorbent. MANURE ON DAIRY-FARMS. 10 CE Ace i A OT ‘MANURE ON DAIRY-FARMS. Farms devoted principally to dairying ought to be richer and more productive than farms largely devoted to the production of grain. Nearly all the produce of the farm is used to feed the cows, and little is sold but milk, or cheese, or butter. When butter alone is sold, there ought to be no Joss of fertilizing matter—as pure butter or oil contains no nitrogen, phosphoric acid, or potash. It contains nothing but carbonaceous matter, which can be removed from the farm without detriment. And even in the case of milk, or cheese, the advantage is all on the side of the dairyman, as compared with the grain-grower. A dollar’s worth of milk or cheese removes far less nitrogen, phos- phoric acid, and potash, than a dollar’s worth of wheat or other grain. Five hundred lbs. uf cheese contains about 25 Ibs. of nitro- gen, and 20 lbs. of mineral matter. A cow that would make this amount of cheese would eat not less than six tons of hay, or its equivalent in grass or grain, in a year. And this amount of food, supposing it to be half clover and half ordinary meadow-hay, would contain 240 Ibs. of nitrogen and 810 lbs. of mineral matter. In other words, a cow eats 240 Ibs. of nitrogen, and 25 lbs. are re- moved in the cheese, or not quite 10} per cent, and of mineral matter not quite 24 per cent is removed. If it takes three acres to produce this amount of food, there will be 84 lbs. of nitrogen removed by the cheese, per acre, while 30 bushels of wheat would remove in the grain 82 lbs. of nitrogen, and 10 to 15 Ibs. in the straw. So that a crop of wheat removes from five to six times as much nitrogen per acre as a crop of cheese; and the removal of mineral matter in cheese is quite insignificant as compared with the amount removed in a crop of wheat or corn. If our grain- growing farmers can keep up the fertility of their land, as they undoubtedly can, the dairymen ought to be making theirs richer and more productive every year. “ All that is quite true,” said the Doctor, “and yet from what I have seen and heard, the farms in the dairy districts, do not, asa rule, show any rapid improvement. In fact, we hear it often alleged that the soil is becoming exhausted of phosphates, and that the quantity and quality of the grass is deteriorating.” —102 TALKS ON MANURES. “There may be some truth in this,’ said I, ‘‘and yet I will hazard the prediction that in no other branch of agriculture shall we witness a more decided improvement during the next twenty- five years than on farms largely devoted to the dairy. Grain-grow- ing farmers, like our friend the Deacon, here, who sells his grain and never brings home a load of manure, and rarely buys even a ton of bran to feed to stock, and who sells more or less hay, must certainly be impoverishing their soils of phosphates much more rapidly than the dairyman who consumes nearly all his produce on the farm, and sells little except milk, butter, cheese, young calves, and old cows.” “ Bones had a wonderful effect,” said the Doctor, “on the old pastures in the dairy district of Cheshire in England.” “ Undoubtedly,” I replied, “and so they will here, and so would well-rotted manure. Thereis nothing in this fact to prove that dairying specially robs the soil of phosphates. It is not phosphates that the dairyman needs so much as richer manure.” ‘‘ What would you add to the manure to make it richer ?® asked the Doctor. ** Nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash,” I replied. “ But how ?” asked the Deacon. ‘T suppose,” said the Doctor, “ by buying guano and the German potash salts.” “That would be a good plan,” said 1; “but I would do it by buy- ing bran, mill-feed, brewer’s-grains, malt-combs, corn-meal, oil- cake, or whatever was best and cheapest in proportion to value. Bran or mill-feed can often be bought at a price at which it will pay to use it freely for manure. A few tons of bran worked into a pile of cow-dung would warm it up and add considerably to its value. It would supply the nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash, in which ordinary manure is deficient. In short, it would convert poor manure into rich manure.” “Well, well,” exclaimed the Deacon, “ I knew you talked of mix- ing dried-blood and bone-dust with your manure, but I did not think you would advocate anything quite so extravagant as taking good, wholesome bran and spout-feed and throwing it onto your manure-pile.” “Why, Deacon,” said I, ‘‘ we do it every day. I am putting about a ton of spout-feed, malt-combs and corn-meal each week into my manure-pile, and that is the reason why it ferments so readily even in the winter. It converts my poor manure into good, rich, well-decomposed dung, one load of which is worth three loads of your long, strawy manure.” MANURE ON DAIRY-FARMS. 103 “Do you not wet it and let it ferment before putting it in the pile?” ‘No, Deacon,” said I, “I feed the bran, malt-combs and corn- meal to the cows, pigs, and sheep, and let them do the mixing. They work it up fine, moisten it, break up the particles, take out the carbonaceous matter, which we do not need for manure, and the cows and sheep and horses mix it up thoroughly with the hay, straw, and corn-stalks, leaving the whole in just the right con- dition to put into a pile to ferment or to apply directly to the land.” “Ob! I see,” said the Deacon, “I did not think you used bran for manure.” “Yes, I do, Deacon,” said I, “ but I use it for food jirst, and this is precisely what I would urge you and all others to do. I feel sure that our dairymen can well afford to buy more mill-feed, corn-meal, oil-cake, etc., and mix it with their cow-dung—or rather, let the cows do the mixing.” LETTER FROM THE HON. HARRIS LEWIS. I wrote to the Hon. Harris Lewis, the well-known dairyman of Herkimer Co., N. Y., asking him some qucstions in regard to mak- ing and managing manure on dairy farms. The questions will be understood from the answers. He writes as follows: “ My Friend Harris.—This being the first leisure time I have had since the receipt of your last letter, I devote it to answering your questions : ‘1st. I have no manure cellar. “I bed my cows with dry basswood sawdust, saving all the liquid manure, keeping the cows clean, and the stable odors down to a tolerable degree. This bedding breaks up the tenacity of the cow-manure, rendering it as easy to pulverize and manage as clear horse-manure. I would say it is just lovely to bed cows with dry basswood sawdust. This manure, if left ina large pile, will ferment and burn like horse-manure in about 10 days. Hence I draw it out as made where I desire to use it, leaving it in small heaps, con- venient to spread. ‘“ My pigs and calves are bedded with straw, and this is piled and rotted before using. “T use most of my manure on grass land, and mangels, some on corn and potatoes; but it pays me best, when in proper condition, to apply all I do not need for mangels, on meadow and pasture. ‘Forty loads, or about 18 to 20 cords is a homeeopathic dose for an acre, and this quantity, or more, applied once in three years to grass land, agrees with it first rate. 104 TALKS ON MANURES. “The land where I grow mangels gets about this dose every year. “T would say that my up-land meadows have been mown twice each year for a great many years. “T have been using refuse salt fr6m Syracuse, on my mangels, at the rate of about six bushels per acre, applied broadcast in two applications. My hen-manure is pulverized, and sifted through a common coal sieve. The fine I use for dusting the mangels after they have been singled out, and the lumps, if any, are used to warm up the red peppers. “T have sometimes mixed my hen-manure with dry muck, in the proportion of one bushel of hen-manure to 10 of muck, and received a profit from it too big to tell of, on corn, and on mangels. ‘‘T have sprinkled the refuse salt on my cow-stable floors some- times, but where all the liquid is saved, I think we have salt enough for most crops. ¥ “T have abandoned the use of plaster on my pastures for the reason that milk produced on green-clover is not so good as that produced on the grasses proper. I use all the wood ashes I can get, on my mangels as a duster, and consider their value greater than the burners do who sell them to me for 15 cts. a bushel. I have never used much lime, and have not received the expected benefits from its use so far. But wood ashes agree with my land as well as manure does. The last question you ask, but one, is this: ‘What is the usual plan of managing manure in the dairy districts ?* The usual method is to cut holes in the sides of the stable, about every ten feet along the whole length of the barn behind the cows, and pitch the manure out through these holes, under the eaves of the barn, where it remains until too much in the way, when it is drawn out and commonly applied to grass land in lumps as big as your head. This practice is getting out of fashion a little now, but nearly one-half of all the cow-manure made in Herkimer Co. is lost, wasted. “Your last question, ‘What improvement would you suggest,’ I answer by saying it is of no use to make any to these men, it would be wasted like their manure. “The market value of manure in this county is 50 cts. per big load, or about one dollar per cord.” ‘‘That is a capital letter,” said the Deacon. “It is right to the point, and no nonsense about it.” “He must make a good deal of manure,” said the Doctor, “to be able to use 40 loads to the acre on his meadows and MANURE ON DAIRY-FARMS. 105 pastures once in three years, and the same quantity every year on his field of mangel-wurzel.” “That is precisely what I have been contending for,” I replied; “the dairymen can make large quantities of manure if they make an effort to do it, and their farms ought to be constantly improving. Two crops of hay on the same meadow, each year, will enable a farmer to keep a large herd of cows, and make a great quantity of manure—and when you have once got the manure, there is no dif- ficulty in keeping up and increasing the productiveness of the land.” HOW TO MAKE MORE AND BETTER MANURE ON DAIRY FARMS. “You are right,” said the Doctor, ‘‘in saying that there is no dif- ficulty in keeping up and increasing the productiveness of our dairy farms, when you have once got plenty of manure—but the difficulty is to get a good supply of manure to start with.” This is true, and it is comparatively slow work to bring up a farm, unless you have plenty of capital and can buy all the artificial manure you want. By the free use of artificial manures, you could make a farm very productive in one or two years. But the slower and cheaper method will be the one adopted by most of our young and intelligent dairymen. Few of us are born with silver spoons in our mouths. We have to earn our money before we can spend it, and we are none the worse for the discipline. Suppose a young man has a farm of 100 acres, devoted principally to dairying. Some of the land lies on a creek or river, while other portions are higher and drier. In the spring of the year, a stream of water runs through a part of the farm from the adjoining hills cown to the creek or river. The farm now supports ten head of cows, three horses, half a dozen sheep, and a few pigs. The land is worth $75 per acre, but does not pay the interest on half that sum. It is getting worse instead of better. Weeds are multiplying, and the more valuable grasses are dying out. What is to be done? In the first place, let it be distinctly understood that the land is not exhausted. As I have before said, the productiveness of a farm does not depend so much on the absolute amount of plant-food which the soil contains, as on the amount of plant-food which is immediately available for the use of the plants. An acre of land that produces half a ton of hay, may contain as much plant-food as an acre that produces three tons of hay. In the one case the plant-food is locked up in such a form that the crops cannot absorb it, while in the other it is in an available condition. I have no @oubt there are fields on the farm I am alluding to, that contain 106 TALKS ON MANURES. 8,000 lbs. of nitrogen, and an equal amount of phosphoric acid, per acre, in the first six inches of the surface soil. This is as much nitrogen as is contained in 100 tons of meadow- hay, and more phosphoric acid than is contained in 350 tons of meadow-hay. These are the two ingredients on which the fertility of our farms mainly depend. And yet there are soils containing this quantity of plant-food that do not produce more than half a ton of hay per acre. In some fields, or parts of fields, the land is wet and the plants cannot take up the food, even while an abundance of it is within reach. The remedy te this case is under-draining. On other fields, the plant-food is locked up in insoluble combinations. In this case we must plow up the soil, pulverize it, and expose it tothe oxygen of the atmosphere. We must treat the soil as my mother used to tell me to treat my coffee, when I complained that it was not sweet enough. “I put plenty of sugar in,” she said, “and if you will stir it up, the coffee will be sweeter.” The sugar lay un- dissolved at the bottom of the cup; and so it is with many of our soils. There is plenty of plant-food in them, but it needs stirring up. They contain, it may be, 3,000 lbs. of nitrogen, and other plant-food in still greater proportion, and we are only getting a crop that contains 18 lbs. of nitrogen a year, and of this probably the rain supplies 9 lbs. Let us stir up the soil and see if we cannot set 100 lbs. of this 3,000 lbs. of nitrogen free, and get three tons of hay per acre instead of half aton. There are men who own a large amount of valuable property in vacant city lots, who do not get enough from them to pay their taxes. If they would sell half of them, and put buildings on the other half, they might soon have a handsome income. And so it is with many farmers. They have the elements of 100 tons of hay lying dor- ment in every acre of their land, while they are content to receive half a ton a year. They have property enough, but it is unproduc tive, while they pay high taxes for the privilege of holding it, and high wages for the pleasure of boarding two or three hired men. We have, say, 3,000 lbs. of nitrogen locked up in each acre of our soil, and we get 8 or 10 lbs. every year in rain and dew, and yet, practically, all that we want, to make our farms highly productive, is 100 Ibs. of nitrogen per acre per annum. And furthermore, it should be remembered, that to keep our farms rich, after we have once got them rich, it is not necessary to de- velope this amount of nitrogen from the soil every year. In the case of clover-hay, the entire loss of nitrogen in the animal and in the milk would not exceed 15 per cent, so that, when we feed ou® SS MANURE ON DAIRY-FARMS. 107% 100 lbs. of nitrogen, we have 85 lbs. left in the manure. We want to develope 100 lbs. of nitrogen in the soil, to enable us to raise a good crop to start with, and when this is once done, an annual development of 15 lbs. per acre in addition to the manure, would keep up the productiveness of the soil. Is it not worth while, therefore, to make an earnest effort to get started ?—to get 100 lbs. of nitrogen in the most available condition in the soil ? As I said before, this is practically all that is needed to give us large crops. This amount of nitrogen represents about twelve tons of average barn-yard manure—that is to say, twelve tons contains 100 lbs. of nitrogen. But in point of fact it is not in an imme- diately available condition. It would probably take at least two years before all the nitrogen it contains would be given up to the plants. We want, therefore, in order to give us a good start, 24 tons of barn-yard manure on every acre of land. How to get this is the great problem which our young dairy farmer has to solve. In the grain-growing districts we get it in part by summer- fallowing, and I believe the dairyman might often do the same thing with advantage. $1,186.33 eeresne Oi WEEE COW ket gui tis 2 wie’ 0 ode afar lelacale Oyecame) ole iw ale 40 00 Mea eens Gewese atalino oe ate ie oe Seem nein ne nets etal ae 45.00 PROMER PEGE NUS) cals 9.72 Oxide of iron-and aluminas ci: « o/stieiesnic as oe eielge se clare seiee eae 18.24 Casbondte ol mies acohs sf cscs oe see ae teal tra ate ciate ae eee acto e a 8.82 Mapmpesia. alkalies w@tes acts yo cemteis(ea eka crealeielenlisiate bain tie eo teho iat 1.72 Insoluble silicious matter; \(ehietly Glay)\.5:< Rae ak ON Ie Rm 4.477, 56.5 622.3 OL Saltcedar Nee Ae EELS tue 3,331.9 26.6 | 1,444.7 USBI G2 oe ey snisicjeselaie ortvicinie a > iticivis'niaieie on sels) si0in cisco 3,520.9 62.2 550. \WIRGIE bdo oo Sdobacosoes cbabogodo saan. = eer oe 3,476. 2310 1,089.8 TSE aoe oh OR SUGGS SoD gene ooaboseadocuocrmode asaueane 8,222.5 55.6 670.7 Sermadellate ccc cutcsicciels aadeie ool Cis el aieie cis eieieinto a srolsicrste 3,120.1 64.8 545.6 STICK WINER ET carevercis orate ects es clarsctaierelser stele tel oicte rere elebetele lore arele 2,195.6 47.9 465.5 lati no ao gado DS haa sn Odean dc onOOa UU ae nOnaO 30os Obs GGur 1,991.4 22.8 391.1 CONTENTS OF THE ASHES, IN POUNDS, PER ACRE. 38 = SP wo ee gy | 88 OS fee oa ee pal cae ae a Sy S S Ss > = Q = q B a) q MT COLM ey, Sapiens cetireretorecen cle 197.7 24.2 36.7 26.4 18.7 38.5 Red- Clover. . ses 28 see tek 262.9 48.4 58.3 20.0 26.1 74.8 HIS PALSELlel =. same ieee cle sIerevale 132.8 28.7% 42.6 13.8 20.6 29.7 CR eaten ac niattcie erate ne 73.2 14.3 3122 43.3 11.8 24.4 Swedish Clover............. 136.1 17.6 25.9 Bs 132 24.2 ADO ters. oe Soe acne osimetene 163.9 12.9 34.7 20.9 30.8 31.9 Oats os 235 eat ove lee teins 85.5 12 24.8 18. 8.8 29. GUI Cs a01s Saisie sis a rctaiere inetels 80.5 11.2 16.5 3.5 We 13.8 WA ESTs Nocroe cravatle eiotetiele 76.7 10.1 28.4 albte 7.4 11.8 WPOAS Pirate comet sae eekioeiee rOler ible, Be2 he 9.4 14.3 Memade lisse --screccticsewce en 79.8 13.4 8.8 4.8 9. 18.4 Buckwheat 2 so6 sa sioedeete ee 80. 7.2 8.8 4.2 6.6 ne SAV GV Nero Cisiecses «sche Sener 42.2 5.5 9.5 3.5 5.5 11.2 It may be presumed, that, while these figures are not absolutely, they are relatively, correct. In other words, we may conclude, that red-clover leaves more nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash, in the roots and stubble per acre, than any other of the crops named. ~~ EXPERIMENTS ON CLOVER-SOILS. 167 The gross amount of dry substance in the roots, and the gross amouut of ash per acre, are considerably exaggerated, owing to the evidently large quantity of dirt attached to the roots and stubble. For instance, the gross amount of ash in Lucern is given as 1,201.6 Ibs. per acre; while the total amount of lime, magnesia, potash, soda, sulphuric and phosphoric acids, is only 342.2 Ibs. per acre, leaving 859.4 lbs. as sand, clay, iron, etc. Of the 1,919.9 lbs. of ash in the acre of clover-roots and stubble, there are 1,429.4 lbs. of sand, clay, etc. But even after deducting this amount of impuri- ties from a gross total of dry matter per acre, we still have 7,492.2 Ibs. of dry roots and stubble per acre, or nearly 3} tons of dry roots per acre. This is a very large quantity. It is as much dry matter as is contained in 18 tons of ordinary farm-yard, or stable-manure. And these 3} tons of dry clover-roots contain 1914 lbs. of nitrogen, which is as much as is contained in 19 tons of ordinary stable-ma- nure. The clover-roots also contain 74% lbs. of phosphoric acid per acre, or as much as is contained in from 500 to 600 lbs. of No. 1 rectified Peruvian guano. “But the phosphoric acid,” said the Doctor, “is not soluble in the roots.” True, but it was soluble when the roots gathered it up out of the soil. “These figures,” said the Deacon, “have a very pleasant look. Those of us who have nearly one-quarter of our land in clover every year, ought to be making our farms very rich.” “Tt would seem, at any rate,” said I, ‘‘ that those of us who have good, clean, well-drained, and well-worked land, that is now pro- ducing a good growth of clover, may reasonably expect a fair crop of wheat, barley, oats, corn, or potatoes, when we break it up and plow under all the roots, which are equal to 18 or 19 tons of stable- manure per acre. Whether we can or can not depend on these figures, one thing is clearly proven, both by the chemist and the farmer, that a good clover-sod, on well-worked soil, is a good pre- paration for corn and potatoes.” MANURES FOR WHEAT. Probably nine-tenths of all the wheat grown in Western New York, or the “Genesee country,” from the time the land was first cleared until 1870, was raised without any manure being directly ap- plied to the land for this crop. Tillage and clover were what the farmers depended on. There certainly has been no systematic ma- nuring. The manure made during the winter, was drawn out in the spring, and plowed under for corn. Any manure made during the summer, in the yards, was, by the best farmers, scraped up and 168 TALKS ON MANURES. spread on portions of the land sown, or to be sown, with wheat. Even so good a farmer and wheat-grower as John Johnston, rarely used manure, (except lime, and latterly, a Jittle guano), directly for wheat. Clover and summer-fallowing were for many years the dependence of the Western New York wheat-growers. “One of the oldest and most experienced millers of Western New York,” remarked the Doctor, “once told me that ‘ever since our farmers began to manure their land, the wheat-crop had deterio- rated, not only in the yield per acre, but in the quality and quantity of the flour obtained from it.’ It seemed a strange remark to make; but when he explained that the farmers had given up summer- fallowing and plowing in clover, 1und now sow spring crops, to be followed by winter wheat with an occasional dressing of poor manure, it is easy to see how it may be true.” “Yes,” said I, ‘‘it is not the manure that hurts the wheat, but the growth of spring crops and weeds that rob the soil of far more plant-food than the poor, strawy manure can supply. Wedo not now, really, furnish the wheat-crop as much manure or plant-food as we formerly did when little or no manure was used, and when we depended on summer-fallowing and plowing in clover.” We must either give up the practice of sowing a spring crop, before wheat, or we must make more and richer manure, or we must plow in more clover. The rotation, which many of us now adopt —corn, barley, wheat—is profitable, provided we can make our land rich enough to produce 75 bushels of shelled corn, 50 bushels of barley, and 85 bushels of wheat, per acre, in three years. This can be done, but we shall either require a number of acres of rich low land, or irrigated meadow, the produce of which will make manure for the upland, or we shail have to purchase oil- cake, bran, malt-combs, or refuse beans, to feed out with our straw and clover-hay, or we must purchase artificial manures. Unless this is done, we must summer-fallow more, on the heavier clay soils, sow less oats and barley; or we must, on the lighter soils, raise and plow under more clover, or feed it out on the tarm, being careful to save and apply the manure. “ Better do both,” said the Doctor.” “How?” asked the Deacon. ‘You had better make all the manure you can,” continued the Doctor, “and buy artificial manures besides.” “The Doctor is right,’ said I, “and in point of fact, our best farmers are doing this very thing. They are making more manure and buying more manure than ever before; or, to state the matter correctly, they are buying artificial manures; and these increase the EXPERIMENTS ON CLOVER-SOILS. 169 crops, and the extra quantity of straw, corn, and clover, so ob- tained, enables them to make more manure. They get cheated sometimes in their purchases; but, on the whole, the movement isa good one, and will result in a higher and better system of farming.” I am amused at the interest and enthusiasm manifested by some of our farmers who have used artificial manures for a year or two. They seem to regard me as a sad old fogy, because I am now de- pending almost entirely on the manures made on the farm. Years ago, I was laughed at because I used guano and superphosphate. It was only yesterday, that a young farmer, who is the local agent of this neighborhood, for a manure manufacturer, remarked to me, “ You have never used superphosphate. Wesowed it on our wheat last year, and could see to the very drill mark how far it went. I would like to take your order foraton. I am sure it would pay.” “ We are making manure cheaper than you can sell it to me, “I replied, “and besides, I do not think superphosphate is a good manure for wheat.” —“ Oh,” he exclaimed, “ you would not say so if you had ever used it.”—‘ Why, my dear sir,” said I, “ I made tons of superphosphate, and used large quantities of guano before you were born; and if you will come into the house, I will show you a silver goblet I got for a prize essay on the use of superphos- phate of lime, that I wrote more than a quarter of a century ago. I sent to New York for two tons of guano, and published the result of its use on this farm, before you were out of your cradle. And I had a ton or more of superphosphate made for me in 1856, and some before that. Ihave also used on this farm, many tons of superphos- phate and other artificial manures from different manufacturers, and one year I used 15 tons of bone-dust.” With ready tact, he turned the tables on me by saying: “NowI can understand why your land is improving. It is because you have used superphosphate and bone-dust. Order a few tons.” By employing agents of this kind, the manufacturers have suc- ceeded in selling the farmers of Western New York thousands of tons of superphosphate. Some farmers think it pays, and some that it does not. We are more likely to hear of the successes than of failures, Still there can be no doubt that superphosphate has, in many instances, proved a valuable and profitable manure for wheat in Western New York. From 200 to 300 Ibs. are used per acre, and the evidence seems to show that it is far better to dri/l in the manure with the seed than to sow it broadcast. My own opinion is, that these superphosphates are not the most 170 TALKS ON MANURES. economical artificial manures that could be used for wheat. They contain too little nitrogen. Peruvian guano containing nitrogen equal to 10 per cent of ammonia, would be, I think, a much more effective and profitable manure. “But before we discuss this ques- tion, it will be necessary to study tne results of actual experiments in the use of various fertilizers for wheat. OE Pear ark ove Lobe, LAWES AND GILBERT’S EXPERIMENTS ON WHEAT. I hardly know how to commence an account of the wonderful experiments made at Rothamsted, England, by John Bennett Lawes, Esq., and Dr. Joseph H. Gilbert. Mr. Lawes’ first syste- matic experiment on wheat, commenced in the autumn of -1843. A field of 14 acres of rather heavy clay soil, resting on chalk, was selected for the purpose. Nineteen plots were accurately measured and staked off. The plots ran the long way of the field, and up a slight ascent. On each side of the field, alongside the plots, there was some land not included, the first year, in the experiment proper. This land was either left without manure, or a mixture of the manures used in the experiments was sown on it. I have heard it said that Mr. Lawes, at this time, was a believer in what was called “ Liebig’s Mineral Manure Theory.” Liebig had said that ‘“‘ The crops on a field, diminish or increase in exact proportion to the diminution or increase of the mineral substances conveyed to it in manure.” And enthusiastic gentlemen have been known to tell farmers who were engaged in drawing out farm-yard manure to their land, that they were wasting their strength; all they needed was the mineral elements of the manure. “ And you might,” they said, ‘burn your manure, and sow the ashes, and thus save much time and labor. The ashes will do just as much good as the manure itself.” Whether Mr. Lawes did, or did not entertain such an opinion, I do not know. It looks as though the experiments the first year or two, were made with the expectation that mineral manures, or the ashes of plants, were what the wheat needed. The following table gives the kind and quantities of manures used per acre, and the yield of wheat per acre, as carefully cleaned for market. Also the total weight of grain per acre, and the weight of straw and chaff per acre. 171 EXPERIMENTS ON WHEAT. Plots. EXPERIMENTS AT ROTHAMSTED ON THE GROWTH OF WHEAT, YEAR AFTER YEAR, ON THE SAME LAND. TABLE 1.--MANURES AND PRODUCE; 1ST SEASON, 1843-4. MANURES AND SEED (OLD RED LAMMAS) SOWN AUTUMN 1843, INCREASE PER MANURES PER AORE. PRODUCE PER ACRE, ETC. ACRE BY MANURE. tes Seay [SS se ete ES RSC ious Dressed Corn. 8 Sie os Sa) iid = = = | Se Ro | Ske 12 S| =~ Pa 2 we be [Sex| Soi 88/8 'S seey8 FS rem E. ES.) | 89 Eel Ss es 238/88) 58 | BS Sud Ps Silas? ie ct les (ae cee eee tel Se ES ESs| SS S582 SPSRSSSSE, & | Quant SRE BE SE eS Besa] & | SS S| £2 eR ey me Ea SS 88 /e FS (S/B 8 |S Tons.!Cwts.! Ibs. | Ibs. | Ibs. ' Ibs. | Ibs. | Ibs. | Ibs. |Bush. Pks. Ibs. ; Ibs. | Ibs. | Ibs. Ibs. |lbs.' Tbs. | Ibs. Mixture of the residue of most of the other manures.’ .. 19 28 | 58.5 61 1228 | 1486 | 2664 | 305 816 | 621) 85.5 oe | re ate as are 700 as 154 16 3 59.0 | 52 | 1040 | 1208 2243 11%, 83 | 200) 86.4 14 aa ne c ate 50 AO BE : 20 12) 59.8 | 64 12%6 | 1476 | 275 353; 856 | 709) 86.4 Unmanured.| .. an e 58 5 ee is 15 0 58.5 46 923 | 1120} 2043 Jal ae ..| 82.4 « co ee a + a ~ be 5 14 | 580) 44 | 888 | 1104) 1992 |—85—16 |—51| 80.4 : a Ke w Be es i) 00 Ae ie 15 21 | 58.3| 48 | 956 ; 1116 | 2072 383 — 4 29) 85.6 me ae we .. | 420 | 350 ae 5f Ne 1 60.0 | 48 | 964 | 1100 | 2064 41 —20 21) 87.6 cameeltms a ne to (eee . | 850 “e ae 15 2 | 60.8 | 49 984 | 1172 | 2156 61! 52 | 113) 84.0 as om a3 rs) : we i\ on0 te ne 15 Of | 61.3 | 49 | 980 , 1160 | 2140 57, 40 97) 84.5 ae a a : és se || 680 65 56 19 21| 62.3| 64 | 1280 | 1368 | 2648 | 857, 248 | 605 93.5 ae soa eee 36 ne 7. | 560 “e By 15 1% | 62.0 | 50 | 1008 | 1112 | 2120 8 — 8 "7 90.6 OG 224 | 224 Baia 120 J , < dale B0 924 | 224 112 | 112 18a i ” Sn DO: te 224 224 ee 13d ; : 5 F200: xe 294 224 112 | 112 14a 5 calla: 84 | 224 | 224 ee 14d : 2h meen 84 | 224 | 224 112 | 112 15a ‘ ; ’ sale . | 224 994 224 15d - : : 224 . | 224 224 224 16a : e 67 | 60 | 84 | 224| 924 | .. | .. 16d ie i 67 | 60 | 84 | 224) 224 | .. [924] .. lia i ES 67 | 60 | 84 | 224) 224 | ., |112 1112 1% : Ee 67 | 60 | 84 | 224| 924 | ., \9241 .. 182 es 67 | GO | 84 | 924 224 | ., |112 | 112 18d j 67 | 60 | 84 | 224/| 904 | 7: | cae: 19 : fr -- | 112/112 21 | Mixture of the residue of most of the other muanures.| .. | . ae MANURES PER ACRE. 1 Top-dressed in the Spring. = EXPERIMENTS ON WHEAT. WHEAT, YEAR AFTER YEAR, ON THE SAME LAND, 179 MANURES AND SEED (OLD RED LAMMAS), SOWN AUTUMN, 1845. PRODUCE PER ACRE, ETC, Dressed Corn. < = : s 3 RS : m| = = Sy & So ees Se s 3/3 S | §3 = © & S |s rs) = S H 18 Bush.P’cks.|Ibs.| Ibs. | Ibs. | Ibs. 28 1% 162.3! 134 | 1906 | 2561 22 Of 162.6) 120 | 1509 | i953 2% OF {63.0} 113 | 1826 | 2454 63.8) 64 | 1207 | 1513 _— Ce wo co iw) rw So Po oS CO pp — (==) —) ea or oO 2) —_ -I wo —_ 7b 31 63.4) 150 | 2163 | 3007 8a 22 3% (63.5) 101 | 1549 | 1963 8b 29 (63.6) 132 | 1988 | 257 1a 33 2% |62.8 129 | 9247 | Z0%8 1% 30 2 (63.0 113 | 2034 | or84 18a 31 O (62.8 103 | 2048 | 2838 188 gp = 157 | 1474 | 1893 19 28 8 |62.0 107 | 1889 | 2495 ait See 22 Total Produce (Corn and Straw). INCREASE # ACRE BY MANURE. Straw and Chaff. Total Produce. Offal Corn to 100 Dressed. _— or for) oS st IMD Qo Rm De Co _ ~ for) Oo oF 3-7 W-WO-1H —_ 3s ~ SAO AAAS Seals stony, DH RMHMODOTO OF PXwWMRiHo® DWROBDWU MOwWo ~w -3 To) © GE DOVOTOWN =F ork | Corn to 100 Straw. a3 aI Srererer 00 0D 99 80 oe oF HF oF HJ J 7 I ao Re CO ih = 3 PADSASS S© tO FAS ee osc Cuse c $ : c W MWOWNS SCH COMWMDWO BARRIWD RoMMnoen Ww iar -1 = . 180 TALKS ON MANURES. This year, the seed and manures were sown in the autumn. And I want the Deacon to look at plot 0. 3 cwt. of Peruvian guano here gives an increase of 104 bushels of wheat, and 1,048 Ibs. of straw per acre. This will pay well, even on the wheatalone. But in addition to this, we may expect, in our ordinary rotation of crops, a far better crop of clover where the guano was used. In regard to some of the results this year, Messrs. Lawes and Gilbert have the following concise and interesting remarks: ““At this third experimental harvest, we have on the continu- ously unmanured plot, namely, No. 8, not quite 18 bushels of dressed corn, as the normal produce of the season; and by its side we have on plot 105—comprising one-half of the plot 10 of the previous years, and so highly manured by ammoniacal salts in 1845, but now unmanured—rather more than 174 bushels. The near approach, again, to identity of result from the two unmanured plots, at once gives confidence in the accuracy of the experiments, and shows us how effectually the preceding crop had, in a practi- cal point of view, reduced the plots, previously so differently cir- cumstanced both as to manure and produce, to something like an uniform standard as regards their grain-producing qualities. “Plot 2 has, as before, 14 tons of farm-yard manure, and the produce is 27} bushels, or between 9 and 10 bushels more than without manure of any kind. “On plot 10a, which in the previous year gave by ammoniacal salts alone, a produce equal to that of the farm-yard manure, we have again a similar result: for two cwts. of sulphate of ammonia has now given 1,850 lbs. of total corn, instead of 1,826 lbs., which is the produce on plot 2. The straw of the latter, is, however, slightly heavier than that by the ammoniacal salt. “ Again, plot 5a, which was in the previous season wnmanured, was now subdivided: on one-half of it (namely, 5a’) we have the ashes of wheat-straw alone, by which there is an increase of rather more than one busk2l per acre of dressed corn; on the other half (or 5a’) we have, besides the straw-ashes, two cwts. of sulphate of ammonia put on as a top-dressing : two cwts. of suiphate of am- monia have, in this case, only increased the produce beyond that of 5a' by 7% bushels of corn and 768 lbs. of straw, instead of by 9°/, bushels of corn and 789 lbs. of straw, which was the increase obtained by the same amount of ammoniacal salt on 10a, as com- pared with 108. “Tt will be observed, however, that in the former case the am- moniacal salts were top-dressed, but in the latter they were drilled at the time of sowing the seed; and it will be remembered that in EXPERIMENTS ON WHEAT. 181 1845 the result was better as to corn on plot 9, where the salts were sown earlier, than on plot 10, where the top-dressing extended far into the spring. We have had several direct instances of this kind in our experience, and we would give it as a suggestion, in most caseg applicable, that manures for wheat, and especially ammoniacal ones, should be applied before or at the time the seed is sown; for, although the apparent luxuriance of the crop is greater, and the produce of straw really heavier, by spring rather than autumn sowiugs of Peruvian guano and other ammoniacal manures, yet we believe that that of the corn will not be increased in an equivalent degree. Indeed, the success of the crop undoubtedly depends very materially on the progress of the underground growth during the winter months; and this again, other things being equal, upon the quantity of available nitrogenous constituents within the soil, with- out a liberal provision of which, the range of the fibrous feeders of the plant will not be such, as to take up the minerals which the soi] is competent to supply, and in such quantity as will be required during the after progress of the plant for its healthy and favorable growth.” These remarks are very suggestive and deserve special attention. “The next result to be noticed,” continue Messrs. Lawes and Gilbert, ‘‘is that obtained on plot 6, now also divided into two equal portions designated respectively 64 and 6. Plot No. 6 had for the crop of 1844, superphosphate of lime and the phosphate of magnesia manure, and for that of 1845, superphosphate of lime, rape-cake, and ammoniacal salts. For this, the third season, it was devoted to the trial of the wheat-manure manufactured under the sanction of Professor Liebig, and patented in this country. “Upon plots 67, four ewts. per acre of the patent wheat-manure were used, which gave 20} bushels, or rather more than two bushels beyond the produce of the unmanured plot; but as the manure contained, besides the minerals peculiar to it, some nitro- genous compounds, giving off a very perceptible odor of ammonia, some, at least, of the increase would be due to that substance. On plot 64, however, the further addition of one cwt. each of sulphate and muriate of ammonia to this so-called ‘ Mineral Manure,’ gives a produce of 29} bushels. In other words, the addition of ammoni- acal salt, to Liebig’s mineral manure has increased the produce by very nearly 9 bushels per acre beyond that of the mineral manure alone, whilst the increase obtained over the unmanured plot, by 14 tons of farm-yard manure, was only 9+ bushels! The following table gives the results of the experiments the Sourth year, 1846-7. 182 TALKS ON MANURES, EXPERIMENTS AT ROTHAMSTED ON THE GROWTH OF TABLE IV.—MANURES AND PRODUCE; 4TH SEASON, 1846-7. MANURES PER ACRE, © t Superphosphate of Lime. ‘ ; S S S N 3 S 8 XN 8 S S 8a rs ~ ir ah By ae he ic Ss & Se & S SS > 2 Ss 2 aS Sane Wh eee ee er et eee ere te Ss < SS a s Ss S § Tons Ibs. lbs lbs. lbs lbs lbs lbs 0 500 Mu: és = ue ais 1 Se as 200 ss 200 850 50 Q 14 a As Kf - sis a 3 Unmanured. 4 se te 200 Se 200 300 5a = =. 200 200 ie 150 150 Ex 5d Re es 200 200 ae 150 150 500 6a me as fe = = 150 150 ok 6d 150 150 Ta 150 150 % 150 150 8a 200 200 150 150 500 8d 200 200 200 200 ap 90 | 2 i 150 | 150 Z 9d A 150 150 a5 10@ 150 150 100 150 150 lia 100 100 150 150 11d : 100 100 150 150 12¢ 100 100 a 150 150 11d 100 100 - 15 150 13a 100 100 =e 150 150 3 138d 100 100 ~ 150 150 14a 100 100 are 150 150 14d 100 100 me 150 150 = i a 200 200 300 500 15d 200 200 3800 500 16a 100 100 Rs 150 150 ‘ 16d 100 100 150 150 17a 100 100 : 150 15 = iby 100 100 . 200 200 “ 18a 100 100 150 150 xe 18d 100 100 150 150 Sa 19 | a yt: 100 Sr 100 800 ea 500 20 Unmanured. ee ae Se aif aie af a ' Mixture of the residue of most of the other manures. EXPERIMENTS ON WHEAT. WHEAT, YEAR AFTER YEAR, ON THE SAME LAND. MANURES AND SEED (OLD RED LAMMAS), SOWN END OF OCTOBER, 1846, 183 INCREASE Acrz| 8 PRODUCE PER ACRE, &C. By URE. 2 x Dressed Corn. | | ae (i $ 2 S$ a a aaeT ee S$ | 33 tesla ls < SS < SS a} S | ss S g o | big] as an aed + Si ee < = ic 3 = > Fis SS 2G Ss . — in) oy 8 ~ 8 ina) > a As oS © EYSie/é/*8é]a/ ez |Sis Bush.P’cks, Ibs.| Ibs. | Ibs. | Ibs. | Ibs, | Ibs. | Ibs. | Ibs, a 0 30 2% |61.1| 156 “ana 2277 | 5308 | 908 | 1375 | 2283 | 8.2 161.9 1 82 1 (61.2) 147 | 2119 | 3735 | 5854 | 996 | 1883 | 2829 | 7.2 |56.7 9 29 38 |62.3| 117 | 1931 | 3628 | 5609 | 858 | 1726 | 2584 | 6.2 |54.6 3 16 8% |61.0| 95 | 1123 | 1902 | 3025| .. | .. | .. |8.9|59.0 4 | 27 18 [61.9] 82 | 1780 | 2048 4728 | 57 | 1046 | 1708 | 4.7 |60. ba 29 0 (61.8) 130 | 1921 | 3412 5333] 798 | 1510 | 2309 | 7.1 |56.3 5D 32-2 (61.4) 136 | 2132 | 8721 | 5853 | 1009 | 1819 | 2827 | 6.6 |57.2 6a 24 32 |62.1] 122 | 1663 | 2786 | 4449 | 540 | 884 | 1424 | 7.8 159.6 6b 24 1% |61.6| 127 | 1632 | 2803 4435! 509 | 901 | 1410 | 8.2 |58.2 "a 27 «38h |61.7| 118 | 1834 | 3151 | 4985 | 711 | 1249 | 1960 | 6.8 [58.2 vt 25 14 (61.5) 125 | 1682 | 2953 | 4635 | 559 | 1051 | 1610 | 7.9 156.9 8a 32 18 |62.1| 102 | 2115 | 3683 | 5798} 992 | 1781 | 2773 | 5.5 |57.4 8b 30 8 {61.7 123 | 2020 | 3720 | 5740 | 897 | 1818 | 2715 | 6.3 \54.3 gg/1| 22 38 [625] .. | 1477 | 2506 | 3983) 228 | 604] .. | .. [53.9 @)01 96 2 (61.0! .. | 1755 | 3052 | 4807| 632 | 1150) °° | :: [575 9B 26 0 /61.3/ 123 | 1717 | 2858 | 4575 | 594 | 956 | 1550 | .. |60.1 10a 2 3 (61.5) 118 | 1702 | 2891 | 4593 |. 579 | 989 | 1568 | 7.3 |58.8 10d 25 2% |61.2| 133 | 1705 | 2874 | 4579 | 582 | 972 | 1554 | 8.2 [59.3 lia 30 3% 61.6) 142 | 2044 | 3517 | 5561 | 921 | 1615 | 2536 | 6.3 59.5 115 29 13 |61.8| 128 | 1941 | 3203 | 5144} 818 | 1301 | 2119 | 6.7 60.6 12a 29 2 |62.0| 124 | 1953 | 3452 | 5405 | 830 | 1550 | 2380 | 6.6 |57.1 125 27 0% «| 61.8] 121 | 1796 | 3124 | 4920 | 673 | 1222 | 1995 | 7.1 |574 134 29 2% |62.5! 108 | 1959 | 3306 | 5265 | 836 | 1404 | 9240 | 5.5 57.8 135 27 14 +|62.3] 96 | 1801 | 3171 | 4972 | 678 | 1269 | 1947 | 5.3 |56.7 14a 23 Of {$2.81 175 | 1944 | 3362 | 5306 | 821 | 1460 | 2981 | 9.7 59.5 145 26 38 |62.8| 166 | 1856 | 3006 | 4862] 733 | 1104 | 1937 | 9.8 61.7 15a 32 3 /|63.0| 151 | 2214 | 3876 | 6090 | 1091 | 1974 | 3065 | 7.2 57.1 155 32 0 |62.6| 137 | 2140 | 3617 | 5757 | 1017 | 1715 | 2732 | 6.6 |59.1 | 16a 29 12 |62.3| 132 | 1959 | 3417 | 5876 | 836 | 1515 | 2351 | 6.9 |57.3 16d 34 24 =| 62.6 119 | 2283 | 4012 | 6295 | 1160 | 2110 | 3270 | 5.2 56.9 lia 33 8 |62.3) 119 | 2222 | 4027 | 6249 | 1099 | 2125 | 3204 | 5.6 /55.1 1% 35 18 |62.0| 117 | 2314 | 4261 | 6575 | 1191 | 2359 | 3550 | 6.4 |54.3 182 32 O08 (62.7/ 142 | 2160 | 3852 | 6012 | 1037 | 1950 | 2987 | 6.9 |56.0 185 29 1$ |62.9| 181 | 2029 | 4164 | 6193 | 906 | 2262 | 3168 9.7 48.7 19 32 8 |62.8| 1 2195 | 4202 | 6397 | 1072 | 2300 | 3372 | 6.7 | 52.3 20 20 Of |62.5| 70 | 1332 | 2074 | 3406 | 209| 172] 381 |4.9/64.2 oe ee a ee ff of ff ef ef ff ee ef 184 TALKS ON MANURES, Here again, I want the Deacon to look at plot 0, where 500 Ibs. Peruvian guano, sown in October, gives an increase of nearly 14 bushels of dressed wheat and 1,370 lbs. of straw per acre. On plot 2, where 14 tons of barn-yard manure have now been applied four years in succession (56 tons in all), there is a little more straw, but not quite so much grain, as from the 500 Ibs. of guano. “But will the guano,” said the Deacon, “be as lasting as the manure ?” “ Not for wheat,” said I. ‘ But if you seed the wheat down with clover, as would be the case in this section, we should get consid- erable benefit, probably, from the guano. If wheat was sown after the wheat, the guano applied the previous season would do little good on the second crop of wheat. And yet it isa matter of fact that there would be a considerable proportion of the guano left in the soil. The wheat cannot take it up. But the clover can. And we ali know that if we can grow good crops of clover, plowing it under, or feeding it out on the land, or making it into hay and saving the manure obtained from it, we shall thus be enabled to raise good crops of wheat, barley, oats, potatoes, and corn, and in this sense guano is a ‘lasting’ manure.” “ Barnyard-manure,” said the Doctor, “is altogether too ‘ last- ing.’ Here we have had 56 tons of manure on an acre of land in four years, and yet an acre dressed with 500 lbs. of guano produces just as good acrop. The manure contains far more plant-food, of all kinds, than the guano, but it is so ‘lasting’ that it does not do half as much good as its composition would lead us to expect. Its ‘lasting’ properties are a decided objection, rather than an ad- vantage. If we could make it less lasting—in other words, if we could make it act quicker, it would produce a greater effect, and possess a greater value. In proportion to its constituents, the barn-yard manure is far cheaper than the guano, but it has a less beneficial effect, because these constituents are not more com- pletely decomposed and rendered available.” “That,” said I, “opens up a very important question. We have more real value in manure than most of us are as yet able to bring out and turn to good account. The sandy-land farmer has an ad- vantage over the clay-land farmer in this respect. The latter has a naturally richer soil, but it costs him more to work it, and manure. does not act so rapidly. The clay-land farmer should use his best endeavors to decompose his manure.” “Yes,” said the Doctor, “and, like John Johnston, he will prob- ably find it to his advantage to use it largely as a top-dressing on the surface. Exposing manure to the atmosphere, spread out on EXPERIMENTS ON WHEAT. 185 the land for several months, and harrowing it occasionally, will do much to render its constituents available. But let us return to Mr. Lawes’ wonderful experiments.” “On eight plots,” said I, ‘‘ 300 Ibs. of ammonia-salts were used Without any other manures, and the average yield on these eight plots was nearly 26 bushels per acre, or an average increase of 9 bushels per acre. The same amount of ammonia-salts, with the addition of superphosphate of lime, gave an increase of 18 bushels per acre. 400 lbs. ammonia-salts, with superphosphate of lime, - gave an énereuse of nearly 16 bushels per acre, or three bushels per acre more than where 14 tons of barn-yard manure had been used four years in succession. “T hope, after this, the Deacon will forgive me for dwelling on the value of available nitrogen or ammonia as a manure for wheat.” “TI see,” said the Deacon, “that ground rice was used this year for manure; and in 1845, tapioca was also used as a manure. The Connecticut Tobacco growers a few years since used corn-meal for manure, and you thought it a great waste of good food.” I think so still. But we will not discuss the matter now. Mr. Lawes wanted to ascertain whether carbonaceous matter was needed by the growing wheat-plants, or whether they could get ail they needed from the soil and the atmosphere. The enormous quanti- ties of carbonaceous matter supplied by the barn-yard manure, it is quite evident, are of little value asa manure for wheat. And the rice seems to have done very little more good than we should expect from the 22 lbs. of nitrogen which it contained. The large quantity of carbonaceous matter evidently did little good. Avail- ' able carbonaceous matter, such as starch, sugar, and oil, was in- tended as food for man and beast—not as food for wheat or tobacco. The following table gives the results of the experiments the fifth year, 1847-5. 186 TALKS ON MANURES. EXPERIMENTS AT ROTHAMSTED ON THE GROWTH OF TABLE Y.—MANURES AND PRODUCE; 5TH SEASON, 1847-8. - MANURES PER ACRE, |\Superphosphate of| & S > Lime. S s RS S rs Pa fe er eo FO | AS 2 = ~ Ss a 5 eS ae Sys | SS. wo | 1/1 SS) SS] g 3 ~ 3 Ss S < > -* La) 2 ved N (8 (Sele 8 (es) 2 |S se se | s isla |& | & Sa; e 1S 5 RS eC 1Biq 14 a la-| sy [a | & Tons.} Ibs. | Ibs.| Ibs, | Ibs. | Ibs. | Ibs. | Ibs. | Ibs. | Ibs. | Ibs. 2 FAs Mea ch els epee tie 2 oe 3 Unmanured.| .. a 5A Be 3 Ba is é 4 sie 6 Be i “e 200 200 300 é 5a ‘ 800 | 200; 100 : 200 150 250 250 5d . 300 | 200); 100 3 200 150 5 200 200 500 6a ‘ sie ‘ ‘. &G 400 300 5 200 200 65 ae . ‘: 200 150 s 200 200 Ta ce 400 | 3800 ea 150 150 500 % i Ha ‘ aie 200 150 40 150 | 150 | 500 8a 300 |200| 100 | .. | 200 | 150 ef : 85 3800 | 200; 100 3B 200 150 : oe i 9a Be : se ‘ 200 150 Ss 9D - { 200 150 150 150 10a F Ae Be 150 150 105 z 800 | 200] 100 3 200 150 F 150 150 ¢ lia 6 - 200 150 150 150 500 116 200 150 200 200 12a : 800 2 200 150 150 150 500 125 a 300 200 1590 200 200 13a . 300 200 150 150 150 500 135 B 800 ri 200 150 50 200 l4a 5 300 : 200 150 150 150 500 145 Si 300 3 i 200 150 200 200 15a 800 | 200; 100 200 cs 200 300 155 800 | 200) 100 200 ‘ 200 300 5 ae 16a 800 | 200! 100 200 150 5 150 150 500 160 800 | 200) 100 200 150 P 150 150 | 500 lia é 800 | 260} 100 : 200 150 ‘ 200 200 a3 17%} 809 | 200); 100 200 150 200 200 = 18a ae 800 | 200) 100 ae 200 150 oy 150 150 as 18d Ss 800 | 200} 100 se 200 150 ne 150 150 AA 19 oe Si a6 i 200 we 200 300 ais 500 20 Unmanured. ee ue 3 Bx a ne a Me 22 € EXPERIMENTS ON WHEAT. Wueat, YEAR AFTER YEAR, ON THE SAME LAND. MANURES AND SEED (OLD RED LAMMAS) SOWN AUTUMN, 1847. Plots. PRODUCE PER ACRE, ETC. Dressed Corn. > g 3 < S> Bush. Pks 19 Of 16 0% 25 14 3 24 8 860F 29 3¢ 30 3 24 3h 26 3 30 3t 29 3t 19 3 19 OF 18 24 25 04 19 1 25 0} 29 14 24 3 29 3 26 Of 29 1} 25 3} Q 0+ 25 24 22 BPS 24 2g 29 3 30 14 Q7 Qh 28 34 26 3 26 23 29 1} 16 C4 = | Weight per Bushel. Total Corn. Straw and Chaff INCREASE #@ ACRE | By MANURE. | Total Produce (Corn and Straw.) Straw and Chaff. 1866 | 30.6 | 2594 113.1 | 2005 © . Oe =: a | payer Total Produce. | Offal Corn to 100 Dressed. 13.4! 195 |16.3) 2082 |13.8 os teed t 1632 12.0 9360 | 5.7 9712 10.3 916 {13.6 51 11.1 462 |11.6) 1923 |13.9, 1087 |19.0 1875 {14.1 2664 | 9.8 1933 {10,7! 2581 }14.7 2138 |14.6 2427 |11.1 1959 |15.1 1844 |18.1 1959 2424 2664 2565 | 2606 = a CORO RO EROS) 5 eet 2196 2469 —s ¢ OVEN on OVOt SAAAIIAS on ES OR COO DAORDOONROS PONOM: ot SOA DP UOWRAWRAD BDHORNDA AD 187 | Corn to 100 Straw. CNM OD SSA) wo aora 53.5 ore Wik wrinmonrw HO 188 TALKS ON MANURES. This season was considered unfavorable for wheat. The con- tinuously unmanured plot produced 14? bushels, and the plot receiving 14 tons of barn-yard manure, 203 bushels per acre nearly. 300 lbs. of ammonia-salts alone on plot 10a, gave 194 bushels per acre, while the same quantity of ammonia, with superphos- phate in addition, gave, on plot 90, 25 bushels per acre. The addition to the above manures of 800 lbs. of potash, 200 Ibs. soda, and 100 lbs. sulphate of magnesia, on plot 102, gave pre- cisely the same yield per acre as the ammonia and the superphos- phate alone. The potash, soda, and magnesia, therefore, did no good. 400 Ibs. of ammonia-salts, with superphosphate, potash, etc., gave, on plot 17d, nearly 29 bushels per acre, or 34 bushels more than the plot which has now received 70 tons of barn-yard manure in five successive years. “T see that, on plot 0,” said the Deacon, ‘‘ one ton of superphos- phate was used per acre, and it gave only half a bushel per acre more than 350 lbs. on 9a.” “This proves,” said I, “that an excessive dose of superphos- phate will do no harm. I am not sure that 100 Ibs. of a good superphosphate drilled in with the seed, would not have done as much good as a ton per acre.” ‘You say,” remarked the Deacon, ‘‘ that the season was unfa- vorable for wheat. And yet the no-manure plot produced nearly 15 bushels of wheat per acre.” “That is all true,” said I, “and yet the season was undoubtedly an unfavorable one. This is shown not only in the less yield, but in the inferior quality of the grain. The ‘dressed corn’ on the no- manure plot this year ouly weighed 57} lbs. per bushel, while last year it weighed 61 lbs. per bushel.” “ By the way,” said the Doctor, ‘‘ what do Messrs. Lawes and Gilbert mean by ‘ dressed corn’ ?” ‘‘ By ‘corn,’” said I, ‘‘ they. mean wheat; and by ‘dressed corn’ they mean wheat that has been run through a fanning-mill until all the light and shrunken grain is blown or sieved out. In other words,‘ dressed corn’ is wheat carefully cleaned for market. The English farmers take more pains in cleaning their grain than we do. And this ‘dressed corn’ was as clean as a good fanning-mill could make it. You will observe that there was more ‘offal corn’ this year than last. This also indicates an unfavorable season.” ‘Tt would have been very interesting,” said the Doctor, “if Messrs. Lawes and Gilbert had analyzed the wheat produced by the different manures, so that we might have known something in re- EXPERIMENTS ON WHEAT. 189 gard to the quality of the flour as influenced by the use of different fertilizers.” ‘“Théy did that very thing,” said I, “and not only that, but they made the wheat grown on different plots, into flour, and as- certained the yield of flour from a given weight of wheat, and the amount of bran, middlings, etc., etc. They obtained some very interesting and important results. I was there at the time. But this is not the place to discuss the question. Iam often amused, however, at the remarks we often hear in regard to the inferior quality of our wheat as compared to what it was when the country was new. Many seem to think that ‘there is something lacking in the soil’—some say potash, and some phosphates, and some this, and some that. I believe nothing of the kind. Depend upon it, the variety of the wheat and the soil and season have much more to do with the quality or strength of the flour, than the chemical composition of the manures applied to the land.” ‘“‘ At any rate,” said the Doctor, ‘‘ we may be satisfied that any- thing that will produce a vigorous, healthy growth of wheat is favorable to quality. We may use manures in excess, and thus produce over-luxuriance and an unhealthy growth, and have poor, shrunken grain. In this case, it is not the use, but the abuse of the manure that does the mischief. We must not manure higher than the season will bear. As yet, this question rarely troubles us. Hitherto, as a rule, our seasons are better than our farming. It may not always be so. We may find the liberal use of manure so profitable that we shall occasionally use it in excess. At present, however, the tendency is all the other way. We have more grain of inferior quality from lack of fertility than from an excess of plant-food.” “That may be true,” said I, “but we have more poor, inferior wheat from lack of draining and good culture, than from lack of plant-food. Red-root, thistles, cockle, and chess, have done more to injure the reputation of ‘Genesee Flour,’ than any other one thing, and I should like to hear more said about thorough cultiva- tion, and the destruction of weeds, and less about soil exhaustion.” The following table shows the results of the experiments the sizth year, 1848-9. 190 TALKS ON MANURES, EXPERIMENTS AT ROTHAMSTED ON THE GROWTH OF TABLE VI.—MANURES AND PRODUCE; 6TH SEASON, 1848-9. MANURES PER ACRE. : Superphosphate of Lime. = g S —_——$——$—— ° Ss Ss ; S & $ | = Seis i OS < Sei 8 x Pia 21) ees _ | es ia Sa oes | oS arom SSA i] AS eee rm oS a ees Ee ee 7 : 8 os 3 ar iS 3 Ss S BS = SS & ss = ~ = 3 ES S 3 |S Se Ss S S & 8 DS Ss 3 S Sioa S iS) x oe R | Se R 5 R x RS Tons.| lbs. | lbs. | Ibs Ibs. lbs. Ibs. Ibs. | Ibs Ibs 0 A ae a A 6 450 ‘5 a I 600 400 | 200 55 aes 3 |Unmanured. a ise a ¥ . ; 4 . AA 200 200 800 5a “ce 800 200 100 200 150 ae 250 250 Ae 5b 300 200 100 200 150 we 200 200 500 6a - 300 200 100 200 150 ae 200 200 BE 65 300 200 100 200 150 200 200 Ta ‘ 300 200 100 200 150 200 200 y (2) 4 300 200 100 200 150 3 200 200 8a |Unmanured.| .. we Ae a ys oe & 8d ee ee ee ee ee . ee 2000 9a ae 3 ae se ; ee a 2000 95 |Unmannred.| .. oe “ & a 10a ne Ae ate A AC Se 200 200 a 10d és ats ae ve - : 3 200 200 lia we os At 58 200 150 ate 200 200 11d ate aS as ave 200 150 as 200 200 12a ay 800 ae Hi 200 150 a 200 200 120 Re 500 5G ote 200 150 5 200 200 13a 300 A ‘ 200 150 é 200 200 18d 300 : 200 150 p 200 200 14a 300 200 150 200 200 : 145 300 aS 200 150 200 200 15a oe 800 200 100 200 ES 200 300 155 ate 300 200 100 200 Ze 200 300 500 16a - 300 200 100 200 150 yes 200 200 ® 165 300 200 100 200 150 200 200 1%a oe 300 200 100 200 150 200 200 5 17%} 300 200 100 200 150 200 200 18a 300 200 100 200 150 200 200 185 300 200 100 200 150 200 200 19 ma Ae on A 200 oe 200 800 as 500 20 |Unmanured. He ee ue Me as at = Mixture of the residue of most of the other manures. 5% ne he EXPERIMENTS ON WHEAT. WHEAT, YEAR AFTER YEAR, ON THE SAME LAND. MANURES AND SEED (RED CLUSTER), Plots. PRODUCE PER ACRE, ETC. Dressed Corn. Quantity. Weight per Bushel. Bush. Pks. Tbs. 31 19 SSSRES ES SEER 64.3 DO COnWOo HD WWRH :: 8 Fal Corn. Lo | _— Ct ter qe bed o- Pa 4% | Total Corn. — Ss = Straw and Chaff. Total Produce (Corn and Straw). SOWN AUTUMN, 1848. INCREASE 7 ACRE BY MANURE. Straw and Chaff. Total Produce. PoToTOO He 00D CT DOOTR COP OTOT OTOTOTOUR OUT OTOT OI OTOTOD OT WOR. 7 7 ROTH RS TTD CIOOUWHOD WoIkOwI OMOeOI DM WH’ * 191 | Offal Corn to 100 Dressed. | Corn to 100 Straw. 7-4 go to . J . —— _ 192 TALKS ON MANURES. “This was my last year at Rothamsted,” said I, “and I feel a peculiar interest in looking over the results after such a lapse of time. When this crop was growing, my father, a good practical farmer, but with little faith in chemical manures, paid me a visit. We went to the experimental wheat-field. The first two plots, 0 and 1, had been dressed, the one with superphosphate, the other with potash, soda, and magnesia. My father did not seem much impressed with this kind of chemical manuring. Stepping to the next plot, where 14 tons of barn-yard manure had been used, he remarked, “ this is good, what have you here ?” “Never mind,” said I, ‘‘ we have better crops farther on.” The next plot, No. 8, was the one continuously unmanured. “I can beat this myself,” said he, and passed on to the next. ‘‘ This is better,” said he, ‘‘ what have you here?” “ Superphosphate and sulphate of ammonia.” “Well, it is a good crop, and the straw is bright and stiff.”—It turned out 30 bushels per acre, 63 lbs. to the bushel. The next six plots had received very heavy dressings of ammo- nia-salts, with superphosphate, potash, soda, and magnesia. He examined them with the greatest interest. ‘“‘ What have you here?” he asked, while he was examining 5a, which afterwards turned out 37+ bushels per acre.—“ Potash, soda, epsom-salts, superphosphate, and ammonia—but it is the ammonia that does the good.” He passed to the next plot, and was very enthusiastic over it. ‘What have you here?”—‘‘ Rape-cake and ammonia,” said I. — “Tt isa grand crop,” said he, and after examining it with great interest, he passed to the next, 6a.—‘ What have you here?”— ‘¢ Ammonia,” said1I; and at 63 he asked the same question, and I re- plied “ammonia.’”’ At 7a, the same question and the same answer. Standing between 7) and 8a, he was of course struck with the difference in the crop; 8a was left this year without any manure, and though it had received a liberal supply of mineral manures the year before, and minerals and ammonia-salts, and rape-cake, the year previous, it only produced this year, 34 bushels more than the plot continuously unmanured. The contrast between the wheat on this plot and the next one, might well interest a prac- tical farmer. There was over 15 bushels per acre more wheat on the one plot than on the other, and 1,581 lbs. more straw. Passing to the next plot, he exclaimed ‘‘ this is better, but not so good as some that we have passed.”—‘‘ It has had a heavy dressing of rape-cake,” said I, ‘‘equal to about 100 lbs. of ammonia per acre, and the next plot was manured this year in the same way. The only difference being that one had superphosphate and potash, EXPERIMENTS ON ‘WHEAT. 193 soda, and magnesia, the year before, while the other had super- phosphate alone.” It turned out, as you see from the table, that the potash, etc., only gave half a bushel more wheat per acre the year it was used, and this year, with 2,000 lbs. of rape-cake on each plot, there is only a bushel per acre in favor of the potash, soda, and magnesia. The next plot, 95, was also unmanured and was passed by my father without comment. “Ah,” said he, on coming to the two next plots, 10 and 108, “this is better, what have you here ?”— “ Nothing but ammonia,” said I, “and I wish you would tell me which is the best of the two? Last year 10d had a heavy dressing of minerals and superphosphate with ammonia, and 10a the same quantity of ammonia alone, without superphosphate or other mineral manures. And this year both plots have had a dressing of 400 Ibs. each of ammonia-salts. Now, which is the best—the plot that had superphosphate and minerals last year, or the one with- out ?”—“ Well,” said he, “I can’t see any difference. Both are good crops.” You will see from the table, that the plot which had the super- phosphate, potash, etc., the year before, gives a peck less wheat this year than the other plot which had none. Practically, the yield is the same. There is an increase of 13 bushels of wheat per acre— and this increase 7s clearly due to the ammonia-salts alone. The next plot was also a splendid crop. “What have you here?” “‘Superphosphate and ammonia.” This piot (11a), turned out 35 bushels per acre. The next plot, with phosphates and ammonia, was nearly as good. The next plot, with potash, phosphates, and ammonia, equally geod, but no better than 1la. There was little or no benefit from the potash, except a little more straw. The next plot was good and I did not wait for the question, but simply said, “ammonia,” and the next “ammo- nia,” and the next ‘‘ammonia.”—Standing still and looking at the wheat, my father asked, “Joe, where can I get this ammonia ?” He bad previously been a little skeptical as to the value of chem- istry, and had not a high opinion of “book farmers,” but that wheat-crop compelled him to admit “that perhaps, after all, there mizht be some good in it.” At any rate, he wanted to know where he could get ammonia. .And, now, as then, every good farmer asks the same question: ‘‘ Where can I get ammonia?” Before we attempt to answer the question, let us look at the next year’s ex- periments.—The following is the results of the experiments the seventh year, 1849--50. 9 ; 194 TALKS ON MANUBRES. EXPERIMENTS AT ROTHAMSTED ON THE GROWTH OF TABLE VII.—MANURES AND PRODUCE; 7TH SEASON, 1849-50. AFTER THE- 2"To 3 FEET DEEP. MANURES AND SEED MANURES PER ACRE. | ____ |Superphosphate of Lime g | g oS See SS = : u Ss Sie é S S sis 5 Sees aa Ss a ~ SS = . . ate Sel ate ics CHI a, hase to] Set aot le ea > 0 I a eS OEE ESS SON CRG Ea = = = 8 os ‘ Le 2 wd oN D SO ee oe aera | = & RG | & |e Rh |B = | | RS Tons.| lbs. | lbs. | lbs. Ibs. lbs Ibs Ibs. | Ibs. | Ibs. 0 aS fe as ae 600 450 = Ss ae 1 he 600 | 400 | 200 ate at a 2 14 Be on és 3 Unmanured. 4 be ae ate ate 200 sie 200 800 5a ae 300 200 100 200 150 3 250 250 5b ats 300 200 100 200 150 se 250 250 6a as 800 200 100 200 150 a2 200 200 6b ate 00 200 100 200 150 ee 200 200 és Va ie 300 200 100 200 150 oe 200 200 500 (0) ae 300 200 100 200 150 ms 200 200 500 8a A 200 200 8b : 200 200 9a 200 200 9d as 200 200 10a a Fe ce ae ie ae =f 200 200 ois 105 rs 300 200 100 200 150 ate 50 50 Fe lla ar se Ae 2. 200 150 Ss 200 200 116 a 30 ae ae 200 150 ite 200 200 12a ue 300 40 le 200 150 Be 200 200 126 ie 300 oR as 200 150 a 200 200 13a sts 800 ae es 200 150 eo 200 200 1380 ee 300 as eo: 200 150 58 200 200 14a ae 800 ae ie 200 150 ae 200 200 146 oe S00) | ee Af 200 150 on 200 200 15a aks 800 | 200 100 200 ee 200 300 ue Bc 15d ae 800 200 100 200 ie 200 300 aie 500 16a uta 800 | 200 100 200 150 ae 200 200 165 AS 300 200 100 200 159 Se 200 200 me 1%a be 300 200 109 200 150 ate 200 200 AS 175 se 300 200 100 200 150 ba 200 200 Be 18a ss 300 200 100 200 150 EA 200 200 56 18d Se 300 | 200 100 200 150 ve 200 200 A 19 ae 2 200 an 200 300 Me 500 20 |Unmanured.' .. ef i a a t Mixture of the residue of most of the other manures. , a ate nnn EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEemnnteed a ——— EXPERIMENTS ON WHEAT. 195 Wueat, YEAR AFTER YEAR, ON THE SAME LAND. HARVEST OF 1849 THE FIELD WAS TILE-DRAINED IN EVERY ALTERNATE FURROW, (RED CLUSTER), SOWN IN AUTUMN, 1849. < PRODUCE PER ACRE, ETC. eee a cee 2 Dressed Corn. x 5 H fal S es = Sr S S 8 eS sk ao or ee SS) 8 |s/a Eat SA ar Saat = (S38 18 | 8 | ee S/R aed Ss S3/ 3 s ss s — Sis 3 SQ S s Ss SS S s ~S ~ Sor eS eS St ae eS Si&/|s /8ls Bash. “Pike: Ies,3ba."| dbs. |b. 4 fos | dbs: | Tbsp | alba. 0 19 12 (60.8) 42 | 1220 | 2037 | 3257 | 218 | 3818 | 536 |3.5 /59 9 2 98 2 Iei.9 98 | 1861 | 3245 | 5106 | 859 | 1526 | 2885 5.4 |57'3 3 15 32 |60.6| 44 | 1002 | 1719 | 2721] .. - .. [4.5 [58.2 4 2 8 61.2 87 | 1785 | 3312 | 5097 | 783 | 1593 | 2376 |5.1 153.9 5a 29 32 \60.4| 171 | 1974 | 4504 | 6478 | 972 | 2785 | 8757 19.5 |43.8 5D 30 3. 60.4] 160 | 2018 | 4379 | 6397 | 1016 | 2660 | 2676 |8.6 46.1 6a 30 08 (61.1; 119 | 1960 | 3927 | 5887 | 958 | 2208 | 3166 |6.3 /49.9 65 29 3h |61.3| 148 | 1930 | 3959 | 59389 | 978 | 2240 3218 [8.0 |50.0 na 32 1. (61.01 167 | 2134 | 4485 | 6619 | 1132 | 276 | 3898 [8.4 |47.9 %b 32 02 61.2] 150 | 2112 | 4280 | 6392 | 1110 | 2561 3671 |7.6 |49.4 8a 23 3 |61.1/ 101 | 1856 | 3407 | 5263 | 854 | 1688 2542 [5.5 [54.5 8 | 30 1. (|61.0| 103 | 1948 | 3591 | 5539 | 946 | 1872 2818 [5.6 [54.2 9a -| 30 14 (60.4/ 118 | 1951 | 3550 | 5501 | 919 | 1831 2780 [6.3 |55 0 95 27 28 |60.8| 80 | 1762 | 3165 | 4927 | %60°| 1446 2206 |4.7 55.7 10a 26 38 |60.2| 100 | 1721 | 3089 | 4810 | 719 | 1370 | 2089 |6.1 |55.7 105 17 3$ (61.1) %6 | 1171 | 1949 | 3120] 169 | 230 | 399 |6.8 |60.1 lia 30 32 61.0) 121 | 2001 | 3306 | 5807 | 999 | 2087 | 3086 |6.4 |52.6 11d 29 14 '61.1| 145 | 1940 | 3741 | 5681 | 938 | 2022 | 2960 18.0 (51.9 12a 29 38 161.5] 94 | 1935 | 3921 | 5856 | 933 | 2202 | 3135 [5.1 |49.4 125 30 38 [61.4] 115 | 2013 | 3905 | 5918 | 1011 | 2186 | 3197 [5.9 51.5 13a 31 3 60.2| 105 | 2027 | 4025 | 6953 | 1025 | 2307 | 3332 [5.4 [50.8 135 30 1% 61.0) 111 | 1964 | 4008 | 5972 | 962 | 2289 | 3251 |6.0 |49.0 14a 31 1% 61.1) 102 | 2023 | 4052 | 6975 | 1021 | 2333 | 3354 |5.3 |49.9 145 31. 1} 61.5! 65 | 1995 | 4015 | 6010 | 993 | 2296 | 3289 Le 49.7 15a 26 Of 61.5} 90 | 1693 | 3321 | 5014 | 691 | 1602 | 2293 5.7 51.0 150 So Le pn 59 | 1942 | 3926 | 5868 | 940 |! 2207 | 3147 3.0 49.5 16a 33 23 69.3) 108 | 2134 | 5103 7287 | 1182 3384 | 4516 |5.3 41.8 165 33 8 60.4] 122 | 2159 | 4615 | 6774 | 1157 2896 | 4053 6.0 46.8 17a 31 1 61.2) 73 | 1985 | 4196 | 6111 | 983 2407 | 3890 [3.8 48.1 1% 29 22 61.5] 139 | 1961 | 4034 5995 | 959 | 2315 | 3274 |7.7 48.6 18a 29 31 61.2| 110 | 19384 | 3927 5861 | 932 | 2208 | 8140 6.1 49.3 185 28 2% 60.9] 103 | 1845 | 3844 | 5689 | 843 2125 | 2968 5.7 48.0 | 19 29 0 '60.8| 88 | 1850 | 3597 | 5377} 848 | 1808 | 2656 4.9 52.4 20 14 O (59.1) 40 868 | 1639 | 2507 Ee —80 | ri) _— ~ 196 TALKS ON MANURES. The summer of 1850 was unusually cool and unfavorable for wheat. It will be seen that on all the plots the yield of grain is considerably lower than last year, with a greater growth of straw. You will notice that 100, which last year gave, with ammo- nia-salts alone, 32} bushels, this year, with superphosphate, potash, soda, and sulphate of magnesia, gives less than 18 bushels, while the adjoining plot, dressed with ammonia, gives nearly 27 bushels. In other words, the ammonia alone gives 9 bushels per acre more than this large dressing of superphosphate, potash, etc. On the three plots, 8a, 8b and 9a, a dressing of ammonia-salts alone gives in each case, a larger yield, both of grain and straw, than the 14 tons of barn-yard manure on plot 2. And recollect that this plot has now received 98 tons of manure in seven years. “That,” said the Doctor, “is certainly a very remarkable fact.” “Tt is so,” said the Deacon. “ But what of it ?” asked the Squire, “even the Professor, here, does not advise the use of ammonia-salts for wheat.” “That is so,” said 1, ‘‘but perhaps I am mistaken. Such facts as those just given, though I have been acquainted with them for many years, sometimes incline me to doubt the soundness of my conclusions. Still, on the whole, I think I am right.” “We all know,” said the Deacon, “that you have great respect for your own opinions.” “ Never mind all that,” said the Doctor, “ but tell us just what you think on this subject.” ‘In brief,” said I, “ my opinion is this. We need ammonia for wheat. But though ammonia-salts and nitrate of soda can often be used with decided profit, yet I feel sure that we can get ammo- nia or nitrogen at a less cost per lb. by buying bran, malt-roots, cotton-seed-cake, and other foods, and using them for the double purpose of feeding stock and making manure.” “T admit that such is the case,” said the Doctor, “ but here is a plot of land that has now had 14 tons of manure every year for seven years, and yet there isa plot along side, dressed with am- monia-salts furnishing less than half the ammonia contained in the 14 tons of manure, that produces a better yield of wheat.” “That,” said I, “is simply because the nitrogen in the manure is not in an available condition. And the practical question is, how to make the nitrogen in our manure more immediately avail- able. It is one of the most important questions which agricultural science is called upon to answer. Until we get more light, I feel EXPERIMENTS ON WHEAT. 197 sure in saying that one of the best methods is, to feed our animals on richer and more easily digested food.” The following table gives the results of the eighth season of 1850--51, 198 TALKS ON MANURES. EXPERIMENTS AT ROTHAMSTED ON THE GROWTH OF TABLE VIII.—MANURES AND PRODUCE; 8TH SEASON. 1850-51. MANURES PER ACRE. S Y Superphosphate of | & ; 3 3 : Apel pers) Se HS =| 8 | 88/3/45 at Sele ean tS il gets ee ar Geese so) | SS S & > s TRS aa g eS Sox CEM fees d SS oe} So es ‘ Se es s/s/ 3 |S S| SS |S eee iS) = Ss Ss 3 S sa S > 3 iS} ee tS Sf Be QR |B 3/32 13 |& Tons.| lbs. |1bs./1Ibs.] Ibs. | Ibs. | Ibs. | Ibs. | lbs, | Ibs. | Ibs,} lbs 0 sd si oh 600 | 450 . 1 ae ae .. |600| 400 | 200 a o. AC : ate . 2 14 ee ee ee ee ee ee QO ee ee ee ee 3 |Unmanured. : SH tic Pe oe + an oe Revise 4 ee rs oe ete -. | 200 ~s (/-200) | 400 Yeas 5a ate ae .. |300| 200 100 | 200 150 ic 300 [300 | .. 5d oe AG .. | 3800) 200 100 200 150 ae 300 (800) .. 6a ais Sc .. (3800! 200 100 200 150 ae 200 {200} .. 6) ate 56 .. {300} 200 100 200 150 . 200 (200 | .. (7 ste we .. |3800| 200 100 200 150 ie 200 |200 1000 ut) oe le .. |800) 200 | 100 | 200 150 oe 200 |200 1000 8a -- | 5000 SN Bs Se ats is a af 7 er 8d ae te .. |300} 200 100 200 150 as 100 /|100 : 9a 4 aA Ac es on ae ee 200 |200).. 95 ; : C 200 {200 | .. 10a us ap Fun tye eu | tore - A oo 1/200 1200 are 105 56 ac Spell wats oe oe a¢ a ie 200 /200/.. lla ae la AP eet liars 3 Soe i 00" 1 50 sie 2008 12000 ie 11d 85 ae Ara bore xb At 200 150 ate 2007) 20D lias 12a ae te .- |200} 100 be 200 150 ie 200 |200] .. 12d ae a5 -- |200} 100 ae 200 150 25 200° (2003 se. 13a we ae Se SDDS ote ne 200 150 56 200 /200!.. 136 at 5h SUT Soc Ao 200 159 aie 200 (200) .. 14a 36 ae ee aOR ines 109 200 150 Xs 200 200 | .. 14d sf a Jee pOOH Weck 100 | 200 | 150 woe | 20012002 inne 15a Bn we .. |200} 100 100 200 os 200 | 400 thes 15d te ste .. '200; 100 100 200 ais 200 | 800 -. | 500 16% Ae is 336! | 200 | 100 100 | 200 | 150 ae 300 |3800].. NGO lls. ne .- |200/ 100 | 100 | 200 | 150 «ss 400 |B00:\55. 1%a ae ee -- |200) 100 100 200 | 150 Ac 200 (200 | .. 17%) ae 50 .- |200} 100 100 200 150 Bc 200 |200 | .. 184 oe Se 5 aC Ris ac 40 ae ae 200 |200] .. 185 oe Fr: Bec ate ie bs: Se see | 200° ROO: a a - ce TG aes ge | 200 ee | 00") (B00: bee S00 ait Unmanured. | .. x a ie a i a : 22 Vee - 1 Top-dressed in March, 1851. EXPERIMENTS ON WHEAT. 199 Wueat, YEAR AFTER YEAR, ON THE SAME LAND. MANURES AND SEED (RED CLUSTER), SOWN AUTUMN, 1850. INCREASE #2 AcrRE| 3S PRODUCE PER ACRE, ETC. at ee 2 Dressed Corn. : | S j 8 s A = o> = s|§ 3s S | 8s S18 (e12 a 2 - SES = > S ae eeronih sir Bala E boe ies S.lsect ede 8 Re ot eae Pee Se & 1Si/s Ss Sel one | ee | Ss SS ee ee eee os 3 SX S = = = 8 A Ss = ee | eel Sila eee eels Bush. P’ks.|1bs.| Ibs. | Ibs. | Ibs. | Ibs. | Ibs. | Ibs. | Ibs 0 1 34 |61.9| 125 | 1296 | 1862 | 3158 | 213 | 235 | 448 |10.769.6 1 18 14 (61.7| 124 | 1251 | 1845 | 3096 | 168 | 218 | 386 |11.0 67.8 2 29 24 (63.6 166 | 2049 | 3094 | 5143 | 966 | 1467 | 2483 | 8.8 66.2 3 15 34 (61.1| 114 | 1083 | 1627 | 2710] .. -- | ++ |11-8 66.6 4 28 04 (62.6) 159 | 1919 | 2949 | 4868 | 886 | 1322 | 2158 | 9.0/65.1 5a 36 0 63.3 194 | 2473 | 4131 | 6604 | 1390 | 2504 | 3894 | 8.6/59.9 5D 37 8£ |63.3) 213 | 2611 | 4294 | 6905 | 1528 | 2667 | 4395 | 8.9/60.8 6a 33 18 163.3 154 | 2271 | 3624 | 5895 | 1188 | 1997 | 3185 | 7.2/62.6 6) 31 0+ (62.3 189 | 2119 | 3507 | 5626 | 1036 | 1880 | 2916 | 9.8/60.4 Wa | 36 3+ (63.0 201 2524 | 4587 | 7111 | 1444 | 2960 | 4401 | 8.7/55.0 x) 37 14 (63.0, 178 | 2532 | 4802 | 6834 | 1449 | 2675 | 4124 | 7.6/58.8 | | 8a | 26 02 62.8 141 1785 | 2769 | 4554 | 702 | 1142 | 1844 | 8.6/64.5 8b 27. 24 =|62.6| 137 | 1863 | 2830 | 4693 | 780 | 1203 | 1983 | 7.9|65.8 Sa hoo 14 |62.4) 182 | 2142 | 3252 | 5394 | 1059 | 1625 | 2684 | 9.3/65.9 95 | 29 0L |62.0 170 | 197 | 2942 | 4912 | 887 | 1315 | 2202 | 9.5/67.0 10a 28 34 |61.9 179 | 1966 | 3070 | 5036 | 883 | 1443 | 2326 |10.0/64.0 100 98 2 eo 149 | 1937 3048 | 4985 | 854 | 1421 | 2275 | 8.3/63.5 lia | 32 62.3 181 | 2216 | 3396 | 5602 | 1133 | 1759 | 2892 | 8.9/65.4 116 Bl 2% (62.5 181 2163 | 8302 5465 | 1080 | 1675 | 2755 | 9.1165.5 12a 32 8 |63.1) 165 | 2234 | 8600 | 5834 | 1151 | 1973 | 3124 | 8.0/62.0 120 32 21 (62.5) 166 | 2203 | 3581 | 57 1120 | 1954 | 8074 | 8.2/61.5 13a | 30 2 (62.6 180 | 2102 | 3544 | 5646 | 1019 | 1917 | 2936 | 9.4:59.3 135 | 30 62.3 160 | 2083 | 3440 | 5523 | 1000 | 1813 | 2813 | 8.3/60.5 j4g°° | Sl 04 162.9 168 | 2120 | 8605 | 5725 | 1037 | 1978 | 3015 | 8.6/58.8 140 =| «O81 04 62.8 165 | 2121 | 3537 | 5658 1038 1910 | 2948 | 8.4/59.9 | 15a% |) 27 04 62.7 138 1839 | 3041 | 4880 56 1414 | 2170 ; 8.1/60.5 15 | 30) 24 «662.9 148 | 2077 | 3482 | 5509 | 994 1805 | 2799 | 7.6 60.5 16a 36 84 63.8" 161 | 2499 | 4234 | 6733 1416 | 2607 | 4023 | 6.9/59.0 16b | 36 2% 63.4 176 | 2501 | 4332 | 6833 | 1418 2705 | 4123 | 7.6157.7 lia 31 34 63.3 131 | 2149 | 3507 | 5746 | 1066 | 1970 | 8036 | 6.559.7 17d 80 2 63.1) 152 | 2079 | 3406 | 5485 | 996 | 1779 | 2775 | 7.9 61.0 18a 30 31 63.0 139 | 2083 | 3390 | 5473 | 1000 1763 | 2763 | 7.2 64.1 185 31 0 62.4 143 | 2090 | 3586 | 5676 | 1007 | 1959 | 2966 | 7.3 58.3 | | 19 | 80 1 62.4 144 | 2031 | 3348 | 5379 | 948 | 1721 | 2669 | 7.7 60.7% 20 | 14 1 60.8 89 956 | 1609 | 2565 -127 —i -145 |10.2 59.4 dot | IT 8% 61.9, 127 | 1282 | 1763 | 2995 | 149 136 | 285 |11.5 69.9 yh 200 TALKS ON MANURES. The plot continuously unmanured, gives about 16 bushels of wheat per acre. The plot with barn-yard manure, nearly 30 bushels per acre. 400 lbs. of ammonia-salts alone, on plot 9a, 314 bushels ; on 98, 29 bushels; on 10a and 100, nearly 29 bushels each. This is remark- able uniformity. 400 lbs. ammonia-salts and a large quantity of mineral manures in addition, on twelve different plots, average not quite 382 bushels per acre. “The superphosphate and minerals,” said the Deacon, ‘‘do not seem to do much good, that is a fact.” You will notice that 356 lbs. of common salt was sown on plot 16a. It does not seem to have done the slightest good. Where the salt was used, there is 2 lbs. less grain and 98 Ibs. less straw than on the adjoining plot 163, where no salt was used, but otherwise manured alike. It would seem, however, that the quality of the grain was slightly improved by the sait. The salt was sown in March as a top-dressing. ‘*It would have been better,” said the Deacon, “to have sown it in autumn with the other manures.” “The Deacon is right,” said I, “ but it so happens that the next year and the year after, the salt was applied at the same time as the other manures. It gave an increase of 94 lbs. of grain and 61 Ibs. of straw in 1851, but the following year the same quantity of salt used on the same plot did more harm than good.” Before we leave the results of this year, it should be observed that on 8a, 5,000 Ibs. of cut straw and chaff were used per acre. I do not recollect seeing anything in regard to it. And yet the result was very remarkuble—so much so indeed, that it is a matter of regret that the experiment was not repeated. This 5,000 lbs. of straw and chaff gave an increase of more than 10 bushels per acre over the continuously unmanured plot. “Good,” said the Deacon, “I have always told you that you under-estimated the value of straw, especially in regard to its mechanical action.”’ I did not reply to this remark of the good Deacon. I have never doubted the good effects of anything that lightens up a clay soil and.vuuers 16 WSarmer and more porous. I suppose the great benefit derived from this application of straw must be attributed to its ameliorating acti°n on the soil. The 5 ,000 Ibs. of straw and chaff produced a Cro’) within nearly 3 bushels per acre of the plot ma- nured every ‘year with 14 tons of barn-yard mauure. “J am surprised,” said the Doctor, ‘‘ that salt did no good. I EXPERIMENTS ON WHEAT. 201 have seen many instances in which it has had a wonderful effect on wheat.” “Yes,” said I, “and our experienced friend, John Johnston, is very decidedly of the opinion that its use is highly profitable. He sows a barrel of salt per acre broadcast on the land at the time he sows his wheat, and I have myself seen it produce a decided im- provement in the crop.” We have now given the results of the first eight years of the ex- periments. From this time forward, the same manures were used year after year on the same plot. The results are given in the accompanying tables for the follow- ing twelve years—harvests for 1852-53-54-55-56-57-58-59-60- 61-62 and 1863. Such another set of experiments are not to be found in the world, and they deserve and will receive the careful study of every intelligent American farmer. “Tam with you there,” said the Deacon. “ You seem to think that I do not appreciate the labors of scientific men. Ido. Such experiments as these we are examining command the respect of every intelligent farmer. I may not fully understand them, but I can see clearly enough that they are of great value.” 202 TALKS ON MANURES. EXPERIMENTS AT ROTHAMSTED ON THE GROWTH OF WHEAT, YEAR AFTER YEAR, ON THE SAME LAND. TaBLE IX.—MANURES per Acre per Annum (with the exceptions explained in the Notes on p. 208), for 12 Years in succession—namely, for the 9th, 10th, Lith, 12th, 18th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17t.2, 18th, 19th, and 20th Seasons; that is, for the crops of Harvests 1852-53-54-55-56-57-538-59-60-61-62 and 1863.* Manures per Acre per Annum for 12 Years, 1851-2 to 1862-3 inclusive, except in the cases explained in the Notes on p, 2038. 8 & |& |Superphosphate of|& |& : s a iS = Lime. pis i S ~— onl . . S S | asl Els] [3g S| |PE/S8) 2 | g S3S/ s |wsl] w | o8 SS ig os s| 8 3 S§ B38) 8 SE] 8 Sec lS. [Ss lige S sis8/ 8/8 S |S8ec (Syl Ss (8 2 ele [ssl 3 (S"| 8 |28sisgle'|S"| 8] 8 Sh, oS Sa ESS Sn SCS Ss | & S Saale s |'$ Sia S iS S of Sam eee Re Sey” ee eee Tons.! Ibs. | lbs. | lbs. | tbs. | Ibs. | Ibs. | Ibs. | Ibs. | Ibs. | Ibs. | lbs 0 ae ae is WA 600 | 450 2: 2 1 he x 600 | 400 | 200] .. ee oie Se se ts Ai 8 /Unmanured A an ats Be ae 38 at era ae 4 |Unmanured a ae ‘ 5a ae ae 0 | 200 | 100 | 200 150 ‘ 5b 300 | 200 | 100 | 200 150 Sia 6a 800 | 200 | 400 | 200 150 100 | 100 os 65 300 | 200 | 100 | 200 150 F 100 | 100 é la 800 | 206 | 100! 200 150 2 200 | 200 %b x 800 | 200 | 100 | 200 150 200 | 200 ae 8a 800 | 200 | 106 | 200 150 300 | 300 ae 8d 300 | 200 | 100 | 200 150 300 | 300 , 5 9a? 300 | 200 | 100 | 200 150 fe 55071 5. 963 ‘ ae ue re 550 i 10a ae as 200 | 200] .. ae 102 4 : ae =¢ D0 le 2008 | meen Ac. lla 200 159 200 | 200] . 8 11d ne 200 150 200 | 200 os 12a 550 200 150 200 | 260) . x 126 550 200 150 200. | 200 ae 13a 300 200 150 200. | 200 4e 13d 300 3 200: 150 S 200 | 200 | . g 14a ante ae 420 | 200 150 ask 200 |.200 | . 5 146 st 420 | 200} 150 a 200 | 200 nee 15a s z 300 | 200 | 106 | 200 oss 206 | 400 é 15d oe .- | 3800 ' 200 | 100 | 200 a 200 | 800] .. Ra 506 16a .. |8364| 300 | 200 | 100 | 200 156 sc 400 | 400} .. af 165 ee .. | 800 | 200 | 100] 200 156 ie 400 | 400] .. mes ef ine fe ee ee i 200 | 200 | .. eS 17%} 3 ie x ae “a 200 | 200] . ae {18a | - 300 | 200 | 400 | 200} 150 al Feaerl Seca 185 300 | 200 | 10@| 200 150 a os £5 es Se °19 oe ne fe aie ES 206 Ae 200 | 300] .. ade 500 20 |Unmantred) .. : : es se Pe bse a a oe Q1 é a 3800 | 206 | 100! .. é na ~ ROOE ee AG 22 = Pe 3800 ' 200 ' 100' .. Me aif 100! .. a ae “For the particulars of the produce of each sepavate season, see Tables, X.-XXI. inciusive. EXPERIMENTS ON WHEAT. 203 NOTES TO TABLE IX. (p. 202.) " For the 16th and succeeding seasons—the sulphate of potass was reduced from 600 to 400 lbs. per acre per annum on Plot 1, and from 800 to 200 lbs. on all the other Plots where it was used ; the sulphate of soda from 400 to 200 lbs. on Plot 1, to 100 lbs. on all the Plots on which 200 Ibs. had previously been applied, and from 550 to 336} lbs. (two-thirds the amount) on Plots 12a and 12d; and the sulphate of magnesia from 420 to 280 Ibs. (two-thirds the amount) on Plots 14a and 140. * Plot 9a—the sulphates of potass, soda, and magnesia, and the superphosphate of lime, were applied in the 12th and succeeding seasons, but not in the 9th, 10th, and 11th; and the amount of nitrate of soda was for the 9th season only 475 lbs. per acre, and for the 10th and 11th seasons only 275 Ibs. * Plot 95—in the 9th season only 475 lbs. of nitrate of soda were applied. * Common salt—not applied after the 10th season. ® Plots 17a and 17b, and 18a and 18)—the manures on these plots alternate: that is, Plots 17 were manured with ammonia-salts in the 9th season; with the sulphates of potass, soda, and magne- sia, and superphosphate of lime, in the 10th ; ammonia-salts again in the 11th; the sulphates of potass, soda, and magnesia, and superphosphate of lime, again in the 12th, and soon. Plots 18, on the other hand, had the sulphates of potass, soda, and magne- sia, and superphosphate of lime, in the 9th season; ammonia-salts in the 10th, and so on, alternately. 204 TALKS ON MANURES. EXPERIMENTS AT ROTHAMSTED ON THE GROWTH OF WHEAT, YEAR TaBLE X.—PrRopDUCE of the 9TH SEASON, 1851-2. SrEp (Red Cluster) sown No- vember 7, 1851; Crop cut August 24, 1852. Plots. AFTER YEAR, ON THE SAME LAND. TaBLE XI.—PrRopDUvUCE of the 10TH SEA- “ son, 1853. SEED (Red Rostock) sown March 16; Crop cut September 10, and carted September 20, 1853. PRODUCE PER ACRE, ETC. (For the Manures see pp. 202 and 203.) a ~» Dressed Corn. = = |S : eS Se | Ses > Ko} See S =} SO [RsS8 ~ 2S yS8 ~ Be 3 (8&8&s $ SQ} 8 (sa > << NIN we © 22 04% |57 3) 1343 | 4162 24 03% | 55.6) 1472 | 4553 22 1% |55 9) 1387 | 4299 94 13% |57.4| 1503 | 4760 24 11% | 57.3) 1492 | 4724 24 57.5| 1480 | 4702 23 3% |55.0| 1794 | 6471 28 0 |54.5/ 1700 | 6316 9 2 |56.5/ 1577 | 5311 4 134 | 56.9! 1520 | 4986 13 3 |57.0| 869 | 2556 14 33% |56.7| 921 | 2685 24 3% | 56.1] 1582 | 4979 14 0% |56.6| 875 | 2452 19 1% |56.9| 1177 285 | 19 2% 1|55.91 1176 | 3355 Piots. PRODUCE PER ACRE, ETC. (For the Manures see pp. 202 D essed Corn. > s 8 = LS Bush. Pks. 9 0% 6° 1% 19 OW 5 38% ree al 10 O 10 1 16 3% 19 1 23. 2% 2B BA 22° 1% 240 24 ike al 10 1% 9 38% 15. 32 Lie 2 18° 2% 22 0 23. 3% 22 1% 23 21g OH, 238 0% 19 O 23° (215 QA 1g 2 3% 8 1% 8 38% ey oA 20 3 19 bed # Weight Busha. and 208). Total Corn. i i wre poS AIwooy, SES. 446 587 611 9718 1072 1369 1357 1346 1425 691 649 642 896 1015 1073 1283 1375 1341 1396 1322 1347 1148 1351 1496 1537 520 539 | 1111 1256 | 1160 425 | 753 592 | Lotal Produce (Corn and Straw.) EXPERIMENTS ON WHEAT. 205 EXPERIMENTS AT ROTHAMSTED ON THE GROWTH OF WHEAT, YEAR AFTER YEAR, ON Taste XII.—-Propuce of the liTH SEASON, 1853-4. SEED (Red Rostock)), sown November 12, 1853; Crop cut August 21, and carted August 31, 1854.) PRODUCE PER ACRE, ETC. (For the Manures see pp. 202 and 203). 2 Dressed Corn. t 8 = Tae oe oe ce 3 =o | = isSe Ss Ss | S$ $838 oe Ss Bush. Pks. | Ibs. | Ibs. | Ibs. 0 26 1% 61.0 | 1672 | 3786 1 24 Iw | 60.2 | 1529) 4060 2 41 OW 62.5 | 2675 | 7125 3 21 0% | 60.6 | 1359 | 3496 4 23 ©6986 61.1 | 1521 | 8859 5a 24 16 | 61.0 | 1578 | 4098 5D 24. 0 61.6 | 15382] 4035 6a 33 2% 61 8 | 2186 | 60381 65 84 2144 61.8 | 2239 | 6294 "a A 84 61 9 | 2950 | 8553 "%D 45 1% 61.8 | 2944 | 8440 8a AG 1% 61.4 | 8065 | 9200 8b 49 MW 61.8 | 3208 | 9825 9a 38 3 60.7% | 2456 | 6598 9b 38 BW 60.7 | 2480 123 10a 84 16 | 60.5 | 2211 | 5808 105 | 39 0% | 61.6 | 2585 | 7003 lla 44. 2 61.1 | 2859 | 8006 116 4B OW 61.2 | 2756 | T7716 12a 45 3% 62.2 | 2966 | 8469 125 455 1% 62.2 | 2939 | 8412 13a 45 OW 62 2 | 2913 | 8311 130 43 34 62.2 | 2858 | 8403 14a 45 1% | 62.2 | 2946 8498 14d 44 OW | 62.2 | 2863 | 8281 15a 438 11g | 62.1 | 2801 | 7699 15d ad 62.4 | 2810 | 8083 16a 49 2% | 61.7 | 8230 | 9932 16d 50 0% | 61.7% | 8293 | 9928 1%a 45 8 62.1 | 2948 | 8218 17%} 42 22% | 62.2 | 27382) 7629 18a 24 0 61.2 | 1526 | 3944 18d 23 23% | 61.0 | 1511] 3888 19 41 O% | 61.7 | 2666 | 7343 20 B2) 8 60.8 | 1445 | 8662 21 382 014 | 61.2 | 2030| 5470 22 31 38 61.0 ' 1994! 53834 THE SAME LAND. TABLE XIII.—PropuckE of the 12TH SEASON, 1854-5. SEED (Red Rostock) sown November 9, 1854; Crop cut August 26, and carted September 2, 1855. PRODUCE PER ACRE, ETC, (For the Manures see pp. 202 and 203). | 2 Dressed Corn. S S — eee = 3s | S Mes & (|S8| 3 lsss Sm S S VR Ce SRS SiS Bush. Pks. | lbs. | Ibs. | Ibs. 0 i 0 60.7 | 1096 | 2822 1 18 2 60.5 | 1179 | 3069 2 384 23g =| 62.0 | 2237 | 6082 3 a 59.2| 1072 | 2859 4 18 24 | 59.5} 1168 | 3000 5a 18 59.9} 1157 | 2976 5D 18 0% | 60.1) 1143 | 2943 6a 27: 3 60.3 | 1753 | 4590 6d 28 «1 60.9 | 1811 | 4848 (a 32 234 =| 59.4) 2084 | 5995 7b 33 «1144 «| 59.5 | 21388 | 6296 8a 29 «3 58.8 | 1909 | 5747 8 | 33 0% |58.7| 2153 | 6495 9a 29 25 «=| 58.3) 1932 | 5878 9b 25 1 | 57.3) 1605 | 4817 10a 19 83% [57.11 1285 | 3797 105 28 0% | 58.9} 1805 | 507 lla 18. -3 55.3 1210 | 3694 116 24 24 | 56.3) 1580 | 4733 12a 30 0% |59.5| 1940 | 5478 126 33 2 60.2 | 2172 | 6182 13a 29 «(0 59.9 | 1924 | 5427 130 82 2 60.4 2110 | 5980 14a 29 3 60.0) 1954 | 5531 146 | 83 1% | 60.0) 2158 | 5161 15a 31 314 «| 60.0! 2030 | 5855 150 33.8 60.6 | 2193 | 6415 16a | 33 14% bs. 2100 | 6634 16 32 2 58.2) 2115 | 7106 1%a 18 3% | 60.8) 1227 | 3203 175 17 0% | 60.3) 1110 | 2914 18a 82 3834 ~=| 609)| 2127 | 6144 185 33. 13, | 60.8| 2170 | 6385 19 80 OW |58 7} 1967 | 5818 20 17 23g | 61.1} 1155 | 2986 21 24 134 | 60.8) 1533 | 3952 22 24 23g $60.1! 1553 ' 4010 206 TALKS ON MANURES. EXPERIMENTS AT ROTHAMSTED ON THE GROWTH OF WHEAT, YEAR AFTER YEAR, ON THE SAME LAND. TasBLE XIV.—Propuce of the 137TH,,TABLE XV.—PRODUCE OF THE 147TH Srason, 1855-6. SeED (Red Rostock) sown November 13, 1855; Crop cut August 26, and carted September 3, 1856. SEASON, 1856-7. SEED (Red Rostock) sown November 6, 1856; Crop cut qaaeuee 13, and carted August 22, Dit. PRODUCE PER ACRE, ETC. (For the Manures see pp. 202 and 208.) 3 Dressed Corn. Se S = || & Ss a = al WS ies S ws 'S iS ees ~ es StS Ss as SS SSS S |ss| 35 = > i= HIN Bush. Pks. | Jbs. | lbs. | Ibs. 0 18 1W 56.8 | 1179 | 8148 1 17 0% | 56.3) 1102 | 3035 >) 36 1% 58.6 | 2277 | 6594 3 14 2 54.3 892 | 2450 4 i abes 55.5 | 1026 | 2757 5a 18 3% 56.5 | 1167 | 3179 5d 20 1% 56.2 | 1247 | 3369 6a 2% «1% 58.2 | 171% | 4767 65 28 OW 58.5 | 1755 | 4848 Ta site) al 58.0 | 2312 | 6872 ¥) 386 2% 57.6 244 | 6642 8a 40 OW 56.8 | 2507 | 7689 8b 37 % 57.1 | 2400 | 7489 9a 32 14 57.2 | 2019 | 5894 95 26 «620 56.3 | 1679 | 4881 10a 4 0% 55 6 | 1505 | 4823 10d mb 28% BV.2 >| 127 | 4895 lla 31 «6384 57.3 | 2001 | 5518 11d 380 26 57.5 | 1946 | 5889 12a 33 38% 58.7 | 2102 | 5949 12d 32 Os 58.8 | 2079 | 5804 18a 382 «1% 58 6 | 2036 | 577 185 30 3% 58.9 | 2008 | 5659 14a 38> 6 «(0% 58.6 | 2195 | 6897 145 | 34 0% | 59.0 | 2162 | 6279 15a 30 OW 59.1 | 1923 | 5444 15d se 20 59.4 | 2045 | 5797 16a 38 OW 58.5 | 2426 | 7955 166 ot) 8 58.7% | 2450 | 7917 1%a Sl 28g 59.0 | 19838 | 5541 1%} 30) 1 59.1 | 1985 | 5400 18a 1” 336 57.8 | 1140 | 3152 18d 18 0 57. | 1131 | 3069 19 era 58.9 | 2059 | 5621 20 1% 0% 57.7% | 1075 | 2963 21 QQ Fag 58.0 | 1898 | 8927 22 21 1% 57.8 | 1851 | 3849 PRODUCE PER ACRE, ETC. (For the Manures see pp. 202 and 208.) # Dressed Corn. Le S s |ses RY a QS, SS (SP sS = 3S o Kes = SS/ os Pss = Sa| 8 |§Se & Ee ae Bush. Pks. | lbs Ibs. | Ibs. 0 18 2% | 59.0} 1181 | 2726 1 17 2% |59.0} 1118 | 2650 2 41 03% | 60.4] 2587 | 5910 3 19 383 | 58.38] 1236 | 2813 4 22 13% | 58.8} 1386 | 2958 5a 22 33% | 59.0) 1409 | 3026 5D | 24 2% |58.8| 1512 | 3247 6a 85 1% |59 9; 2211 | 4968 6b 85 144 | 59 8! 2193 | 4950 Wa 43 1144 | 60.5) 2782 | 6462 "b 46 13 | 60.8) 2902 | 6793 8a Eee 3} 60.8) 3058 | 73855 8b 48 384% | 60.6/ 3129 | 7579 9a Ase 60.1} 2767 | 6634 9b |-386 03 | 58.0) 2220 | 5203 10a 29 O%W | 58.0} 1816 | 4208 100 84 2 58.6] 2185 | 5060 lia 89 «(0 58.5| 2432 | 5875 11d 39 603% | 58.0| 2397 | 53817 | 12a 43 381g | 604)! 2747 | 6894 126 43 2 60.4| 2729 | 6312 13a 49 3 60.6) 2714 | 6421 18d 43. 2 60-5) 2739 | 6386 lda 45 3 60.5} 2781 | 64389 14d 42 38% | 60.8) 2699 | 6351 15a 42 11% |60.4 2681 6368 15d 44 1% |60.0 2765, 65438 16a 48 3144 |60.5 8181 | 7814 160 50 620 60.5 8194 , 7897 1%a 26 2% |59.1 1642 3700 1%} 25 383% |58.8 1588 3523 18a 41 0% |59.% 2566 6009 18d 40 0% |59.8 2519 | 5884 19 41 224% |59.5 2600 5793 | 20 19 23% | 58.4 1213 QW" 21 4 O 60.6 1538 383538 22 238 03g |'60.6 1491 38298 EXPERIMENTS ON WHEAT. 207 EXPERIMENTS AT ROTHAMSTED ON THE GROWTH OF WHEAT, YEAR AFTER YEAR, ON THE SAME LAND. TABLE XVI.—Propuce of the 15rH||TaBLE XVII.—PRopucE of the 16TH SEason, 1857-8. SEED (Red Rostock)|| Season, 1858-9. SrED (Red Rostock) sown November 3 and 11, 1857; Crop}| sown November 4, 1858; Crop cut cut, August 9, and carted August 20,|| August 4, and carted August 20, 1859. 1858. PRODUCE PER ACRE, ETC. PRODUCE PER ACRE, ETC. (For the Manures see pp. 202 (For the Manures see pp. 202 and 203.) and 203.) s Dressed Corn. : Sas 2 Dressed Corn. : Sry ee Sol |e less Sea ig: ees S |R8 Es 2 jzel> es 5 S3| 8 [sss s |S3| 8 [88s Soke Ge SE op eva Bush. Pks. | lbs Ibs. | lbs Bush. Pks. | lbs. | Ibs. | Ibs. 0 20 3 61.2 | 1332 | 3234 0 21 244 «| 54.0) 1254 1 16 1% | 60.7} 1055 | 2685 u 19 55.0} 1189 | 3489 2 88 3% | 62.6 | 2512 | 6349 2 36 0% | 56.5] 2263 | 7073 3 18 0 60.4 | 1141 | 2811 3 18 1% | 52.5] 1051 | 3226 ¥ 4 19 O% | 61.1} 1206 | 2879 4 19 03 | 55.0] 1188 | 3418 5a 18 2% | 61.5] 1187 | 2719 5a 20 234 | 56.0] 1277 | 3600 5d 19 61.4 | 1227 | 2870 50 20 26 | 56-0| 1273 | 3666 6a 28 214 | 62.1) 1818 | 4395 6a 29 2% |56.5) 1808 | 5555 6b 29 OW | 62.1] 1850 | 4563 60 380 OW | 56.5] 1855 | 5708 Wa 88 234 | 61.9] 2450 | 6415 Ta 84 23, | 55.9) 2097 | 6774 Wb 39 214 | 62.3 | 2530 | 6622 ) 34 2 55.9] 2089 | 6892 8a 41 334 | 61.8] 2680 | 7347 8a 84 3814 | 54.0} 2068 | 7421 8d 41 334 | 61.7% | 2675 | '%342 8d 34 34 153.4] 2007 | 7604 9a 38% 2% | 60.8] 2384 | 6701 9a 30 60 54.5] 1806 | 7076 95 23 58.8 | 1470 | 4158 9b 24 214 | 50.5] 1412 | 5002 10a 22 3% | 59.6| 1439 | 3569 10a 18 334, |51.5] 1207 | 3987 105 27 61.4 | 1775 | 4390 105 2b 2 52.5} 1500 | 4920 lia 30 33 | 60.5) 1977 | 4774 lla 26 8% | 51.4] 1628 ! 5155. 115 33 0% | 60.4| 2099 | 5117 11d 27 38% | 51.3) 1698 | 5275 12a 387 33% | 62.1) 2437 | 6100 12a 84 2% | 54.5! 2060 | 6610 126 3703 62.1 | 2387 | 6060 126 84 3% | 54.8) 2115 | 6858 13a 87 03% | 62.1] 2384 | 6077 13a 84 0% | 55.0] 2087 | 6774 13d 87 «640% «| 62.7% | 2397 | 6074 130 84 3 | 55.0] 2087 | 6894 14a 87 3 | 62.11 2413 | 6150 14a | 84 1% | 54.5) 2054 | 6817 14d 388 1% | 62.0 | 2436 | 6146 14d 84 24% | 54.5) 2074 | 6774 15a 85 13 | 62.6] 2285 | 5800 15a 84 03% | 55.0) 2053 | 6826 15d 37 2 62.8 | 2436 | 6134 15d 35 4 | 55.0] 2095 | 7088 16a 41 3 62.1 | 2702 | 7499 16a 84 33% | 52.6] 2026 | 7953 16d 42 0% | 62.1) 2717 | '%530 165 84 13% | 52.6] 2005 | 7798 lva 338 134 | 62.5 | 2150 | 5353 17a 21 1% | 55.0} 1247 | 3730 17} 838. 314 | 62.5 | 2181 | 5455 17) 19 3 54.5| 1168 | 3541 18a 22 334 | 62.3 1472 | 3480 18a 82 3% | 55.5) 1973 | 6506 185 20 23% | 62.4] 1338 | 3305 18d 32 2 56.0} 1980 | 6630 19 33 1% | 62.5 | 2177 | 5362 19 30 2 55.5] 1903 | 5926 20 17 +O 60.3 | 1089 | 2819 20 1% 3% | 52.5) 10389 | 3256 21 24 13% | 61.5] 1574 | 3947 21 26 1% | 54.0) 1538 | 4723 22 22 0 61.5 | 1412 | 3592 22 24 03% #%'|55.0! 1460 ' 4440 208 TALKS ON MANURES. EXPERIMENTS AT ROTHAMSTED ON THE GROWTH OF WHEAT, YEAR AFTER YEAR, ON TaBLE XVIII.—Propvuce of the 17TH SEasoN, 1859-60. SEED (Red Rostock) sown November 17, 1859; Crop cut September 17 and 19, and carted Octo- ber 5, 1860. PrRopDUCE PER ACRE, ETC. (For the Manures see pp. 202 and 208.) e sb) Ss Dressed Corn. Qe S Se ~ > Ses! ears os ~S Oo Wes! 3 ~S a8 s S27 8. sss $ SS | 8 ($Ce rr = SS 16 O% | 53.1) 9385 2595 21 OM 53 7 | 1210 3393 22 «3834 54.2 | 1326 3719 2% «6386 «| 543] 1612 | 4615 2% 234 54.3 | 1597 | 4734 30 63 52.8 | 1759 5639 381 23% | 52.3] 1787 | 5600 32 23 | 51.5] 1858 | 6635 19 2% | 48.5 | 1155 | 4285 lee Le 49.5} 905 3118 18 244 51.0 | 1060 | 8420 22 1K 510] 1270 373 THE SAME LAND. ‘TaBLE XIX.—PropvuceE of the 18TH - SEASON, 1860-1. SEED (Red Rostock) sown November 5, 1860; Crop cut i 20, and carted August 27, 61. PRODUCE PER ACRE, ETC. _ (For the Manures see pp. 202 and 203.) : x 3 Dressed Corn. Sx = s |se R s e.| & BS. 8 s3/ S Wess 8 3S Ss |SOSs > 2X Ss [sR S = NW 0 1 2 3 4 5a 5D 6a 60 Ta %b 8a 8d 9a 9d 10a 10d lla 110 12a 28 OW 53.4 | 1648 | 4878 120 18a 130 14a 14d 15a 15d 16a 16d 1%a 175 18a 18d 92 11% | 51.2] 1307 4000 2 21% | 53.5 | 1577 | 4664 26 0% | 54.3| 1575 | 4568 27 06 | 53.8] 1600 | 4637 27 136 «| 53.7 | 1588 | 463 27 0% | 53.2| 1563 | 4666 25 13 | 53.8/| 1510 | 4387 28 0 54.0 | 1614 | 4704 32 2 520 | 1856 | 5973 32 3 51.7 | 1889 | 6096 24 0% | 54.1] 1409 | 4109 268 1% | 54.3) 1548 | 4518 15 11% | 54.5 | 929 | 2649 16 134 | 54.6| 963 | 2706 19 24 0% | 53.0| 1435 | 4178 20 12 0% | 51.5) 722] 2155 21 15 525 | 893 | 2639 22 13 3% 153.81 847 155 | 8 60 2| 2249 | 5727 16a | 36 1% |58.0| 2388 | 6761 16d | 37 2 58.6 | 2432 | 6775 va | 19 1 59.3 | 1229 | 2982 1% | 18 0% | 59.1] 1166 | 2829 18@ | 32 136 |59.6| 2050 | 5144 18 | 33 1% |59.5| 2122 | 5446 EXPERIMENTS ON WHEAT. 209 EXPERIMENTS AT ROTHAMSTED ON THE GROWTH OF WHEAT, YEAR AFTER YEAR, ON THE SAME LAND. TaBLE XX.—PrRopUcE of the 19TH|/TaBLE XXI.—PRoDUCcE of the 20TH SEASON, 1861-2. SEED (Red Rostock) sown October 25, 1861; August 29, and carted September 12, 1862. Plots. PRODUCE PER ACRE, ETC. (For the Manures see pp. 202 aud 208.) ¢ Dressed Corn. =) Wmowoeo 818 1273 (Corn and Total Produce Straw). Crop cut 2335 3465 1250 | 3480 SEASON, 1862-38. SEED (Red Rostock) sown November 17, 1862; Crop cut August 10, and carted August 18, 1863. PRODUCE PER ACRE, ETC. (For the Manures see pp. 202 and 203.) 2 Dressed Corn. ; Sy S SU aes & x ee Se eS = s¥| 8S As8 — Ls Ss Ss] 8 [38s So WEA) Sule Bush. Pks. | lbs. | Ibs lbs 0 2 0% | 62.6) 1429] 3,254 il 20 62.8] 1384] 3.079 2 44 0 63.1] 2886 | '7,165 3 lh al 622%) 1127 |) N27 4 20 1 62.3) 1803] 2,957 5a 19 12 | 63.0] 1283} 2,970 5b 19m co 63.0) 1296 | 3,064 6a 89 11g | 62.3] 2522 | 6,236 60 39 «8 62.3| 2534 | 6,250 Ta 538 14% 62.6| 3477 | 9,330 4b 54 (OO 62.5] 3507 | 9,385 8a 56 2% | 62.3) 3668 | 10.383 8d 54 3144 | 62.3) 3559 | 10,048 9a 55 4214 «| 62.1; 3576 | 9,888 9b 41 1% | 62.5) 2723] 6,920 10a 39 OM | 62.6) 2587] 6,068 100 43 22144 | 62.8) 2858 | 6.914 lia | 45 0 | 62.5) 2979 | 7,212 110 46 2 62.1) 3060 | 7,519 12a 54 23% | 62.1! 3533 | 8,976 120 53 62.2) 3454 | 8,819 13a 53. 11 62.6, 3453 | 9,192 13) | 58 1% | 62.5) 3439/] 9238 1da 54 13% | 62.5) 3527 | 8,986 14d 58 13% | 62.5) 3450 | 8,749 15a 48 1% | 62.5) 3114 | 8,276 155 48 0 62.9| 3127 | 8,240 16a 56 «6234 :~=C| 62..4| 3710 | 10,717 16d 55 404 | 62.3 3607 | 10,332 lta 21 0% | 62.8) 1370 | 3,288 175 21 13g | 62.8! 1389 | 3,292 18a 46 1% | 62.6 3006] 7,889 18 46 0% | 62.8, 3009 | 7,737 19 46 2% |62.9| 3054| 7,577 20 17 2% |62.5) 1137| 2,609 21 27 2% 1625, 1796) 4,279 62.4; 1907! 4,599 210 TALKS ON MANURES. The ninth season (1851--2), was unusually cold in June and wet in August. It will be seen that the wheat, both in quantity and quality, is the poorest since the commencement of the experi- ments. The unmanured plot gave less than 14 bushels of dressed grain per acre; the plot with barn-yard manure, less than 28 bushels, and the best yield in the whole series was not quite 29 bushels per acre, and only weighed 55 lbs. per bushel. On the same plot, the year before, with precisely the same manure, the yield was nearly 37 bushels per acre, and the weight per bushel, 634 Ibs. So much for a favorable and an unfavorable season. . The tenth season (1852-38), was still more unfdvorable. The autumn of 1852 was so wet that it was impossible to work the land and sow the wheat until the 16th of March 1853. You will see that the produce on the unmanured plot was less than 6 bushels per acre. With barn-yard manure, 19 bushels, and with a heavy dressing of ammonia-salts and minerals, not quite 26 bushels per acre. With a heavy dressing of superphosphate, not quite 9} bushels per acre, and with a full dressing of mixed mineral manures and superphosphate, 10 bushels per acre. The weight per bushel on the unmanured plot was 45 lbs.; with mixed mineral manures, 48+ lbs. ; with ammonia-salts alone, 48} Ibs.; with barn-yard manure, 51 lbs.; and with ammonia-salts and mixed mineral manures, 524 lbs. Farmers are greatly dependent on the season, but the good farmer, who keeps up the fertility of his land stands a better chance of making money (or of losing less), than the farmer who depends on the unaided products of the soil. The one gets 6 bushels per acre, and 1,413 lbs. of straw of very inferior quality; the other gets 20 to 26 bushels per acre, and 5,000 lbs. of straw. And you must recollect that in an unfavorable season we are pretty certain to get high prices. The eleventh season (1853-4,) gives us much more attractive- looking figures! We have over 21 bushels per acre on the plot which has grown eleven crops of wheat in eleven years without any manure. With barn-yard manure, over 41 bushels per acre. With am- monia-salts alone (17a), 45% bushels. With ammonia-salts and mixed minerals, (163), over 50 bushels per acre, and 6,635 lbs. of straw. Jeu | SSE S es . 188 .| Sha | ENS SNe! See Ibs.|1bs.'Ibs.|Ibs.| Ibs. | lbs. | Ibs. | Ibs. || Ibs. | Ibs. | Ibs 55.7 53.9 51.1/51.8| 54.3 | 524 | 52.9 | 55.0 51.6 53.1 (52.3 10. 56.8 53.8 532/539! 558 | 543 536 | 560 52.0 54.4 [53.2 2 0. 56.9 51.5 52.3/52.9) 55.7 | 547) B4.3 | 55.4 B18 543 (53.0 30. 57.3 [54.0 52.7/53.6| 55.3 | 546) 55.6 | 55.6 52.3) 54.6 153.4 40. 56.7 54.1/52.8/53.1| 55.3 | 54.0| 541 | 65.5 || 520 541 ls80 Means "65.4 53.8 50.9/51.3' 53.3 | 524 | 5461) 55.6 51.2) 53.0 \52.1 1A. 57.0 52.7 54.4(54.1| 54.6 | 57.0 | 572 | BeO 51.8) 55.1 (53.5 2A. 56.4 (54.7/52.1/51.9; 548 | 546 | 554 1/ 567 51.5] 54.1 |52.8 3A. 57.6 53.5 54.7/543' 55.6 | 57.4 | 5711] 565 52.2) 55.7 154.0 4A. 56.6 (53.7158 0/52.9| 54.6 | 55.4] 5611 55.811 61.6) 545 |\5a1 Means "55.5 (53.5 50.9(52.4| 153.7 | 58.1 545 | 542 60.8) 53.2 [52.0 |141 AA, 57.2 52.3 55.0154.1 \55.6 | 57.21 56.9 | 55:9 51.2] 55.4 153.3 2 AA. 56.5 54,8 151.4|51.9' |55.1 | 53.7 | 5461] B43 50.8 53.8 152.3 3 AA. 57.6 53.3/55.4/54.6 [56.0 | 57-1 | 571 | 563 61.1) 55.8 |53.4 4 AA °B6.7/53.5/53.2/53.3| 55.1 | 55.3 | 55.8 | 55.2 51.0) 54.6 [52.8 Means 156.1 '54.2'51.8/53.5| 15421 5481 55.0 | B46 53.9 54.6 154.3 1 AAS. 57-2 92.4'55.6) 55.1) [56.2 | St-4 | 57.4] 956 ||) | 5.1) 56.7 155.9 @|] 2 AAS. 57.2 54.8 52.5/53.0 55.5 | 56.6] 55.9 | 538 54.4| 55.5 155.0 3 AAS. 57.0 53.1 55.3/54.1| [56.2 | 57.8 | 57.8 | 854 54.9 56.8 155.8 4 AAS. 56.9 53.6 53.8/53.9 5.5 | 56.7 | 56.5 | 549 || 646) 65.9 (552 || Means 87.1 /588 55.1544) 56.2| 56.7] 57.5 | 563 || 57] 558 \s88 lic. 57.0 53.3 55.7|55.0| 56.1] 571 | 578 | 564 B1.7| 56.0 153.9 2¢ 57.3 53.3155.3/54.7| 55.8 | 571 | 576 | 563 BL, 55.8 |53.7 3 ¢. B1.2 53.5/55.6/54.8| 55.4 | 57.4 | 5801 564 51.4| 55.9 \53.6 4. Bi.1 53.5 B54 4.7) 55.9 | B71) B77 "56.4 51.6] 55.9 [53.8 Acad 56.0 54.1/52.0/52.9| 52.8 | 5431 55.6 | 54.6 @) 51.6) 58.7 [52.7 ) || 1 N. 56.5 53.8 5.8 52.7| 55.5 | 548 | 558 | 546 51.1] 54.2 |52.7 aN 56.3 54.4 /52.9/53.9| 54.0 | 54.0 | 55.3 | 55.0 |!(3) (51.8) 54.2 153.2) |! 57.6 54.5/53.4/ 54.0) 56.4 | 55.6 | 55.9 | 55.1 |/(4) (52.0] 54.8 |53.4) (4)|! 5 0. 57.5 O41 54.8/55.2) 57.5 | 575 | 5731 BBS 51.9| 55.7 53.8 BA: 56.0 58.9/51.3/52.0) 53.5 | 528] 54.01 55.4 51.5] 53.5 152.5 a 55.8 58.9 51.8 52.5, 588 | 52.9 | 546 | 54.9 51.6| 53.6 (52.6 2 ; 52.6! 56.0 [54.3 " b7.4 54.4154.9154.8 57.1! 5641! 57.1 | 56.6 (1853-"61), last 10 years, and tctal 19 years. (*) Averages of 7 years (1855-61), of 9 years (1853-’61), last 10 years, and total 19 years. 236 TALKS ON MANURES. EXPERIMENTS ON THE GROWTH OF BARLEY, YEAR AFTER YEAR, ON THE ManvukE. Hoos TABLE IV.—OFFAL [N.B. The double vertical lines show that there was a change in the description, Table [., and foot-notes a HARVESTS. “ = 1852 | 1853 | 1854 |18551856| 1857 | 1858 |1859 1860/1861 | 1862/1863 IDS, ADSL | Woe ibecldbail Ibs. | "ibaa! Ibs! Ibalipallinshiies 1.0 164. | 925 | 84/144] 131/ 938° | 9861/1101 78| 88| 64| 49 2.0 100 | 101 | 101 | 69) 58| 106 | 103 |159| 84) 78/114| 58 3. O 193 | 151 | 64 | 76/129| 61 96 | 85| 78| 88| 731 54 4.0 136 | 160 | 105 | 94/ 88| 53]| 108/160) 74] 58/117] 57 Means | 146. | 159 | 89 | 96/102] 78 | 98 |129| 78| 78! 92) 55 10k 218. | 258 | 201 |138/ 219! 113 | 98 | 184) 150/170 269 | 116 2A 960 | 214 | 450 |184/121| 88 | 114 |274| 159/130! 191 99 3. A a2 | 336 | 197 |177|180| 91 96 | 175 | 115 | 109 , 269 | 108 28 a73 | 274 | 138 | 142/125) 0}! 117 | 253/ 150| 110| 150] 81 Means! 951. | 277 | 172 |160/161| 94 | 106 | 222| 143/ 180 | 220 | 101 1, AA. | 2999 | 303 | 926 12041310! 135 || 88 | 215| 109/173 | 296 110 2. AA 315 | 251 | 329 | 181) 238) 133 | | 134 | 320/118! 190 | 133 143 3. AA 318 | 236 | 334 | 212/290! 103] | | 118 | 265) 122/ 138/364) 95 he rN 246 | 301 | 273 |150/176| 183 | | | 143 | 285/141 179| 191) 66 Means | 994. | 273 | 316 |187/252| 140 | 121 | 271/| 128| 170 | 246/103 1 AAS. | 2 AAS. 3 AAS 4 AAS. Means 10 170 | 268 | 178 |219/173| 135 | | 103 | 225/120) 154/154] 85 2C 164 | 376 | 238 |195|161| 169 | | 148 | 171 | 156) 150 | 128 | 109 3 C 190 | 296 | 248 |183|189| 156] |} 105 | 236/115/204| 190] 71 4¢C 144 | 277 | 227 | 222/205] 168) | | 125 | 350| 153 | 204/174] 66 Means | 167 | 804 | 223 |205|182| 157 | 190 | 246| 136/178 | 161] 83 IN. | cay 5 | 283] | 199 | 128/245] 99 | 119 | 205 | 146 | 225 | 245) 12 aN (94) 4 | 293] | 286 | 224] 193] 151] | 110 235/179 | 190 | 216 | 114 M. || 36] 94] 90 || 84) 85] 75! 78/198] 46 50 (173)|| 68 | 113 | 50] 96] 101 || 71/110] 73) 73/193] 41 BA 173 | 210 | 170 |126/151| 68 | | 154 168 193 188/210] 81 | 1 120 | 200 | 144 |116/152| 72 | 84/191] 98\-73/ 75] 54 613 118 | 161 | 119 73195 105 | 81 127| 95| 67/194] 6B ~ 101 '269 | 86 !109 141| 194 | 121 leo! a7! 190208} “he (1) Averages of 4 years, 4 years, and 8 years, (7) Averages 0° 9 years last 10 years, and total 17 years. (*) Averages MANURE FOR BARLEY. 237 SAME LAND, WITHOUT MANURE, AND WITH DIFFERENT DESCRIPTIONS OF FIELD, ROTHAMSTED. CORN PER ACRE—Ibs. or quantity, of Manure, at the period indicated, for particulars of which, see thereto, p. 231.] HARVESTS. AVERAGE ANNUAL. Ss « | oe of Soe 3 | 8B So x ‘ : a S x 1864 |1865 1866 |1867|1868|1869)1870 1871]| Si; ley | SSE | BS. [88 .| Sha | || #82 SSH Esk Galibe: ibs dbs tod the. Iban the) bee, clviuecle: Abe 42 | 47'| 41 | 90 | 21 | 44 | 31 | 48 120 | 48 84 10. 69 | 38 | 21153 | 29/89/18 3 96 | 52 74 20. 43 | 38 | 33 | 64 | 27 | 70 | 18 | 35 101 | 46 74 3 O. 41 | 98155 | 60 | 25 | 69 | 26 | 48 104. |-5aee|) 198 40. 49 | 38 | 39 | 67 | 25 | 68 | 23 | 41 105 | 50 | %8 Mcans 99 | 58 | 94 [115 | 49 139 | 23 105 174 | 107 | 141 1 We: 63 | 81 | 64 | 76 | 38 |113 | 26 189 172 | 94 | 133 2 A. 93 | 51 |106 | 94 | 34 | 95 | 24| 89 73 «| 95 | 184 3 A. 110 | 60 | 63 | 71 | 50 | 21 | 27 146 165.5 (2 Seal. 128 rine 89 | 63 | 82 | 89 | 43 | 92 | 25 132 "1. | 94 | 188 Means 110 | 641148 110 |46 | 64 | 33 |133 216 | 111 | 164 1AM. 50 113 |111 | 69 |46 | 89 | 24 168 220 | 95 | 158 2 AA. m6 | 48/103 106 [59 111 | 26 133 214 |113 | 164 ae 46 | 76 (133 119 |43 | 78 | 30 | 90 208 | 87 | 148 LRA "1 | % |124 |101 | 48 | 86 | 31 |131 215 | 102 159 _ Means 94 | 55 | 88 | 85 |/49 121 | 33 | 94 a 1 AAS. 53 | 86 | 96 | 65 ||64 | 60 | 23 153 ||, J 75 | % 75 | ay|| 2 AAS. 70 | 50 |141 | 79 |!29 136 | 29 |160 ||©7 95 84 85 3 AAS. 93 | 70| 80 | 93 ||46 125 | 26 \175 84 | 93 89 4 AAS. az | 65 |101 | 81 | 50 /111 | 28 |18 81 | 82 82 Means 73 | 83 104 1109 | 43 | 69 | 25 | 7 17 6©| 383 | 129 1¢. g2 | 44| 89 | 89 | 64 111 | 24 | 88 193 | 8£ | 138 2C. 90 | 66 | 94 | 91139 | 91 | 37 |141 192 | 91 142 30. 123 | 69 |128 | 72 | 42 | 67 | 28 |124 |) 208 | 89 | 14 4. 96 | 66 \104 | 90 | 47 | 85 | 28 |108 192 | 87 | 139 Means 74 | 98 [124 [119 | 61 150 | 33 | 99 || jr 112 14} 1N 95 | 84 |104 | 88 | 85 | 98 | 33 [171 |\7199 | 104 | 149 2N 53 | 69 | 44/56! 26/61 | 25158 |) «7 | 64 69) (3)|| M. mg | 35 | 48/56 | 20) 75} 231 4114) (84 | 61 72) (4)|| 5 O. 91 | 94| 53 | 74 | 33 | 68 | 30 |144 160 | 87 | 124 sae 51 | 45 | 72 103 | 27 | 71 | 26 | 50 17 | 57 87 1h 54 | 47 | 51/83 | 21/57/2381 41 {|| 107 | 64 85 2 117 | 56 1148 111 | 48 100! 26 1171 156 | 105 30 ” (1853-61), Jast 10 years, and total 19 years. (3) Averages of 7 years (1855-61), of 9 years (1853-"61), last 10 years, and total 19 years. 238 TALKS ON MANURES. EXPERIMENTS ON THE GROWTH OF BARLEY, YEAR AFTER YEAR, ON THE Plots. 1852 (2534) | 2546 17% 144 181 MANURE. Hoos TABLE V.—STRAW N.B. The double vertical Jines show that there was a change in the descrip- Table J., and foot-notes HARVESTS. 1853 | 1854 |1855 1856} 1857 | 1858 1859]1860 1861/1862) 1863 ewts. lewts. cwt cwt cwts. \ewts. cwt lewt cwt cwt cwt 18 | 21% [1'%5¢| 8%| 123% | 10% | 9% 13g A | 934 1136 1734 | 2344 17%) 8%) 1594 | 14% 12%4] 874/184 12% 15% 17% | 20% |173¢| 944] 15 | 1214 | 9%| 8146/1134 10% 134g 201% | 2334 |18 | 93¢| 1734 || 1614 1214 936 15% IBY 153% 18% | 2214 |17%| 9 | 15% | 13% 1056] 854 1294 1 13% 233% | 3014 (2426 17%] 173% | 15 11g 14%'195¢ 2094 213 253 | 407% 12934 2116] 2634 | 283% 2474/2514 12934 323, 34 25% | 339, |Q73g 1772 2194 || 1772 131s 1614 2135 2317 2614 2656 | 403g |B 2114) 2774 || 2995 2714/2654 3044 3154 32 2544 | 3634 28 |191¢| 2334 9214 1914 20% 2534 26% 2824 2634 | 817% 3234 2434] 23% || 19% ng. be 94 B 2114 254 283% | 443, 885 315¢| 827 || 325, 241; 319% 3114 3294 Q714 | 37% 34 |26%| 26 ty fies 18 2134 243; 9774 315% | 49 39% 33 | 36% 13534 30% 29 335 33% 3434 (283% | 421% 36%4/283/| 2954 | a7 121% 2114 21% me a 26% | 43% 3676 Bae 33% |18034 2676/1774 |2774|26 [2854 25% 441¢ 3612 /3114| 33°2 ||937¢ 283, 2054 |3034| 2734 3034 2514 | 414 aoe 2614| 30% 303% 2555, 20% 3034 |23 % 29% Q716 4214 8754 3044| 83% |185 2915 2234/81 (2874/3034 z | 26% | 429% 3674/2895) 3294 | B25 2% 204180 |264/29% 2314 | 3334 27 |1994| 2454 | 202% |183/'162% 2714/24, 130% 2534 | 8814 3314/2894) 82° || 2354 2114 18%, 295419432 297% 1514/1054) 1034 ||123% |10%| "714 1534/1414/193¥ 153% | 2014 1145411034! 1314 ||1236 |10%5| 67% 1734|1014|153¢ 3534 31 |223;| 2754 ||285, 2634 2545 3174 (315/34 1614 | 224% 1814] 9144| 16% | 12 |11%] Tw 97%|103%|131%4 15% | 2034 1634| 934] 1454 | 1194 10 7% 10/1136 14% 22% | 874 2714'19%' 235% | 3134 2834 '2534 8154 '343/' 933% (‘) Averages of 4 years, 4 years, and 8 yea last 10 years, ic total 17 years. (7) Averages of 9 years (4) Averages MANURE FOR BARLEY. . 239 SAME LAND, WITHOUT MANURE, AND WITH DIFFERENT DESCRIPTIONS OF FIELD, ROTHAMSTED. (AND CHAFF) PER ACRE—cwts. tion, or quantity, of Manure, at the period indicated, for particulars of which see thereto, p. 231.] HARVESTS. | AVERAGE ANNUAL. | ‘als g 2 SO] 5 ~ Sm cal ~ sx Ry 1864 /1865| 1866 |1867| 1868 |1869/1870|1871)| Ss |ses | SSE ES. (Ss | Sha EAS SNE) ge cwts. |cwt cwts ewt cwts. cwt |cwt cwt cwts. jcwts cwts 1234 | 8%4| 9% |10%| 1154 |11 | 654|11 13% | 10%j | 11% 1 0. 155, | 91z| 125, |12%| 936 |103¢ 124% 14% | 11% | 183, 2 0. 135% | 9%| 10% |10%| 85% |11 | 8% |11% 13% | 10% | 12% 3 0. 16% [10 | 12% |12 | 10% |12%| 93¢|14 1614 | 125, | 143 40 145, | 9u| 11% |11%| 9% [112%] 814/124 144g | 1134 | 12% Means 20% |13 | 153% |173¢| 12% |18%/|1234 2334 19% | 1734 418% 1A. 321g 1215,! 2814 1285,! 1936 |32 |177%|28%4 277% | Wiis, | W754 2A. 19% |16 | 163% |1934| 14% |20%|15 |253; 217% | 19% | 2037 3 A. 34% |223¢| 2736 |2515| 20% 13435 |185;|324, %| 28° | 2814 4 AC 26% |183| 2134 |225,| 163, |2634|16 [2714 241, | 2324 | 2336 Means a3 \16 | 173% |1714)|141%4 [21411774 |26% 24 | 20% | 22% 1 AA 83% |23. | 283¢ 180% )|2174 |347%4|283; 824 31% | 29% | 30% 2 AA 267% |17 | 18% |203;||161% |223, |207% 2534 253; | 2214 8 AA B71 |2474| 2834 |28%4/|2554 [8834/1814 32> 8434 | 303¢ | 3234 4 AA 30%, (203%) 2314 |2414| 195, |291¢\20% |2914 299 | 25% | 27% Means 2614 |22%%| 2054 |1844||167% |233%\17 [29% 217% | 21% | 21% 1 AAS BBi4 |23%4) 3044 |2014||2534 [87242024 36%4|' (xy | 29% | 29% | 29% | ay)| 2 AAS. 30% |2034| 25 |283¢/122 8054/2014 3114 2434 | 2614 | 2534 3 AAS. 40% |2514| 2914 |2814||265, |4214/203, 38 31 3144 4 AAS 825, 2274) 2634 |247%| 225, 13325 |1954'383, 265, | 273% | 27 Means 2614 21 241g lo51| 191% [ey [17 |2714!| 293, | 2414 | 26% Le. 3174 |2174| 2414 |2554] 195% (3314/1724 127% 307% | 26 | 28% 2C. 31 22 | 2434 [2214] 1034 |301s|1834 30% 287, | 2514 | 27% 3 C. 347% 22 | 2754 |243/| 2114 1351412034 32 311, | 2734 | 294 4 0, B31 121%! 2534 12494] 197% 3134/181% 295, 302, | 25%, | 28 Means Ay 18%| 21% [21%] 18% 24 |131, 2914|| .. 4 2334 | 22% | 22% 1N. 21% 2134| 28% |21%| 1% 2756|195¢ 8144 )4 o278 | oaie sen tC) 2N. | 13% | 9%| 12% |12 | 1024 |115¢] 87% 1434]|.3) (11% | 1234 | 1234) (@)| | M. 1474 1034) 105, |10%% 84 15% 434 13% -) (1354 1134 1254) (4)| 5 O. 337% 24%| 2 [2236] 2054 3614/2134 299% 27% | 2814 | 28 5 A. | 1354 | 834] 10'4 | 934] 106 | 9%| 7% 13 14 | 10% | 12% 1 13% | 8%| 944 |10%| 107% 103Z| 7% 135¢|| 18 | 1124 | 12% a{ 6 : | 3734 2534! 81 '27%1 2416 283;'1934 87% 265% | 29% | 28% " (1853-61), last 10 years, and total 19 years. (3) Averages of 7 years (1855-61), of 9 years (1853-’61), last 10 years, and total 19 years. 240 TALKS ON MANURES. The produce of barley the first season (1852), was, per acre: On the unmanured plot............ Oo ten ria eauahcg tele ieee a aee 27% bushels Wich superphoespliatevor lime «2 ..0.5.c). is eeecemeenemmcs 208 potash, soda, and ‘macnesia ..2sico6 oc case doe beeen 26¢ 0G 6c te ee oe and superphosphate....... ee, So. 14 tons) Darn=yard MaAnnreys yw ccme rece vaca tieks tenes 33 - c¢.-200:1bs., ammonid-satts SlOUB GaSe coe no, ae OR || 18 “ “ and superphosphate........... BBE st ce ée “ce “ “ ee and potash, soda, and magnesia 386 = ¢ and superphosphate, potash, soda, and magnesia 408), £8 eeereoneece 400 Ibs. ammonia-salts alone. ..... ccc ccc ccecscceces 445 66 The 200 lbs. of ammonia-salts contain 50 lbs. of ammonia=41 Ibs. nitrogen. It will be seen that this 50 Ibs. of ammonia alone, on plot 1a, gives an increase of neariy 10 bushels per acre, or to be more accu- rate, it gives an increase over the unmanured plot of 503 lbs. of grain, and 829 lbs. of straw, while double the quantity of ammonia on plot 1a.a., gives an increase of 174 bushels per acre—or an in- crease of 901 lbs. of grain, and 1,144 lbs. of straw. “Put that fact in separate lines, side by side,” said the Deacon, “so that we can see it.” 66 Total Grain Straw Produce. 50 lbs. of ammonia gives an increase of..... 503 Ibs. 704 Ibs. 1207 Ibs. ec ce 4b ROO Re sé wi'ee GOL, “Sy TAA o> 1D ERE The first 50 Ibs. of ammonia gives an in- CREASE HOES sienna cam wale oats we ae een ae BOS OE Oe The second 50 lbs. of ammonia gives an in- SiGe Seiko) Oats Asis Ge BA IR BALL A Siam ne Oh 398, $4)... 540. $6), Faas “That shows,” said the Deacon, “ that a dressing of 50 Ibs. per acre pays better than a dressing of 100 lbs. per acre. I wish Mr. Lawes had sown %5 Ibs. on one plot.” I wish go, too, but it is quite probable that in our climate, 50 Ibs. of available ammonia per acre is all that it will usually be profitable to apply per acre to the barley crop. It is equal to a dressing of 500 lbs. guaranteed Peruvian guano, or 275 lbs. nitrate of soda.—“ Or to how much manure ?” asked the Deacon. To about 5 tons of average stable-manure, or say three tons of good, well-rotted manure from grain-fed animals. “And yet,” said the Deacon, “ Mr. Lawes put on 14 tons of yard manure per acre, and the yield of barley was not as much as from the 50 Ibs. of ammonia alone. How do you account for that?” Simply because the ammonia in the manure is not ammonia. It is what the chemists used to call ‘ potential ammonia.” A good deal of it is in the form of undigested straw and hay. The nitro- genous matter of the food which has been digested by the animal av ow MANURE FOR BARLEY. 241 and thrown off in the liquid excrements, is in such a form that it will readily ferment and produce ammonia, while the nitrogenous matter in the undigested food and in the straw used for bedding, decomposes slowly even under the most favorable conditions; and if buried while fresh in a clay soil, it probably would not all de- compose in many years. But we will not discuss this at present. “The superphosphate does not seem to have done much good,” said the Deacon; “34 cwt. per acre gives an increase of less than two bushels per acre. And I suppose it was good superphosphate.” There need be no doubt on that point. Better superphosphate of lime cannot be made. But vou must recollect that this is pure superphosphate made from burnt bones. It contains no ammonia or organic matter. Commercial superphosphates contain more or less ammonia, and had they been used in these experiments, they would have shown a better result than the pure article. They would have done good in proportion to the available nitrogen they contained. If these experiments prove anything, they clearly indi- cate that superphosphate alone is a very poor manure for either wheat or barley. The second year, the unmanured plot gave 25? bushels per acre. Potash, soda, and magnesia, (or what the Deacon calls “ ashes,’’) 27% bushels; superphosphate 834, and “ashes” and superphos- phate, nearly 36 bushels per acre. 50 lbs. of ammonia, alone, gives nearly 39 bushels, and ammonia and superphosphate together, 40 bushels. The superphosphate and “ ashes” give a better account of them- selves this year; but it is remarkable that the ammonia alone, gives almost as good a crop as the ammonia and superphosphate, and a better crop than the ammonia and “ashes,” or the ammonia, super- phosphate, and ashes, together. The 14 tons farm-yard manure gives over 36 bushels per acre. This plot has now had 28 tons of manure per acre, yet the 50 Ibs. of ammonia alone, still gives a better yield than this heavy dress- ing of manure. The third season (1854), was quite favorable for the ripening of wheat and barley. The seed on the experimental barley-field, was sown Feb. 24, and the harvest was late; so that the crop had an unusually long season for growth. It was one of the years when even poor land, if clean, gives a good crop. The unmanured plot, it will be seen, yielded over 35 bushels per acre of dressed grain, weighing over 534 lbs. per bushel. The total weight of grain, was 1,963 lbs. This is over 40 bushels per acre, of 48 lbs. per bushel, which is the standard with us. 11 242 : TALKS ON MANURES. The 14 tons of farm-yard manure produce nearly 564 bushels per acre. 50 Ibs. of ammonia, on plot dass oieese 47% bushels per acre. OG) fEES.. «56 60 OCT TEL AE aes save er etniere 568 = SS a You will see, that though the plot which has received 42 tons of manure per acre, produced a splendid crop; the plot having nothing except 100 lbs. of ammonia per acre, produced a crop equally good. “How much increase do you get from 50 lbs. of ammonia,” asked the Deacon, “and how much from 100 lbs. ?” Equal Amer. Grain. Straw. Bushels. 50 Ibs of SE gives an increase of 800 lbs. 952 lbs. 163 bush. LOO. av Se T5300) S62 100 Su ceca oie If you buy nitrate of soda at 3% cents a Ib., the ammonia will cost 20 cents a lb. In the above experiment, 50 Ibs. of ammonia, costing $10, gives an increase of 163 bushels of barley, and nearly half a ton of straw. If the straw is worth $4.00 per ton, the barley will cost 48 cents a bushel. Double the quantity of manure, costing $20, gives an increase of 28 bushels of barley, and over one ton of straw. In this case the extra barley costs 57 cents a bushel. On plot 2a., 50 lbs. of ammonia and 38} cwt. of superphosphate, give 3,487 lbs. of grain, equal to 714 of our bushels per acre. On plot 2a.a. 100 lbs. of ammonia and 3} cwt. of superphoshate, give 3,648 lbs. of grain, which lacks only 5 lbs. of 76 bushels per acre, and nearly 24 tons of straw. “That will do,” said the Deacon, ‘‘ but I see that in 1857, this same plot, with the same manure, produced 66} bushels of dressed gTain per acre, weighing 53} lbs. to the bushel, or a total weight of 3,696 lbs., equal to just 77 of our bushels per acre.” “And yet,” said the Doctor, “this same year, the plot which had 84 tons of farm-yard manure per acre, produced only 2,915 Ibs. of grain, or less than 61 of our bushels of barley per acre.” The Squire happened in at this time, and heard the last remark. “What are you saying,” he remarked, “ about only 61 bushels of barley per acre. I should like to see such acrop. Last year, in this neighborhood, there were hundreds of acres of barley that did not yicld 20 bushels per acre, and very little of it would weigh 44 Ibs. to the bushel.” This is true. And the maltsters find it almost impossible to get six-rowed barley weighing 48 lbs. per bushel. They told me, that they would pay $1.10 per bushel for good bright barley weighing 48 lbs. per bushel, and for each pound it weighed less than this, they deducted 10 cents a bushel from the price. In other words, =. MANURE FOR BARLEY. 243 they would pay $1.00 a bushel for barley weighing 47 Ibs. to the bushel; 90 cents for barley weighing 46 lbs; 80 cents for barley weighing 45 lbs., and 70 cents for barley weighing 44 lbs.—and at these figures they much preferred the heaviest barley. It is certainly well worth our while, if we raise barley at all, to see if we cannot manage not only to raise larger crops per acre, but to produce barley of better quality. And these wonderful experi- ments of Mr. Lawes are well worth careful examination and study. The Squire put on his spectacles and looked at the tables of figures. ‘Like everybody else,” said he, “ you pick out the big figures, and to hear you talk, one would think you scientific gentlemen never have any poor crops, and yet I see that in 1860, there are three different crops of only 124, 121, and 18} bushels per acre.” “Those,” said I, “are the three plots which have grown barley every year without any manure, and you have selected the worst year of the whole twenty.” ‘‘ Perhaps so,” said the Squire, “but we have got to take the bad with the good, and I have cften heard you say that a good farmer who has his land rich and clean makes more money in an unfavorable than in a favorable season. Now, this year 1860, seems to have been an unfavorable one, and yet your pet manure, superphosphate, only gives an increase of 148 lbs. of barley—or three bushels and 4 lbs. Yet this plot has had a tre- mendous dressing of 8} cwt. of superphosphate yearly since 1852. I always told you you lost money in buying superphosphate. ” “That depends on what you do with it. I use it for turnips, and tomatoes, cabbages, lettuce, melons, cucumbers, etc., and would not like to be without it; but I have never recommended any one to use it on wheat, barley, oats, Indian corn, or potatoes, except as anexperiment. What I have recommended you to get for barley is, nitrate of soda, and superphosphate, or Peruvian guano. And you will see that even in this decidedly unfavorable season, the plot 2a.a., dressed with superphosphate and 275 lbs. of nitrate of soda, produced 2,388 lbs. of barley, or 482 bushels per acre. This is an increase over the unmanured plots of 33} bushels per acre, and an increase of 1,872 lbs. of straw. And the plot dressed with superphosphate and 200 Ibs. of salts of ammonia, gave equally as good results.” And this, mark you, is the year which the Squire selected as the one most likely to show that artificial manures did not pay. “ Tnever knew aman except you,” said the Squire,” who wanted unfavorable seasons.” 244 TALKS ON MANURES. I have never said I wanted unfavorable seasons. I should not dare tu say so, or even to cherish the wish for one moment. But I do say, that when we have a season so favorable that even poorly worked Jand will produce a fair crop, we are almost certain to have prices below the average cost of production. But when we have an unfavorable season, such crops as barley, potatoes, and beans, often advance to extravagantly high prices, and the farmer who has good crops in such a season, gets something like adequate pay for his patient waiting, and for his efforts to improve his land. “That sounds all very well,” said the Squire,“ but will it pay to use these artificial manures ?” I do not wish to wander too much from the point, but would like to remark before I answer that question, that 1 am not a special advocate of artificial manures. | think we can often make manures on our farms far cheaper than we can buy them. But as the Squire has asked the question, and as he has selected from Mr. Lawes’ results, the year 1860, I will meet him on his own ground. He has selected a season specially unfavorable for the growth of parley. Now, in such an unfavorable year in this country, barley would be likely to bring, at least, $1.25 per bushel, and in a favor- able season not over 75 cents a bushel. Mr. Lawes keeps his land clean, which is more than can be said of many barley-growers. And in this unfavorable season of 1860, he gets on his three unmanured plots an average of 730 Ibs. of barley, equal to 15} bushels per acre, and not quite 800 lbs. of straw. Many of our farmers frequently do no better than this. And you must recollect that in such careful experiments as those of Mr. Lawes and Dr. Gilbert, great pains would be taken to get all the barley that grew on the land. With us, barley is cut with a reaper, and admirable as our machines are, it is not an easy matter to cut a light, spindling crop of barley perfectly clean. Then, in pitching the crop and drawing it in, more or less barley is scattered, and even after we have been over the field two or three times with a steel-tooth rake, there is still considerable barley left on the ground. I think we may safely assume that at least as much barley is left on the ground as we usually sow—say two bushels per acre. And so, instead of having 154 bushels per acre, as Mr. Lawes had, we should only harvest 134 bushels. Of all our ordinary farm crops, barley is attended with the least labor and expense. We usually sow it after corn or potatoes. On such strong land as that of Mr. Lawes, we ought to plow the land MANURE FOR BARLEY. 245 in the autumn and again in the spring, or at least stir up the land thoroughly with a two or three-horse cultivator or gang-plow. Let us say that the cost of plowing, harrowing, drilling, and rolling, is $5.00 per acre. Seed, $2.00. Harvesting, $2.00. Thresh- ing, 6 cents a bushel. Receipts: 13% bushels barley @ 1.25...... ......-- $16.57 800 Ibs. of straw @ $4. per ton.......... 1.60 18.17 Putting in and harvesting the crop $9.00 Threshing 13+ bushels @ 6c...... .80— 9.80 Rent 2nd .protit per, Acre. vss sc.o. cee § 8.37 ‘*That is a better showing than I expected,” said the Squire, “and as barley occupies the land only a few months, and as we sow wheat after it, we cannot expect large profits.” “Very well,” said I, “ Now let us take the crop, this same un- favorable year, on plot 2a.a., dressed with superphosphate and nitrate of soda. The expense of plowing, harrowing, drilling, rolling, seed, and harvesting, would be about the same, or we will say $2.00 an acre more for extra labor in harvesting. And we will allow two bushels per acre for scatterings—though there is nothing like as much barley left on the ground when we have a good crop, as when we have apoor crop. But I want to be liberal. The yield on plot 2a.a., was 482 bushels per acre, and 2,715 lbs. of straw. Receipts: a6¥ bnshels@ G1. 250. dace caeeels asan ceerecice $58.43 2;715 lbs. straw @ $4. per ton............... 5.43 63.86 Putting in the crop and harvesting... Mae 00 Threshing 46# bushels @ 6 ¢.......... 2.80 27d Ibs. nitrate of soda @ 4 c......... 11.00 392 Ibs. superphosphate @ 2 ¢........ 7.84 $32.64 RReort iG Goes a cto iaiale ip is, winte ls. gic,n sole Swine ores ees» $31.22 In ordinary farm practice, I feel sure we can do better than this. Growing barley year after year on the same land, is not the most economical way of getting the full value of the manure. There is much nitrogen and phosphoric acid left im the land, which barley or even wheat does not seem capable of taking up, but which would probably be of great benefit to the clover. 246 TALKS ON MANURES. MANURE AND ROTATION OF CROPS. The old notion that there is any real chemical necessity for a rotation of crops is unfounded. Wheat can be grown after wheat, and barley after barley, and corn after corn, provided we use the necessary manures and get the soil clean and in the right mechani- cal condition. ‘“What, then, do we gain by a rotation?” asked the Deacon. Much every way. neve salbaee sect The oats were sown March 13, and the crop barvested July 4. In 1860, I made some experiments with gypsum, superphosphate, and sulphate of ammonia as a top-dressing on oats. The land was a clover-sod, plowed about the middle of May, and the oats sown May 20. On the 26th of May, just as the oats were coming up, the manures were sown broadcast. The oats were sown too late to obtain the best results. On another field, where the oats were sown two weeks earlier, the crop was decidedly better. The oats were cut August 28, The following is the result : 954 TALKS ON MANURES, EXPERIMENTS ON OATS AT MORETON FARM, ROCHESTER, N. Y. Bushels | Weight | Straw Plots. MANURES PER ACRE. 2 of Oats \per Bushel| per acre per acre. 21 lbs. én lbs. No. aioimininre: oot he Oe ee eee 36 22 1,958 2 600 lbs. Gypsum (Sulphate of Lime)... .. 47 26 2,475 8 (300 lbs. Superphosphate of Lime.... ... 50 21 2,475 4 |300 lbs. Sulphate of Ammonia............ 50 22 2,750 5 1300 lbs. Superphosphate of Lime, and 300 lbs. Sulphate of Ammonia.............. 51 2235 2,575 These experiments were made when my land was not as clean as itis now. I presume the weeds got more benefit from the am- monia than the oats. To top-dress foul land with expensive arti- ficial manures is money thrown away. If the land had been plowed in the autumn, and the seed and manures could have been put in early in the spring, I presume we should have had more favorable results. “Are you not ashamed to acknowledge,” said the Deacon, “ that you have ever raised oats weighing only 22 lbs. per bushel.” No. I have raised even worse crops than this—and so has the Deacon. But I made up my mind that such farming did not pay, and I have been trying hard since then to clean my land and get it into better condition. And until this is done, it is useless to talk much of artificial manures. The most striking result is the effect of the gypsum. It not only gave an increased yield of 11 bushels per acre, but the oats were of decidedly better quality, and there was nearly half a ton more straw per acre than on the plot alongside, where no manure was used. The superphosphate was a good article, similar to that used in Mr. Lawes’ experiments. MANURES FOR POTATOES. 255 Curae tree ek MANURES FOR POTATOES. Some time ago, a farmer in Pennsylvania wrote me that he wanted “to raise a first-rate crop of potatoes.” I answered him as follows through the American Agriculturist : ‘‘ There are many ways of doing this. But as you only enter on the farm this spring, you will work to disadvantage. To obtain the best results, it is necessary to prepare for the crop two or three years beforehand. All that you can do this year is to select the best land on the farm, put on 400 Ibs. of Peruvian guano, culti- vate thoroughly, and suffer not a weed to grow. A two or three- year-old clover-sod, on warm, rich, sandy loam, gives a good chance for potatoes. Do not plow until you are ready to plant. Sow the guano broadcast after plowing, and harrow it in, or apply a tablespoonful in each hill, and mix it with the soil. Mark out the rows, both ways, three feet apart, and drop a fair-sized potato in each hill. Start the cultivator as soon as the rows can be dis- tincuished, and repeat every week or ten days until there is danger of disturbing the roots. We usually hill up a little, making a broad, flat hill. A tablespoonful of plaster, dusted on the young plants soon after they come up, will usually do good. We recommend guano, because in our experience it does not increase the rot. But it is only fair to add, that we have not found even barn-yard manure, if thoroughly rotted and well mixed with the soil the fall previous, half so injurious as some people would have us suppose. If any one will put 25 loads per acre on our potato land, we will agree to plant and run the risk of the rot. But we would use some guano as well. The truth is, that it is useless to expect a large crop of potatoes, say 350 bushels per acre, without plenty of manure.” This was written before the potato-beetle made its appearance. But I think I should say the same thing now—only put it a little stronger. The truth is, it will not pay to “fight the bugs” on a poor crop of potatoes. We must select the best land we have and make it as rich as possible. ‘*But why do you recommend Peruvian guano,” asked the Doctor, “rather than superphosphate or ashes ? Potatoes contain a large amount of potash, and one would expect considerable benefit from an application of ashes.” “ Ashes, plaster, and hen-dung,” said the Judge, “ will at any rate 256 TALKS ON MANURES. pay well on potatoes. I have tried this mixture again and again, and always with good effect.” “IT believe in the hen-dung,” said I, “and possibly in the plaster, but on my land, ashes do not seem to be specially beneficial on potatoes, pele I have rarely used Peruvian guano without good effect; and sometimes it has proved wonderfully profit- able, owing to the high price of potatoes.” Sometime ago, I had a visit from one of the most enterprising and successful farmers in Western New York. “What I want to learn,” he said, ‘‘is how to make manure enough to keep my land in good condition. I sell nothing but beans, potatoes, wheat, and apples. I feed out all my corn, oats, stalks, straw, and hay on the farm, and draw into the barn-yard the potato-vines aad everything else that will rot into manure. I make a big pile of it. But the point with me is to find out what is the best stock to feed this straw, stalks, hay, oats, and corn to, so as to make the best manure and return the largest profit. Last year I bought a lot of steers to feed in winter, and lost money. This fall | bought 68 head us cows to winter, intending to sell them in the spring.” ‘“ What did they cost you?” “T went into Wyoming and Cattaraugus Counties, and picked them up among the dairy farmers, and selected a very fair lot of cows at an average of $22 per head. I éxpect to sell them as new milch cows in the spring. Such cows last spring would have been worth $60 to $70 each.” “That will pay. But it is not often the grain-grower gets such a chance to feed out his straw, stalks, ana other fodder to advantage. It cannot be adopted as a permanent system. Itis bad for the dairyman, and no real help to the grain-grower. The manure is not rich enough. Straw and stalks alone can not be fed to advantage. And when you winter cows to seli again in the spring, it will not pay to feed grain. If you were goiny to keep the cows it would pay well. The fat and flesh you put on in the winter would be re- turned in the form of butter and cheese next summer.” “ Why is not the manure good? I ain careful to save everything, and expect seven or eight hundred loads of manure in the spring,” “You had 60 acres of wheat that yielded 25 bushels per acre, and have probably about 50 tons of wheat straw. You had also 30 acres oats, that yielded 50 bushels per acre, say 85 tons of straw. Your 20 acres of corn produced 40 bushels of shelled corn per acre; say the stalks weigh 30 tons. And you have 60 tons of Pipes " MANUBRES FOR POTATOES. 25% hay, half clover and half timothy. Let us see what your manure from this amount of grain and fodder is worth, Manures from 50 tons wheat-straw, @ $2.68..........00. $ 134.00 35 tons Oat-straw, @ $2.90.........ceeeees 101.50 30 tons corn-stalks, @ $3.58. ...........005 107.40 30 tons timothy-hay, @ $6.48........... «. 192.90 30 tons clover-hay, @ $9.64............... 289.20 14 tons oats (1,500 bush.), @ $7.70........ 107.80 24 tons corn (800 bushels), @ $6.65....... 159.60 Total. .213 tons $1,092.40 “This is the value of the manure on the land. Assuming that there are 600 loads, and that the labor of cleaning out the stables, piling, carting, and spreading the manure is worth 30 cents per load, or $180, we have $912.40 as the net value of the manure. “‘ Now, your 250-acre farm might be so managed that this amount of manure annually applied would soon greatly increase its fertility. But you do not think you can afford to summer-fallow, and you want to raise thirty or forty acres of potatoes every year.” “T propose to do so,” he replied. “Situated as I am, close to a good shipping station, no crop pays me better. My potatoes this year have averaged me over $100 per acre.” “‘Very good. But it is perfectly clear to my mind that sooner or later, you must either farm slower or feed higher. And in your case, situated close to a village where you can get plenty of help, and with a good shipping station near by, you had better adopt the latter plan. You must feed higher, and make richer manure. You now feed out 213 tons of stuff, and make 600 loads of manure, worth $912.40. By feeding out one third, or 71 tons more, you can more than double the value of the manure. 50 tons of bran or mill-feed would give manure worth........ $ 729.50 21 tons decorticated cotton-seed cake...........cccececccccecs 585.06 $1,314.56 “ Buy and feed out this amount of bran and cake, and you would have 800 loads of manure, worth on the land $2,226.96, or, estimat- ing as before that it cost 30 cents a load to handle it, its net value would be $1,986.96.” I am well aware that comparatively few farmers in this section can afford to adopt this plan of enriching their land. We want better stock. I do not know where I could buy a lot of steers that it would pay to fatten in the winter. Those farmers who raise good grade Shorthorn or Devon cattle are not the men to sell them half-fat at low rates. They can fatten them as well as I can. For some time to come, the farmer who proposes to feed liberally, 258 TALKS ON MANURES. will have to raise his own stock. He can rarely buy well-bred ani- mals to fatten. A good farmer must be a good farmer throughout. He can not be good in spots. His land must be drained, well- worked, and free from weeds. If he crops heavily he must manure heavily, and to do this he must feed liberally—and he can not afford to feed liberally unless he has good stock. “I have, myself, no doubt but you are right on this point,” said the Doctor, “but all this takes time. Suppose a farmer becomes satisfied that the manure he makes isnot rich enough. To tell him, when he is anxious to raise a good crop of potatoes next year, that he must go to work and improve his stock of cattle, sheep, and swine, and then buy bran and oil-cake to make richer manure, is somewhat tantalizing.” This is true, and in such a case, instead of adding nitrogen and phosphoric acid to his manure in the shape of bran, oil-cake, etc., he can buy nitrogen and phosphoric acid in guano or in nitrate of soda and superphosphate. This gives him richer manure ; which is precisely what he wants for his potatoes. His poor manure is not so much deficient in potash as in nitrogen and phosphoric acid, and consequently it is nitrogen and phosphoric acid that he will probably need to make his soil capable of producing a large crop of potatoes. I have seen Peruvian guano extensively used on potatoes, and almost always with good effect. My first experience with it in this country, was in 1852. Four acres of potatoes were planted on a two-year-old clover-sod, plowed in the spring. On two acres, Peruvian guano was sown broadcast at the rate of 300 Ibs. per acre and harrowed in.. The potatoes were planted May 10. On the other two acres no manure of any kind was used, though treated exactly alike in every other respect. The result was as follows: ING HT AUIRe se SL NEih ean ace clams eopemomaee eens ,... 119 bushels per acre. SOO ADS: Peruvian) PUAN ss «rec, ccjal am sicoe Slo iy loins lt ois 205 - " The guano cost, here, about 3 cents a 1b., and consequently nine dollars’ worth of guano gave 84 bushels of potatoes. The potatoes were all sound and good, but where the guano was used, they were larger, with scarcely a small one amongst them. In 1857, I made the following experiments on potatoes, in the same field on which the preceding experiment was made in 1882. In this case, as before, the land was a two-year-old clover-sod. It was plowed about the first of May, and harrowed until it was in a good mellow condition. The potatoes were planted in hills 34 MANURES FOR POTATOES. 259 feet apart each way. The following table shows the manures used and the yield of potatoes per acre. EXPERIMENTS ON POTATOES AT MORETON FARM, ; ae 5 sD s ss | S88 S Ss: |825 2 DESCRIPTION OF MANURES USED, AND QUANTITIES 3s we = > APPLIED PER ACRE. Se 4S es ~ SS VIVA S 3 SSs S Ss | 2538 Ss ws Sas 5 A {SRS iit COMPING bad Avena he Se. a lees dee ntecieuic arts Etohchsretabelston ate\ets 95 2. 150 lbs. sulphate of BMINOBIAG) Fos ce teen eae ee, 140 45 35) (300: lbs:superphosphate of ime. 2-2.263 04-2 ce eee eee 132 37 4. 150 lbs. sulphate of ammonia, and 300 lbs. superphos- PHALEVOLSIM ES Sar aacss te mae ee oe ne ae enone Te oer 179 84 5. |400 lbs. of unleached wood-ashes. .. 2.20.00. e eee es ene 100 5 6. 100 ]bs. plaster, (gypsum, or sulphate of lime,) .......... }. akon 6 %. |400 lbs. unleached wood-ashes and 100 lbs. plaster........ 110 15 8. |400 lbs. unleached wood-ashes, 150 lbs. sulphate of am- THOMA ANGO1UOMDS: PIRSLELS ay--cseisie ca cles tee se sioresecet 109 14 9. (300 lbs. superphosphate of lime, 150 lbs. sulphate of am- | monia and 400 lbs. unleached wood-ashes.............. 138 43 The superphosphate of lime was made expressly for experimen- tal purposes, from calcined bones, ground fine, and mixed with sulphuric acid in the proper proportions to convert all the phos- phate of lime of the bones into the soluble superphosphate. It was a purely mineral article, free from ammonia and other organic matter. It cost about two and a half cents per pound. The manures were deposited in the hill, covered with an inch or two of soil, and the seed then planted on the top. Where super- phosphate of lime or sulphate of ammonia was used in conjunction with ashes, the ashes were first deposited in the hill and covered with a little soil, and then the superphosphate or sulphate of am- monia placed on the top and covered with soil before the seed was planted. Notwithstanding this precaution, the ram washed the sulphate of ammonia into the ashes, and decomposition, with loss of ammonia, was the result. This will account for the less yield on plot 8 than on plot 2. It would have been better to have sown the ashes broadcast, but some previous experiments with Peruvian guano on potatoes indicated that it was best to apply guano im the hill, carefully covering it with soil to prevent it injuring the seed, than to sow it broadcast. It was for this reason, and for the greater convenience in sowing, that the manures were applied in the hill. The ash of potatoes consists of about 50 per cent of potash, and this fact has induced many writers to recommend ashes asa manure for this crop. It will be seen, however, that in this instance, at 260 TALKS ON MANURES. least, they have very little effect, 400 lbs. giving an increase of only five bushels per acre. One hundred “pounds of plaster per acre gave an increase of six bushels. Plaster and ashes combined, an increase per acre of 15 bushels. One fact is clearly brought out by these experiments: that this soil, which has been under cultivation without manure for many years, is not, relatively to other constituents of crops, deficient in potash. Had such been the case, the sulphate of ammonia and superphosphate of lime—manures which contain no potash—would not have given an increase of 84 bushels of potatoes per acre. There was sufficient potash in the soil, in an available condition, for 179 bushels of potatoes per acre ; and the reason why the soil without manure produced only 95 bushels per acre, was owing to a deficiency of ammonia and phosphates. Since these experiments were made, Dr. Voelcker and others have made similar ones in England. The results on the whole all point in one direction. They show that the manures most valuable for potatoes are those rich in nitrogen and phosphoric acid, and that occasionally potash is also a useful addition. “There is one thing I should like to kaow,” said the Doctor. “ Admitting that nitrogen and phosphoric acid and potash are the most important elements of plant-food, how many bushels of po- tatoes should we be lkely to get from a judicious application of these manures ?”’ “There is no way,” said I, “of getting at this with any degree of certamty. The numerous experiments that have been made in England seem to show that a given quantity of manure will produce a larger ¢nerease on poor land than on land in better condition.” In England potatoes are rarely if ever planted without manure, and the land selected for this crop, even without manure, would usually be in better condition than the average potato land of this section, and consequently a given amount of manure, applied to potatoes here, would be likely to do more good, up to a certain point, than the same amount would in England. Let us look at some of the experiments that have been made in England :— In the Transactions of the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland for 1873 is a prize essay on ‘‘ Experiments upon Potatoes, with Potash Salts, on Light Land,” by Charles D. Hunter, F. C.5S., made on the farm of William Lawson, in Cumberland. Mr. Hun- ter ‘‘ was charged with the manuring of the farm and the purchas- ing of chemical manures to the annual value of £2,000,” or say $10,000. MANURES FOR POTATOES. 261 “ Potatoes,” says Mr. Hunter, ‘‘ were largely grown on the farm, and in the absence of a sufficiency of farm-yard manure, potash naturally suggested itself as a necessary constituent of a chemical potato-manure. The soil was light and gravelly, with an open subsoil, and the rainfall from 29 to 38 inches a year.” The first series of experiments was made in 1867. The follow- ing are some of the results :-— Bushels per acre. ty (CEU T 1 HT 2 eee Ni A Saige te eR 221 4 cwt. mineral superphosphate............... 225 4 cwt. mineral superphosphate and........... 240 4 cwt. of muriate of potash............s..+s. 153 tons farm-yard manure.................. 293 “That does not say much for potash and superphosphate,” said the Deacon. “The superphosphate only produced four bushels more than the no manure, and the potash and superphosphate only fifteen bushels more than the superphosphate alone.” It may be worth while mentioning that one of the experimental plots this year was on’a head-land, “ where the cattle frequently stand for shelter.” This plot was dressed with only eight anda half tons of manure, and the crop was over 427 bushels per acre, while a plot alongside, without manure, produced only 163 bushels per acre. “That shows the importance,” said the Deacon, “ of planting potatoes on rich land, rather than to plant on poor land and try to make it rich by applying manure directly to the crop.” The following are some of the results in 1868: Bushels per acre. A he OS ETE RTTMMEE G8 cts ute -tes nia sel oss canie Sale va Mae ork 232 - CWh. SUIDCTPLOS Pale ts «lose vwsise ce ba we me 2.4 ee PAUEINDC OF IDOGREE ws sce aid oniss as «0 340 Be “sulphate Of AMIMIONIA. ... << 4/000 00 des 3... 20 tons farm-yard manure... ........cesce- 342 4 ewt..superphosphate.......i0ceceecsecsees t 4. | 4: 08 ar GESDOGASIN. iii 's aitele oa bins cae ll “Here again,” said the Doctor, ‘superphosphate and potash alone give an increase of only forty-two bushels per acre, while on plot 2, where two hundred weight of muriate of potash is substi- tuted by two hundred weight of sulphate of ammonia, the increase is 108 bushels per acre. It certainly looks as though a manure for potatoes, so far as yield is concerned, should be rich in available nitrogen.” 262 TALKS ON MANURES. The following are some of the results in 1869: : Bushels per acre, Ve" NO WManre. 2... sass ts os eee ee Com eee ae 176 4 ewt. superphosphate. 2) 0.05 co iewiccscieces as 9 z>“ “sulphate. of mannesiaw. . csc. sleweiece 306 “2. 2. £2) TUTIALE OL WOcaSitaew ss nies cick stots & aes 2°" * gulphate ‘OL amMOMAt ij. +e serie 3.) mewts superphosphates 22.5. .ea ces 6 tee aes 189 4 Acwt: SUperpnospnate®.c.dclat «sets ee «clans t 201 : 2 ‘* sulphate of ammonia....... Aa ite Gate $e 4 ewt. superphosphate wn... cctcm s hes awe Batt Se) eAMUTIALCIOL POUABIAS cm eiacis Siete ei ciejaccta cleters 340 2 "+ sulphate Ob aIMIONIA. oh ce/ataine bos sea 6 4 cwt: ‘superphospliate::. 2.ce ces. s t ree seins | 249 ; | aoe muriate Of potash... ca. ce clea ses “This is a very interesting experiment,” said the Doctor. “Superphosphate alone gives an increase of thirteen bushels. Superphosphate and potash an increase of seventy-three bushels. The potash, therefore, gives an increase of sixty bushels. Super- phosphate and ammonia give twelve bushels more than superphos- phate alone, and the reason it does not produce a better crop is owing to a deficiency of potash. When this is supplied the am- monia gives an increase (plots 5 and 6) of ninety-one bushels per acre. In 1870 the above experiments were repeated on the same land, with the same general results. In 1871 some experiments were made on a sharp, gravelly soil, which had been over-cropped, and was in poor condition. The fol- lowing are the results :— Bushels per acre. 1 Siewt, superphosphate: 4 set ee es 186 ° (3. sulphate of ammonia r...:.. . (32 | &e| Pe | BE y ySi es (2. | 28] 238 S ¢ B- | £38 iz | S 3 rae <} S SE| tS IPs | 3] & | 2> “| D£SCEIPTIONS OF MANURES AND |. =: |S 2] $31 & = > 2 =| QUANTITIES APPLIED PER ACRE. | “5 | YS |S PS S2 | ra, 23 ~ wr lac ’ ~ Y 5 < ina“ | Sa it? | 29] S&S. > Sz/ Ze les | Fe | $2) 32 Ss 23| se ise | $$ | $8138 = | G2) AF So | 4 1° 188 AN Ph te ee EAA POPE PeOr OO Pee Otic. Pee) ae P 2. 100 lbs. plaster (gypsum or sulphate of / | | SMALE Da Ga Res sde ete idel = Detote as pls | Ss | we ts 3. 400 lbs. unleached wood-ashes and |” 400 lbs. plaster (mixed)............ 6|10| 7%) 8s| 3| i 4, 150 lbs. sulphate of ammonia........ 90 15 | 105 20 8 | 28 5. 300 Ibs. superphosphate of lime...... A 60s BH leisy bt Tee 6. 150 lbs. sulphate of ammonia and 200 | Ibs, gh Ir of lime (mixed)| 85 5 2417S Aevek: 2 %. 400 lbs, un eached wood-ashes, (un- ) eet) De are ee Aer ee 60, 12 Mer teedeGe 5 5 8. 150 Ibs. sulphate of ammonia and 400 | | | lbs. unleached wood-ashes (sown SMEOEN ISS be acess ane povesncs ores | 8; 10 Y 2 3 20 9. 309 Ibs. superpho-phate of lime, 150) | | lbs. sulph. ammonia, and 400 Ibs. unleached wood-ashes... ....-..++. 100 8 |108 | 40 1 41 10. 400 Ibs. unleached wood-ashes....... & 8 6.45660 ee 1 11. 100 Ibs. plaster, 400 Ibs. unleached i | wood-ashes, 200 Ibs. superphos- . ) phate of lime, and 200 lbs. Peruvian’ PMN i eases tee, SEs oe eee era ia Teme tae | 38 12, 75 lbs, sulphate of ammonia.........) 78 | 10 1 | 8 | 21 13. '200 Ibs. Pernvian guano............. | 88} 13 | 101 28 | 2A 14. 400 Ibs. unleached wood-ashes, 10) | | Ibs. plaster, and 500 lbs. Peruvian) | WOME ceo mon srermssircersees PEPE 5 fe” a | ———— 2. eee “es “The superphosphate of lime was made on purpose for these experiments, and was a pure mineral manure of superior quality, made from calcined bones; it cost about 24 cents per pound. The sulphate of ammonia was a good, commercial article, obtained from London, at a cost of about seven cents per pound. The ashes were made from beech and hard maple (Acer saccharinum) wood, and were sifted through a fine sieve before being weighed. The guano was the best Peruvian, costing about three cents per pound. It was crushed and sifted before using. In sowing the ashes on plot 7, an error occurred in their application, and for the purpose of checking the result, it was deemed advisable to repeat the experiment on plot 10. “On plot 5, with 200 lbs. of superphosphate of lime per acre, the plants came up first, and exhibted a healthy, dark-green appear- 280 TALKS ON MANURES, ance, which they retained for some time. This result was not an- ticipated, though it is well known that superphosphate of lime has the effect of stimulating the germination of turnip-seed, and the early growth of the plants to an astonishing degree; yet, as it hag no such effect on wheat, it appeared probable that it would not produce this effect on Indian corn, which, in chemical composition, is very similar to wheat. The result shows how uncertain are all speculations in regard to the manurial requirements of plants. This immediate effect of superphosphate of lime on corn was so marked, that the men (who were, at the time of planting, somewhat inclined to be skeptical, in regard to the value of such small doses of manure), declared that ‘superphosphate beats all creation for corn.’ The difference in favor of superphosphate, at the time of hoeing, was very perceptible, even at some distance. “ Although every precaution was taken that was deemed -ne- cessary, to prevent the manures from mixing in the hill, or from injuring the seed, yet, it was found, that those plots dressed with ashes and guano, or with ashes and sulphate of ammonia, were in- jured to some extent. Shortly after the corn was planted, heavy rain set in, and washed the sulphate of ammonia and guano, down into the ashes, and mutual decomposition took place, with more or less loss of ammonia. In addition to this loss of ammonia, these manures came up to the surface of the ground in the form of an excrescence, so hard that the plants could with difficulty penetrate through it. ‘*Tt will be seen, by examining the table, that although the su- perphosphate of lime had a good effect during the eaily stages of the growth of the plants, yet the increase of ears of corn in the end did not come up to these early indications. On plot 5, with 300 Ibs. of superphosphate of lime per acre, the yield is precisely the same as on plot 2, with 100 lbs. of plaster (sulphate of lime), per acre. Now, superphosphate of lime is composed necessarily of soluble phosphate of lime and plaster, or sulphate of lime, formed from a combination of the sulphuric acid, employed in the manufacture of superphosphate, with the lime of the bones. In the 300 lbs. of superphosphate of lime, sown on plot 5, there would be about 100 Ibs. of plaster; and as the effect of this dressing is no greater than was obtained from the 100 lbs. of plaster, sown on plot 2, it fol- lows, that the good effect of the superphosphate of lime was due to the plaster that it contained. “Again, on plot 4, with 150 Ibs. of sulphate of ammonia per acre, we have 90 bushels of ears of sound corn, and 15 bushels of ears of soft corn, (‘nubbins,’) per acre ; or a total increase over the MANURES FOR SPECIAL CROPS. 281 plot without manure, of 38 bushels. Now, the sulphate of ammo- nia contains no phosphate of lime, and the fact that such a manure gives a considerable increase of crop, confirms the conclusion we have arrived at, from a comparison of the results on plots 2 and 5; that the increase from the superphosphate of lime, is not due to the pkosphate of lime which it contains, unless we are to conclude that the sulphate of ammonia rendered the phosphate of lime in the soil more readily soluble, and thus furnished an increased quantity in an available form for assimilation by the plants— . a conclusion, which the results with superphosphate alone, on plot 5, and with superphosphate and sulphate of ammonia, com- bined, on plot 6, do not sustain. “On plot 12, half the quantity of sulphate of ammonia, was used as on plot 4, and the increase is a little more than half what it is where double the quantity was used. Again, on plot 18, 200 lbs. of Peruvian guano per acre, gives nearly as great an increase of sound corn, as the 150 lbs. of sulphate of ammonia. Now, 200 Ibs. of Peruvian guano contains nearly as much ammonia as 150 lbs. sulphate of ammonia, and the increase in both cases is evidently due to the ammonia of these manvres. The 200 lbs. of Peruvian guano, contained about 50 lbs. of phosphate of lime; but as the sul- phate of ammonia, which contains no phosphate of lime, gives as great an increase as the guano, it follows, that the phosphate of lime in the guano, had little, if any effect; a result precisely simi- lar to that obtained with superphosphate of lime. “We may conclude, therefore, that on this soil, which has never been manured, and which has been cultivated for many years with the Ceralia—-or, in other words, with crops which remove a large quantity of phosphate of lime from the soil—the phosphate of lime, relatively to the ammonia, is not deficient. If such was not the case, an application of soluble phosphate of lime would have given an increase of crop, which we have shown was not the case in any one of these experiments. “Plot 10, with 400 Ibs. of unleached wood-ashes per acre, pro- duces the same quantity of sownd corn, with an extra bushel of ‘nubbins’ per acre, as plot 1, without any manure at all; ashes, therefore, applied alone, may be said to have had no effect what- ever. On plot 3, 400 Ibs. of ashes, and 100 lbs. of plaster, give the same total number of bushels per acre, as plot 2, with 100 lbs. of plaster alone. Plot 8, with 400 lbs. ashes, and 150 lbs. of sulphate of ammonia, yields three bushels of sound corn, and five bushels of ‘nubbins’ per acre, Jess than plot 4, with 150 lbs. sulphate of 282 TALKS ON MANURES. ammonia alone. This result may be ascribed to the fact previously alluded to—the ashes dissipated some of the ammonia. “Plot 11, with 100 Ibs. of plaster, 400 lbs. ashes, 300 Ibs. of super- phosphate of Jime, and 200 lbs. Peruvian guano (which contains about as much ammonia as 150 Ibs. sulphate of ammonia), pro- duced precisely the same number of total bushels per acre, as plot 4, with 150 lbs. sulphate of ammonia alone, and but 4 bushels more per acre, than plot 18, with 200 lbs. Peruvian guano alone. It is evident, from these results, that neither ashes nor phosphates had much effect on Indian corn, on this impoverished soil. Plot 14 re- ceived the largest dressing of ammonia (500 lbs. Peruvian guano), and produced much the largest crop; though the increase is not so great in proportion to the guano, as where smaller quantities were used. “The manure which produced the most profitable result, was the 100 lbs. of plaster, on plot 2. The 200 lbs. of Peruvian guano, on plot 13, and which cost about $6, gave an increase of 14 bushels of shelled corn, and 6 bushels of ‘nubbins.’ This will pay at the present price of corn in Rochester, although the profit is not very great. The superphosphate of lime, although a very superior article, and estimated at cost price, in no case paid for itself. The same is true of the ashes. “‘ But the object of the experiment was not so much to ascertain what manures will pay, but to ascertain, if possible, what constitu- ents of manures are required, in greatest quantity, for the maxi- mum growth of corn. * * Hitherto, no experiments have been made in this country, on Indian corn, that afforded any certain in- formation on this point. Indeed, we believe no satisfactory experi- ments have been made on Indian corn, in any country, that throw any definite light on this interesting and important question. A few years ago, Mr. Lawes made similar experiments to those given above, on his farm, at Rothamsted, England; but owing to the coolness of the English climate, the crop did not arrive at maturity. “Numerous experiments have been made in this country, with guano and superphosphate of lime; but the superphosphates used were commercial articles, containing more or less ammonia, and if they are of any benefit to those crops to which they are applied, it is a matter of uncertainty whether the beneficial effect of the appli- cation is due to the soluble phosphate of lime, or to the ammonia. On the other hand, guano contains both ammonia and phosphate ; and we are equally at a loss to determine, whether the effect is at- tributable to the ammonia or phosphate, or both. In order, there- fore, to determine satisfactorily, which of the several ingredients MANURES FOR SPECIAL CROPS. 283 of plants is required in greatest proportion, for the maximum growth of any particuiar crop, we must apply these ingredients sep- arately, or in such definite compounds, as will enable us to deter- mine to what particular element or compounds the beneficial effect is to be ascribed. It was for this reason, that sulphate of ammo- nia, and a purely mineral superphosphate of lime, were used in the above experiments. No one would think of using sulphate of ammonia at its price, [sulphate of ammonia is now cheaper, while Peruvian guano is more costly and less rich in ammonia], as an ordinary manure, for the reason, that the same quantity of ammo- nia can be obtained in other substances, such as barnyard-manure, Peruvian guano, etc., at a much cheaper rate. But these manures contain ali the elements of plants, and we can not know whether the effect produced by them is due to the ammonia, phosphates, or any other ingredients. For the purpose of experiment, therefore, we must use a manure that furnishes ammonia without any ad- mixture of phosphates, potash, soda, lime, magnesia, etc., even though it cost much more than we could obtain the same amount of ammonia in other manures. I make these remarks in order to correct a very common opinion, that if experiments do not pay, they are useless. The ultimate object, indeed, is to ascertain the most profitable method of manuring; but the means of obtaining this information, can not in all cases be profitable. “Similar experiments to those made on Indian corn, were made on soil of a similar character, on about an acre of Chinese sugar- cane. I do not propose to give the results in detail, at this time, and allude to them merely to mention one very important fact, the superphosphate of lime had o very marked effect. This manure was applied in the hill on one plot (the twentieth of an acre,) at the rate of 400 lbs. per acre, and the plants on this plot came up first, and outgrew all the others from the start, and ultimately attained the height of about ten feet; while on the plot receiving no ma- nure, the plants were not five feet high. This is a result entirely different from what I should have expected. It has been supposed, from the fact that superphosphate of lime had no effect on wheat, that it would probably have little effect on corn, or on the sugar- cane, or other ceralia ; and that, 2s ammonia is so beneficial for wheat, it would probably be beneficial for corn and sugar-cane. The above experiments indicate that such is the case, in regard to Indian corn, so far as the production of grain is concerned, though, as we have stated, it is not true in reference to the early growth of the plants. The superphosphate of limeon Indian corn, stimulated the growth of the plants, in a very decided manner at first, so 284 TALKS ON MANURES. much so, that we were led to suppose, for some time, that it would give the largest crop; but at harvest, it was found that it produced no more corn than plaster. These results seem to indicate, that superphosphate of lime stimulates the growth of stalks and leaves, and has little effect in increasing the production of seed. In raising Indian corn, for fodder or for soiling purposes, superphosphate of lime may be beneficial, as well as in growing the sorghum for sugar- making purposes, or for foddder—though, perhaps, not for seed.” “In addition to the experiments given above, I also made the same season, on an adjoining field, another set of experiments on Indian corn, the results of which are given below. “The land on which these experiments were made, is of a some- what firmer texture than that on which the other set of experi- ments was made. It is situated about a mile from the barn-yard, and on this account, has seldom, if ever been manured. It has been cultivated for many years with ordinary farm crops. It was plowed early in the spring, and it was harrowed until quite mellow. Thecorn was planted May 50, 1857. Each experiment occupied one-tenth of an acre, consisting of 4 rows 335 feet apart, and the same distance between the hills in the rows, with one TOW without manure between each experimental plot. “The manure was applied in the hill, in the same manner as in the first set of experiments. “The barnyard-manure was well-rotted, and consisted princi- pally of cow-dung with a little horse-dung. Twenty two-horse wagon loads of this was applied per acre, and each load would probably weigh about one ton. It was put in the hill and covered with soil, and the seed then planted on the top. “The following table gives the results of the experiments: TABLE SHOWING THE RESULTS OF EXPERIMENTS ON INDIAN CORN, MADE NEAR ROCHESTER, N. Y¥ , IN THE YEAR 1857. ; eS)/e8 (8. (8s ../58 | Sk : Es | 2 28 ieee] 88 | DESCRIPTIONS OF MANURES, AND Bees a koe a 8 x S 5 | QUANTITIES AFPLIED PER ACRE. | “S| SE SSS ee eS Se mad | & [Coy Sal Sige VSS aes > S38 | Se ye [SS S88 8 S S8/ SSIS 0 1S. Ol eee a RASEiRg HS S& SAIS > UNO UAnNsen ooh tet eee raed 1 | 12 | 8% /....- Rrerered | crs 2. 20 loads barn-yard manure............ 822 | 10 | 924 OF iss arecaze 54 8. 150 Ibs. sulphate of ammonia..... ... 85 80 | 115 10 18 28 4. 300 Ibs. superphosphate of lime...... 88 10 | 98 | Dd. acpateat 11 5. 400 Jbs, Peruvian guano ............. 90 380 | 120 15 18 33 6. 400 Ibs. of “‘ Cancerine,” or fish man’e| 85 20 | 105 | 10 8 18 MANURES FOR SPECIAL CROPS. 285 “ As before stated, the land was of a stronger nature than that on which the first set of experiments wac made, and it was evi- dently in better condition, as the plot heving no manure produced 20 bushels of ears of corn per acre more than the plot without manure in the other field. “On plot 4, 300 lbs. of superphosphate of time gives a total in- crease of 11 bushels of ears of corn per acre over the unmanured plot, agreeing exactly with the increase obtained from the same quantity of the same manure on plot 5, in the first set of experi- ments. ; “Plot 3, dressed with 150 lbs. of sulphate of ammonia per acre, gives a total increase of 28 bushels of ears of corn per acre, over the unmanured plot; and an increase of 224 bushels of ears per acre over plot 2, which received 20 loads of good, well-rotted barn- yard-dung per acre. “Plot 5, with 400 lbs. of Peruvian guano per acre gives the best crop of this series viz: an increase of 33 bushels of corn per acre over the unmanured plot, and 274 over the plot manured with 20 loads of barnyard-dung. The 400 Ibs. of ‘ Cancerine ’"—an arti- ficial manure made in New Jersey from fish—gives a total in- crease of 18 bushels of ears per acre over the unmanured plot, and 124 bushels more than that manured with barn-yard dung, though 5 bushels of ears of sound corn and 10 bushels of ‘nubbins’ per acre Jess than the same quantity of Peruvian guano.” MANURES FOR TURNIPS. To raise a large crop of turnips, especially of ruta-bagas, there is nothing better than a liberal application of rich, well-rotted farm- yard-manure, and 250 to 300 lbs. of good superphosphate of lime per acre, drilled in with the seed. I have seen capital crops of common turnips grown with no other manure except 300 lbs. of superphosphate per acre, drilled with the seed. Superphosphate has a wonderful effect on the de- velopment of the roots of the turnip. And this is the secret of its great value for this crop. It increases the growth of the young plant, developing the formation of the roots, and when the turnip once gets full possession of the soil, it appropriates all the plant- food it can find. A turnip-crop grown with superphosphate, can get from the soil much more nitrogen than a crop of wheat. The turnip-crop, when supplied with superphosphate, is a good “scay- enger.” It will gather up and organize into good food the refuse plant-food left in the soil. It is to the surface soil, what clover is to the subsoil. 286 TALKS ON MANURES. To the market gardener, or to a farmer who manures heavily, common turnips drilled in with superphospuate will prove a valu- able crop. On such land no other manure will be needed. I can- not too earnestly recommend the use of superphosphate as a ma- nure for turnips. For Swede turnips or ruta-bagas, it will usually be necessary, in order to secure a Maximum crop, to use a manure which, in addi- tion to superphosphate, contains available nitrogen. A good dress- ing of rich, well-rotted manure, spread on the land, and plowed under, and then 800 Ibs. of superphosphate drilled in with the seed, would be likely to give a good crop. In the absence of manure, there is probably nothing better for the ruta-bagas than 300 lbs. of so-called “ rectified” Peruvian guano, that is, guano treated with sulphuric acid, to render the phosphates soluble. Such a guano is guaranteed to contain 10 per cent of ammonia, and 10 per cent of soluble phosphoric acid, and would be a good dressing for Swede turnips. The best way to use guano for turnips is to sow it broadcast on the land, and harrow it in, and then either drill in the turnip-seed on the flat, or on ridges. The latter is decidedly the better plan, provided you have the necessary implements to do the work expe- ditiously. A double mould-board plow will ridge up four acres a day, and the guano being previously sown on the surface, will be turned up with the mellow surface-soil into the ridge, where the seed is tobe sown. The young plants get hold of it and grow so rapidly as to be soon out of danger from the turnip-beetle. MANURES FOR MANGEL-WURZEL OR SUGAR-BEETS. When sugar-beets are grown for feeding to stock, there is prob- ably little or no difference in the manurial requirements of sugar- beets and mangel-wurzel. Our object is to get as large a growth as possible consistent with quality. “Large roots,” said the Deacon, “have been proved to contain less nutriment than small roots.” True, but it does not follow from this that rich land, or heavy manuring is the chief cause of this difference. It is much more likely to be due to the variety selected. The seed-growers have been breeding solely for size and shape. They have succeeded to such an extent that 84 gross tons of roots have been grown on an acre. This is equal to over 94 of our tons per acre. ‘‘ That is an enormous crop,” said the Deacon; ‘‘and it would require some labor to put 10 acres of them in a cellar.” “If they were as nutritious as ordinary mangels,”’ said I, ‘‘ that MANURES FOR SPECIAL CROPS. 287 would be no argument against them. But such is not the case. In a letter just.received from Mr. Lawes, (May, 1878,) he charac- terizes them as ‘ bladders of water and salts.’”’ Had the seed-growers bred for guality, the roots would have been of less size, but they would contain more nutriment. What we want is a variety that has been bred with reference to quality; and when this is secured, we need not fear to make the land rich and otherwise aim to secure great growth and large-sized roots. It certainly is not good economy to select a variety which has been bred for years to produce large-sized roots, and then sow this seed on poor land for the purpose of obtaining small-sized roots. Better take a variety bred for quality, and then make the land rich enough to produce a good crop. We are not likely to err in making the land too rich for mangel: wurzel or for sugar-beets grown for stock. When sugar-beets are grown for sugar, we must aim to use manures favorable for the pro- duction of sugar, or rather to avoid using those which are un- favorable. But where sugar-beets are grown for food, our aim is to get a large amount of nutriment to the acre. And itis by no means clear to my mind that there is much to be gained by select- ing the sugar-beet instead of a good variety of mangel-wurzel. It is not a difficult matter, by selecting the largest roots for seed, and by liberal manuring, and continuously selecting the largest roots, to convert the sugar-beet into a mangel-wurzel. When sugar-beets are grown for food, we may safely manure them as we would mangel-wurzel, and treat the two crops pre- cisely alike. I usually raise from ten to fifteen acres of mangel-wurzel every year. I grow them in rotation with other crops, and not as the Hon. Harris Lewis and some others do, continuously on the same land. We manure liberally, but not extravagantly, and get a fair yield, and the land is left in admirable condition for future crops. I mean by this, not that the land is specially rich, but that it is - very clean and mellow. “In 1877,’ said the Deacon, “you had potatoes on the land where you grew mangels the previous year, and had the best crop in the neighborhood.” This is true, but still I do not think it a good rotation. A barley crop seeded with clover would be better, especially if the mangels were heavily manured. The clover would get the manure which had been washed into the subsoil, or left in such a condition that potatoes or grain could not take it up. 288 TALKS ON MANURES. There is one thing in relation to my mangels of 1876 which has escaped the Deacon. The whole pigce was manured and well pre- pared, and dibbled in with mangels, the rows being 24 feet apart, and the seed dropped 15 inches apart in the rows. Owing to poor seed, the mangels failed on about three acres, and we plowed up the land and drilled in corn for fodder, in rows 24 feet apart, and at the rate of over three bushels of seed per acre. We had a great crop of corn-fodder. The next year, as I said before, the whole piece was planted with potatoes, and if it was true that mangels are an “enriching crop,” while corn is an “exhausting” crop, we ought to have had much better potatoes after the mangels than after corn. This was certainly not the case; if there was any difference, it was in favor of the corn. But Ido not place any confidence in an experiment of this kind, where the rage were not weighed and the results carefully ascertained. Mr. Lawes has made some most thorough experiments with dif- ferent manures on sugar-beets, and in 1876 he commenced a series of experiments with mangel-wurzel. The land is a rather stiff clay loam, similar to that on which the wheat and barley experiments were made. It is better suited to the growth of beets than of turnips. “Why so,” asked the Deacon, “I thought that black, bottom land was best for mangels.” “ Not so, Deacon,” said I, “we can, it is true, grow large crops of mangels on well-drained and well-manured swampy or bottom land, but the best soil for mangels, especially in regard to quality, is a good, stiff, well-worked, and well-manured loam.” “And yet,” said the Deacon, “you had a better crop last year on the lower and blacker portions of the field than on the heavy, clayey land.” In one sense, this is true. We had dry weather in the spring, and the mangel seed on the dry, clayey land did not come up as well as on the cooler and moister bottom-land. We had more plants to the acre, but the roots on the clayey Jand, when they once got fair hold of the soil and the manure, grew larger and bet- ter than on the lighter and moister land. The great point is to get this heavy land into a fine, mellow condition. But to Mr. Lawes’ experiments. They are remarkably interest- ing and instructive. But it is not necessary to go into all the de- tails. Suffice it to say that the experiments seem to prove, very conclusively, that beets require a liberal supply of available nitro- MANURES FOR SPECIAL CROPS. 289 gen. Thus, without manure, the yield of beets was about 7} tons of bulbs per acre. With 550 lbs. nitrate of soda per acre, the yield was a little over 22 tons per acre. With 14 tons of farmyard-manure, 18 tons per acre. With 14 tons of farmyard-manure and 550 lbs. nitrate of soda, over 274 tons per acre. Superphosphate of lime, sulphates of potash, soda, and magne- sia, and common salt, alone, or with other manures, had compara- tively little effect. Practically, when we want to grow a good crop of beets or man- gels, these experiments prove that what we need is the richest kind of barnyard-manure. If our manure is not rich, then we should use, in addition to the manure, a dressing of nitrate of soda—say 400 or 500 lbs. per acre. . If the land is in pretty good condition, and we have no barn- yard-manure, we may look for a fair crop from a dressing of ni- trate of soda alone. “T see,” said the Deacon, “ that 550 lbs. of nitrate of soda alone, gave an increase of 14} tons per acre. And the following year, on the same land, it gave an increase of 134 tons; and the next year, on the same land, over 9 tons.” “ Yes,”’ said I, ‘“‘ the first three years of the experiments (1871-2-3), 550 Ibs. of nitrate of soda alone, applied every year, gave an average yield of 19 tons of bulbs per acre. During the same three years, the plot dressed with 14 tons of barnyard-manure, gave an average yield of 164 tons. But now mark. The next year (1874) all the plots were left without any manure, and the plot which had been previously dressed with nitrate of soda, alone, fell off to 3 tons per acre, while the plot which had been previously manured with barnyard-manure, produced 102 tons per acre.” “Good,” said the Deacon, “ there is nothing like manure.” MANURES FOR CABBAGE, PARSNIPS, CARROTS, LETTUCE, ONIONS, ETC. I class these plants together, because, though differing widely in many respects, they have one feature in common. They are all artificial productions. A distinguished amateur horticulturist once said tome, “Ido not see why it is I have so much trouble with lettuce. My land is rich, and the lettuce grow well, but do not head. They have a tendency to run up to seed,and soon get tough and bitter.” I advised him to raise his own seed from the best plants—and especially to reject all plants that showed any tendency to go pre- 13 290 TALKS ON MANURES. maturely to seed. Furthermore, I told him I thought if he would sow a little superphosphate of lime with the seed, it would greatly stimulate the early growth of the lettuce. As I have said before, superphosphate, when drilled in with the seed, has a wonderful effect in developing the root-growth of the young plants of turnips, and I thought it would have the same effect on lettuce, cabbage, cauliflowers, etc. “ But,” said he, “it is not vocts that I want, but heads.” “ Exactly,” said I, “ you do not want the plants to follow out their natural disposition and run up to seed. You want to induce them to throw out a great abundance of tender leaves. In other words, you want them to ‘head.’ Just as in the turnip, you do not want them to run up to seed, but to produce an unnatural develop- ment of ‘ bulb.’ ” Thirty years ago, Dr. Gilbert threw out the suggestion, that while it was evident that turnips required a larger proportion of soluble phosphates in the soil than wheat ; while wheat required a larger proportion of available nitrogen 1n the soil, than turnips, it was quite probable, if we were growing turnips for seed, that then, turnips would require the same kind of manures as wheat. We want exceedingly rich land for cabbage, especially for an early crop. This is not merely because a large crop of cabbage takes a large amount of plant-food out of the soil, but because the cultivated cabbage is an artificial plant, that requires its food in a concentrated shape. In popular language, the plants have to be “ forced.” According to the analyses of Dr. Anderson, the outside leaves of cabbage, contain, in round numbers, 91 per cent of water; and the heart leaves, 944} per cent. In other words, the green leaves con- tain 8} per cert more dry matter than the heart leaves. Dr. Velcker, who analyzed more recently some. “ cattle-cab- bage,” found 894 per cent of water in the green leaves, and 83% per cent in the heart and inner leaves—thus confirming previous analyses, and showing also that the composition of cabbages varies considerably. Dr. Veelcker found much less water in the cabbage than Dr, Anderson. The specimen analyzed by Dr. V., was grown on the farm of the Royal Ag. College of England, and I infer from some incidental remarks, that the crop was grown on rather poor land. And it is probably true that a large crop of cabbage grown on rich land, con- tains a higher percentage of water than cabbage grown on poorer MANURES FOR SPECIAL CROPS. 291 land. On the poor land, the cabbage would not be likely to head so well as on the rich land, and the green leaves of cabbage con- tain more than half as much again real dry substance as the heart leaves. The dry matter of the heart leaves, however, contains more actual nutriment than the dry matter of the green leaves. It would seem very desirable, therefore, whether we are raising cabbage for market or for home consumption, to make the land rich enough to grow good heads. Dr. Veelcker says, “In ordinary seasons, the average produce of Swedes on our poorer fields is about 15 tons per acre. On weighing the produce of an acre of cabbage, grown under similar circumstances, I found that it amounted to 17} tons per acre. On good, well-manured fields, however, we have had a much larger produce.” In a report on the “ Cultivation of Cabbage, and its comparative Value for Feeding purposes,” by J. M. M’Laren, of Scotland, the yield of Swede turnips, was 292 tons per acre, and the yield of cab- bage, 472 tons per acre. “*It is very evident,” said the Deacon, “that if you grow cabbage you should make the land rich enough to produce a good crop— and I take it that is all you want to show.” “T want to show,’ I replied, “that our market gardencrs have reason for applying such apparently excessive dressings of rich manure to the cabbage-crop. They find it safer to put far more manure into the land than the crop can possibly use, rather than run any risk of getting an inferior crop. An important practical question is, whether they can not grow some crop or crops after the cabbage, that can profitably take up the manure left in the soil.” Prof. E. Wolff, in the last edition of ‘‘ Praktische Diingerlehre,” gives the composition of cabbage. For the details of which, see Appendix, page 345. From this it appears that 50 tons of cabbage contain 240 lbs. of nitrogen, and 1,600 Ibs. of ash. Included in the ash is 630 lbs. of potash; 90 lbs. of soda; 310 Ibs. of lime; 60 lbs. of magnesia; 140 lbs. of phosphoric acid; 240 lbs. of sulphuric acid, and 20 Ibs. of silica. Henderson, in “ Gardening for Profit,” advises the application of 75 tons of stable or barn-yard manure per acre, for early cab- bage. For late cabbage, after peas or early potatoes, he says about 10 tons per acre are used. Brill, in “Farm Gardening and Seed Growing,” also makes the same distinction in regard to the quantity of manure used for early 292 TALKS ON MANUBES. and late cabbage. He speaks of 70 to 80 tons or more, per acre, of well-rotted stable-manure as not an unusual or excessive dressing every year. : Now, according to Wolff's table, 75 tons of fresh stable-manure, with straw, contains 820 lbs. of nitrogen; 795 lbs. of potash; 150 lbs. soda; 315 Ibs. of lime; 210 lbs. of magnesia; 420 lbs. of phos- phoric acid ; 105 lbs. sulphuric acid ; 2,655 lbs. of silica, and 60 lbs. of chlorine. “Put the figures side by side,” said the Deacon, “ so that we can compare them.” ’ Here they are: "5 tons Fresh Horse| D9, fons Manure. Cabbage. IfRORED 2 a2 sh. cece SA Sin Dar thee amen rere a: 820 lbs. 240 lbs. Eee Sen GAMeS SB OME hy Pte tLe US POSSE Reel ep ent ccoiere ot Roaeeteia/e R95 Tes 630 °° Donor etl BsSancas coposccccdas seed boone sesc0dc 420 ena 140 * OLDE eee eeyetiny Abn Ee 6 ae Meer me ea y inn cae aCoe 150) 5 GOenss dh 00 ts eee eee Pe RIS On meee On ek detedeias OLD es S10) ss OMT meee oe hen ein oe apelis gis ace erniaets sist 6 fal esis niger inline 210 “ 60 ‘ “That is rather an interesting table,” said the Doctor. “In the case of lime, the crop takes about all that this heavy dressing of manure supplies—but I suppose the soil is usually capable of fur- nishing a considerable quantity.” “That may be so,” said the Deacon, “ but all the authorities on market gardening speak of the importance of either growing cab- bage on land containing lime, or else of applying lime as a manure. Quinn, who writes like a sensible man, says in hs book, ‘ Money in the Garden,’ ‘A top-dressing of lime every third year, thirty or forty bushels per acre, spread broadcast, and harrowed in, just be- fore planting, pays handsomely.’ ” Henderson thinks cabbage can only be grown successfully on land containing abundance of lime. He has used heavy dressings of lime on land which did not contain shells, and the result was satisfactory for a time, but he found it too expensive. Experience seems to show that to grow large crops of perfect cabbage, the soil must be liberally furnished with manures rich in nitrogen and phosphoric acid. In saying this, I do not overlook the fact that cabbage require a large quantity of potash. I think, however, that when large quan- tities of stable or barn-yard manure is used, it will rarely be found that the soil lacks potash. What we need to grow a large crop of cabbage, is manure from well-fed animals. Such manure can rarely be purchased. Now, the difference between rich manure and ordinary stabie or barn- MANURES FOR SPECIAL CROPS. 293 yard-manure, consists principally in this: The rich manure con- tains more nitrogen and phosphoric acid than the ordinary stable- manure—and it is in a more available condition. To convert common manure into rich manure, therefore, we must add nitrogen and phosphoric acid. In other words, we must use Peruvian guano, or nitrate of soda and superphosphate, or bone- dust, or some other substance that will furnish available nitrogen and phosphoric acid. Or it may well be, where stable-manure can be bought for $1.00 per two-horse load, that it will be cheaper to use it in larger quan- tity rather than to try to make it rich. In this case, however, we must endeavor to follow the cabbage by some crop that has the power of taking up the large quantity of nitrogen and other plant- food that will be le{t in the soil. The cabbage needs a large supply of nitrogen in the soil, but re- moves comparatively little of it. We see that when 7% tons of manure is used, a crop of 50 tons of cabbage takes out of the soil less than 380 per cent of the nitrogen. And yet, if you plant cab- bage on this land, the next year, without manure, you would get a small crop. ‘*It cannot be for want of nitrogen,” said the Deacon. “Yes it can,” said I. ‘‘ The cabbage, especially the early kinds, must have in the soil a much larger quantity of available nitrogen than the plants can use.” I do not mean by this that a large crop of cabbage could be raised, year after year, if furnished only with a large supply of avail- able nitrogen. In sucha case, the soil would soon lack the necessary inorganic ingredients. But, what I mean, is this: Where land has been heavily manured for some years, we could often raise a good crop of cabbage by a liberal dressing of available nitrogen, and still more frequently, if nitrogen and phosphoric acid were both used. You may use what would be considered an excessive quantity of ordinary stable-manure, and grow a large crop of cabbage; but still, if you plant cabbage the next year, without manure of any kind, you will get a small crop; but dress it with a manure con- taining the necessary Amount of nitrogen, and you will, so far as the supply of plant-food is concerned, be likely to get a good crop. In such circumstances, I think an application of 800 lbs. of ni- trate of soda per acre, costing, say $32, would be likely to afford a very handsome profit. For lettuce, in addition to well prepared rich land, [ should sow 83 Ibs. of superphosphate to each square rod, scattered in the rows 294 TALKS ON MANURES. before drilling in “che seed. It will favor the formation of fibrous roots and stimulate the growth of the young plants. In raising onions from seed, we require an abundance of rich, well-rotted manure, clean land, and early sowing. Onions ere often raised year after year on the same land. That this entails a great waste of manure, is highly probable, but it is not an easy matter to get ordinary farm-land properly prepared for onions. It needs to be clean and free from stones and rubbish of all kinds, and when once it is in good condition, it is thought better to continue it in onions, even though it may entail more or less loss of fertility. “What do’ ye mean,” asked the Deacon, “by loss of manure ?” “Simply this,” said L “We use a far greater amount-of plant- food in the shape of manure than is removed by the crop of onions. And yet, notwithstanding this fact, it is found, as a matter of ex- perience, that it is absolutely necessary, if we would raise a large and profitable crop, to manure it every year.” A few experiments would throw much light on this matter. I _ Should expect, when land had been heavily dressed every year for a few years, with stable-manure, and annually sown to onions, that 800 lbs. of sulphate of ammonia, or of nitrate of soda, or 1,200 lbs. of Peruvian guano would give as good a crop as 25 or 80 tons of manure. Or perhaps a better plan would be to apply 10 or 15 loads of manure, and 600 lbs. of guano, or 400 lbs. sulphate of am- monia, Oleg Wear: wel cael OMY opal nae ee Ono. Ga MANURES FOR GARDENS AND ORCHARDS. MANURE FOR MARKET-GARDENS. The chief dependence of the market-gardener must be on the stable-manure which he can obtain from the city or village. The chief defect of this manure is that it is not rich enough in avail- able nitrogen. The active nitrogen exists principally in the urine, and this in our city stables is largely lost. A ton of fresh, unmixed horse-Gdung contains about 9 Ibs. of nitrogen. A ton of horse-urine, 311bs. But this does not tell the whole story. The nitrogen in the dung is contained in the crude, undigested portions of the food. It is to a large extent insoluble and unavailable, while the nitrogen in the urine is soluble and active. MANURES FOR GARDENS AND ORCHARDS. 295 The market-gardener, of course, has to take such manure as he can get, and the only points to be considered are (1), whether he had better continue to use an excessive quantity of the manure, or (2), to buy substances rich in available nitrogen, and either mix them with the manure, or apply them separately to the soil, or (8), whether he can use this horse-manure as bedding for pigs to be fed on rich nitrogenous food. The latter plan I adopt on my own farm, and in this way I get a very rich and active manure. I get available nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash, at far cheaper rates than they can be purchased in the best commercial fertilizers. Pigs void a large amount of urine, and as pigs are ordinarily kept, much of this liquid is lost for want of sufficient bedding to absorb it. With the market-gardener or nurseryman, who draws large quantities of horse-manure from the city, this need not be the case. The necessary buildings can be constructed at little cost, and the horse-manure can be used freely. The pigs should be fed on food rich in nitrogen, such as bran, malt-combs, brewers’ grains, the refuse animal matter from the slaughter-houses or butchers’ stores, fish scrap, pea or lentil-meal, palm-nut cake, or such food as will furnish the most nitrogenous food, other things being equal, at the cheapest rate. The market-gardener not only requires large quantities of rich manure, but he wants them to act quickly. The nurseryman who sets out a block of trees which will occupy the ground for three, four, or five years, may want a “lasting manure,” but such is not the case with the gardener who grows crops which he takes off the land in a few months. As long as he continues to use horse or cow-manure freely, he need not trouble himself to get a slow or lasting manure. His great aim should be to make the manure as active and available as possible. And this is especially the case if he occupies clayey or loamy land. On sandy land the manure will decompose more rapidly and act quicker. “There are many facts,” said the Doctor, “that show that an artificial application of water is equivalent to an application of manure. It has been shown that market-gardeners find it neces- sary to apply a much larger amount of plant-food to the soil than the crops can take up. This they have to do year after year. And it may well be that, when a supply of water can be bad at slight cost, it will be cheaper to irrigate the land, or water the plauts, rather than to furnish such an excess of manure, as is now found necessary. Even with ordinary farm-crops, we know that they feel the effects of drouth far less on rich land than on poor land. In 296 TALKS ON MANURES. other words, a liberal supply of plant-food enables the crops to flourish with less water; and, on the other hand, a greater supply of water will enable the crops to flourish with a less supply of plant-food. The market-gardeners should look into this question of irrigation. MANURES FOR SEED-GROWING FARMS. In growing garden and vegetable seeds, much labor is neces- sarily employed per acre, and consequently it is of great import- ance to produce a good yield. The best and cleanest land 1s neces- sary to start with, and then manures must be appropriately and freely used. “ But not too freely,” said the Doctor, “for If am told it is quite possible to have land too rich for seed-growing.” It is not often that the land istoo rich. Still, it may wel] be that for some crops too much stable-manure is used. But in nine cases out of ten, wien such manure gives too much growth and too little or too poor seed, the trouble is in the quality of the manure. It contains too much carbonaceous matter. In other words, it is so poor in nitrogen and phosphoric acid, that an excessive quantity has to be used. The remedy consists in making richer manures and using a less quantity, or use half the quantity of stable-manure, and apply the rectified or prepared Peruvian guano, at the rate of 300 lbs. or 400 lbs. per acre, or say 200 lbs. superphosphate and 200 lbs. nitrate of soda per acre. Where it is very important to have the seeds ripen early, a lib- eral dressing, say 400 lbs. per acre, of superphosphate of lime, will be likely to prove beneficial. MANURE FOR PRIVATE GARDENS. I once had a small garden in the city, and having no manure, I depended entirely on thorough cultivation and artificial fertilizers, such as superphosphate and sulphate of ammonia. It was culti- vated not for profit, but for pleasure, but I never saw a more pro- ductive piece of land. I had in almost every case two crops a year on the same land, and on some plots three crops. No manure was used, except the superphosphate and sulphate of ammonia, and coal and wood ashes from the house. About 5 lbs. of sulphate of ammonia was sown broadcast to the square rod, or worked into the soil very thoroughly in the rows where the seed was to be sown. Superphosphate was applied at the same rate, but instead of sowing it broadcast, I aimed to get it as near the seed or the roots of plants as possible. MANURES FOR GARDENS AND ORCHARDS. 297 Half a teaspoonful of the mixture, consisting of equal parts of superphosphate and sulphate of ammonia, stirred into a large three gallon can of water, and sprinkled on to a bed of verbenas, seemed to have a remarkable effect on the size and brilliancy of the flowers. Even to this day, although I have a good supply of rich barn- yard-manure, I do not like to be without some good artificial ma- nure for the garden. MANURE FOR HOT-BEDS. The best manure for hot-beds is horse or sheep-dung that has been used as bedding for pigs. When fresh stable-manure is used, great pains should be taken to save all the urine. In other words, you want the horse-dung thoroughly saturated with urine. The heat is produced principally from the carbon in the manure and straw, but you need active nitrogenous matter to start the fire. And the richer the manure is in nitrogenous matter, and the more thoroughly this is distributed through the manure, the more readily will it ferment. There is also another advantage in having rich manure, or manure well saturated with urine. You can make the heap more compact. Poor manure has to be made in a loose heap, or it will not ferment ; but such manure as we are talking about can be trodden down quite firm, and still ferment rapid enough to give out the necessary heat, and this compact heap will continue to ferment longer and give out a steadier heat, than the loose heap of poor manure. MANURE FOR NURSERYMEN. Our successful nurserymen purchase large quantities of stable and other manures from the cities, drawing it as fast as it is made, and putting it in piles until wanted. They usually turn the piles once or twice, and often three times. This favors fermentation, greatly reducing it in bulk, and rendering the manure much more soluble and active. It also makes the manure in the heap more uniform in quality. Messrs. Ellwanger & Barry tell me that they often ferment the manure that they draw from the stables in the city, and make it so fine and rich, that they get but one load of rotted manure from three loads as drawn from the stables. For some crops, they use at least 20 loads of this rotted manure per acre, and they esti- mate that each load of this rotted manure costs at least $5.00. H. E. Hooker places the cost of manure equally high, but seems willing to use all he can get, and does not think we can profitably employ artificial manures as a substitute. 298 TALKS ON MANURES. In this I agree with him. But while I should not expect arti- ficial manures, when used alone, to prove as cheap or as valuable as stable-manure at present prices, I think it may well be that a little nitrate of soda, sulphate of ammonia, and superphosphate of lime, or dissoived Peruvian guano, might be used as an auail- vary manure to great advantage. Mr. H. E. Hooker, once sowed, at my suggestion, some sulphate of ammonia and superphosphate on part of a block of nursery trees, and he could not perceive that these manures did any good. Ellwanger & Barry also tried them, and reported the same nega- tive result. This was several years ago, and I do not think any similar experiments have been made since. “ And yet,” said the Deacon, “‘ you used these self same manures on farm-crops, and they greatly increased the growth.” “There are several reasons,” said the Doctor, “ why these ma- nures may have failed to produce any marked effect on the nursery trees. In the first place, there was considerable prejudice against them, and the nurserymen would hardly feel like relying on these manures alone. They probably sowed them on Jand already well manured ; and I think they sowed them too late in the season. I should like to see them fairly tried.” So would I. It seems to me that nitrate of soda, and superphos- phate, or dissolved Peruvian guano, could be used with very great advantage and profit by the nurserymen. Of course, it would hardly be safe to depend upon them alone. They should be used either in connection with stable-manure, or on land that had pre- viously been frequently dressed with stable-manure. MANURE FOR FRUIT-GROWERS. How to keep up the fertility of our apple-orchards, is becoming an important question, and is attracting considerable attention. There are two methods generally reeommended—I dare not say generally practised. The one, is to keep the orchard in bare-fal- low ; the other, to keep it in grass, and top-dress with manure, and either eat the grass off on the land with sheep and pigs, or else mow it frequently, and let the grass rot on the surface, for mulch and manure. “You are speaking now,” said the Deacon, “of bearing apple- orchards. No onerecommends keeping a young orchard in grass. We all know that young apple trees do far better when the land is. occupied with corn, potatoes, beans, or some other crop, which can be cultivated, than they do on land occupied with wheat, barley, oats, rye, buckwheat, or grass and clover. And even with bearing MANURES FOR GARDENS AND ORCHARDS. 299 peach trees, I have seen a wonderful difference in an orchard, half of which was cultivated with corn, and the other half sown with wheat. The trees in the wheat were sickly-looking, and bore a small crop of inferior fruit, while the trees in the corn, grew vigor- ously and bore a fine crop of fruit. And the increased value of the crop of peaches on the cultivated land was far more than we can ever hope to get from a crop of wheat.” “ And yet,” said the Doctor, “the crop of corn on the cultivated half of the peach-orchard removed far more plant-food from the soil, than the crop of wheat. And so it is evident that the differ- ence is not due wholly to the supply of manure in the surface-soil. It may well be that the cultivation which the corn received favored the decomposition of organic matter in the soil, and the formation of nitrates, and when the rain came, it would penetrate deeper into the loose soil than on the adjoining land occupied with wheat. The rain would carry the nitrogen down to the roots of the peach trees, and this will account for the dark green color of the leaves on the cultivated land, and the yellow, sickly-looking leaves on the trees among the wheat. HEN-MANURE, AND WHAT TO DO WITH IT. A bushel of corn fed toa hen would give no more nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash, in the shape of manure, than a bushel of corn fed toa pig. The manure from the pig, however, taking the urine and solid excrement together, contain 82 per cent of water, while that from the hen contains only 56 per cent of water. Morcover, hens pick up worms and insects, and their food in sech case would contain more nitrogen than the usual food of pigs, and the manure would be correspondingly richer in nitrogen. Hence it happens that 100 lbs. of dry hen-manure would usually be richer in nitrogen than 100 lbs. of dry pig-manure. But feed pigs on peas, and hens on corn, and the dry pig-manure would be much richer in nitrogen than the dry hen-manure. The value of the manure, other things being equal, depends on the food and not on the animal. Let no man think he is going to make his farm any richer by keeping hens, ducks, and geese, than he will by keeping sheep, pigs, and horses. ‘Why is it, then,” asked the Deacon, “that hen-dung proves such a valuable manure. I would rather have a hundred Ibs. of hen-dung than half a ton of barnyard-manure ?” “And I presume you are right,” said I, “ but you must recollect that your hen-manure is kept until it is almost chemically dry. Let 300 TALKS ON MANURES. us figure up what the half ton of manure and the 100 lbs. of hen- manure would contain. Here are the figures, side by side: (100 lbs. dry, Half ton Hen-MUa- | Cow-Dung ; _ nure. with straw. Water (estimated) —asacsrrancteieseis mise soe sce eee Tee hoy. 15 Ibs. acaad IMaGGOD SIS. sctstotwne b ccm mierootee atomic ais cuhe ster baetsiats Dilicies: 203 BEDI si osacess vel Goalie tal ble feiclove ots SIS seins ee heie Sletelsbvelisteveiatcle miter ete OW ee 22. ee ei SOO OCT or OCR ro Toe rnin a 33] ae TOT SENSOR MP ea tcoiats Saale a a OE Me bei Miah inal oR ae 4 fon LOT CEI ey eh es Ary aa etree eee es teste cy eM CIEE EPL ee Se ly arta se SEs PROSpHONC (Geld a. esntiecy osenee ese we omae ashe Aone Ble ae ab Ss 0 T would, myself, far rather have 100 Ibs. of your dry hen-manure than half a ton of your farmyard-manure. Your hens are fed on richer food than your cows. The 100 lbs. of hen-manure, too, would act much more rapidly than the half ton of cow-manure. It would probably do twice as much good-—possibly three or four times as much good, on the first crop,as the cow-manure. The ni- trogen, being obtained from richer and more digestible food, is in a much more active and available condition than the nitrogen in the cow-dung. “Tf you go on,” said the Deacon, “I think you will prove that I am right.” “T have never doubted,” said I, “‘ the great value of hen-dung, as compared with eee yand pasar. And all I wish to show is, that, notwithstanding its acknowledged value, the fact remains that a given quantity of the same kind of food will give no greater amount of fertilizing matter -when fed to a hen than if fed to a pig.” I want those farmers who find so much benefit from an applica- tion of hen-manure, ashes, and plaster, to their corn and potatoes, to feel that if they would keep better cows, sheep, and pigs, and feed them better, they would get good pay for their feed, and the manure would enable them to grow larger crops. While we have been talking, the Deacon was looking over 18g tables. (See Appendix.) “I see,” said he, ‘‘ that wheat and rye contain more nitrogen than hen-manure, but less potash and phos- phoric acid.” ; “This is true,” said I, ‘‘ but the way to compare them, in order to see the effect of passing the wheat through the hen, is to look at the composition of the air-dried hen-dung. The fresh hen-dung, according to the table, contains 56 per cent of water, while wheat contains less than 144 per cent.” Let us compare the composition of 1,000 lbs. air-dried hen-dung with 1,000 lbs. of air-dried wheat and rye, and also with bran, malt-combs, etc. ; MANURES FOR GARDENS AND ORCHARDS. 301 Phosphoric Nitrogen. Potash. Acid. Whest rosa te eis eR rey ern 20.8 5B} 7.9 WWilteati “Brains ire vlan cae oc scelaletatets sislaitie's 22.4 14.3 27.3 UHC cede CUlo te eats le BL isi via, Oe bra bid als getdanes 17.6 5.6 8.4 ES VG NER: api hans ars) euaiaia oan cleyes a moses ane 23.2 19.3 34.3 BiG WHEHts ccs ccc acuba wees dscns eauwe te 14.4 PAE 5.7 Buckwheat Br AD. ese ee eee eee eee ceeeeeee 27.2 11.2 12.5 IAT ERG Ee oraeers cin atd so asd totais oe She era ieee 36.8 20.6 18.0 Airdty Hen-GUne cece octet coe sleweste 32.6 17.0 30.8 “That table,” said the Doctor, “is well worth studying. You see, that when wheat is put through the process of milling, the miller takes out as much of the starch and gluten as he wants, and leaves you a product (bran), richer in phosphoric acid, potash, and nitrogen, than you gave him.” “ And the same is true,” continued the Doctor, “ of the hen. You gave her 2,000 grains of wheat, containing 41.6 grains of nitrogen, She puts this through the mill, together with some ashes, and bones, that she picks up, and she takes out all the starch and fat, and nitrogen, and phosphate of lime, that she needs to sus- tain life, and to produce flesh, bones, feathers, and eggs, and leaves you 1,000 grains of manure containing 32.6 grains of nitro- gen, 17.0 grains of potash, and 30.8 grains of phosphoric acid. I do not say,” continued the Doctor, “that it takes exactly 2,000 grains of wheat to make 1,000 grains of dry manure. I merely give these figures to enable the Deacon to understand why 1,000 Ibs. of hen-dung is worth more for manure than 1,000 Ibs. of wheat.” “*T must admit,” said the Deacon, “ that I always have been trou- bled to understand why wheat-bran was worth more for manure than the wheat itself. I see now—it is because there is less of it. It is for the same reason that boiled cider is richer than the cider from which it is made. The cider has lost water,and the bran has lost starch. What is left is richer in nitrogen, and potash, and phosphoric acid. And so it is with manure. The animals take out of the food the starch and fat, and leave the manure richer in nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash.” “ Exactly,” said I, “Mr. Lawes found by actual experiment, that if you feed 500 lbs. of barley-meal to a pig, containing 420 lbs. of dry substance, you get only 70 lbs. of dry substance in the manure. Of the 420 lbs. of dry substance, 276:2 lbs. are used to support res- piration, étc.; 73.8 Lt are Pana in the increase of the pig, and 70 lbs. in the manure.” The food contains 52 Ibs. of nitrogenous matter ; the increase of pig contains 7 lbs., and consequently, if there is no loss, the ma- 302 TALKS ON MANURES. nure should contain 45 Ibs. of nitrogenous substance=to 7.14 Ibs, of nitrogen. “In other words,” said the Doctor, “the 70 Ibs. of dry tiquid and solid pig-manure contains 7.14 lbs. of nitrogen, or 100 lbs. would contain 10.2 lbs. of nitrogen, which is more nitrogen than we now get in the very best samples of Peruvian guano.” “ And thus it will be seen,” said I, “that though corn-fed pigs, leaving out the bedding and water, produce a very small quantity of manure, it is exceedingly rich.” The table from which these facts were obtained, will be found in the Appendix—pages 342-3. CHAPTER. XXXVI. DIFFERENT KINDS OF MANURE. COW-MANURE, AND HOW TO USE IT. “Tt will do more good if fermented,” said a German farmer in the neighborhood, who is noted for raising good crops of cabbage, “but I like hog-manure better than cow-dung. The right way is to mix the hog-manure, cow-dung, and horse-manure together.” “No doubt about that,” said I, “but when you have a good many cows, and few other animals, how would you manage the manure ?” “T would gather leaves and swamp-muck, and use them for bed- ding the cows and pigs. Leaves make splendid bedding, and they make rich manure, and the cow-dung and leaves, when made into a pile, will ferment readily, and make grand manure for—any- thing. I only wish I had all I could use.” There is no question but what cow-manure is better if fermented, but it is not always convenient to pile it during the winter in such a way that it will not freeze. And in this case it may be the better plan to draw it out on to the land, as opportunity offers. “JT have heard,” said Charley, “that pig-manure was not good for cabbage, it produces ‘ fingers and toes,’ or club-foot.” Possibly such is the case when there is a predisposition to the disease, but our German friend says he has never found any ill- effects from its use. DIFFERENT KINDS OF MANURE. 303 “Cows,” said the Doctor, “when giving a large quantity of milk, make rather poor manure. The manure loses what the milk takes from the food.” “ We have shown what that loss is,” said I. “It amounts to less than I think is generally supposed. And in the winter, when the cows are dry, the manure would be as rich as from oxen, provided both were fed alike. See Appendix, page 342. It will there be seen that oxen take out only 4.1 lbs. of nitrogen from 100 Ibs. of nitrogen consumed in the food. In other words, provided there is no loss, we should get in the liquid and solid excrements of the ox and dry cow 95.9 per cent. of the nitrogen furnished in the food, and a still higher per cent of the mineral matter. SHEEP-MANURE. According to Prof. Wolff’s table of analyses, sheep-manure, both solid and liquid, contain less water than the manure from horses, cows, or swine. With the exception of swine, the solid dung is also the richest in nitrogen, while the urine of sheep is pre- eminently rich in nitrogen and potash. These facts are in accordance with the general opinions of farm- ers. Sheep-manure is considered, next to hen-manure, the most valuable manure made on the farm. I do not think we have any satisfactory evidence to prove that 3 tons of clover-hay and aton of corn fed toa lot of fattening- sheep will afford a quantity of manure containing any more plant- food than the same kind and amount of food fed to a lot of fat- tening-cattle. The experiments of Lawes & Gilbert indicate that if there is any difference it is in favor of the ox. See Appendix, page 343. But it may well be that it is much easier to save the manure from the sheep than from the cattle. And so, practically, sheep may be better manure-makers than cattle—for the simple reason that less of the urine is lost. ‘‘Asarule,” said the Doctor, ‘‘the dung of sheep contains far less water than the dung of cattle, though when you slop your breeding ewes to make them give more milk, the dung differs but little in appearance from that of cows. Ordinarily, however, sheep- dung is light and dry, and, like horse-dung, will ferment much more rapidly than cow or pig-dung. In piling manure in the win- ter or spring, special pains should be used to mix the sheep and horse-manure with the cow and pig-manure. And it may be re- marked that for any crop or for any purpose where stable-manure is deemed desirable, sheep-manure would be a better substitute than cow or pig-manure.” 304 TALKS ON MANUBES, MANURE FROM SWINE. The dry matter of hog-manure,‘especially the urine, is rich in nitrogen, but it is mixed with such a large quantity of water that a ton of hog-manure, as it is usually found in the pen, is less valu- able than a ton of horse or sheep-manure, and only a little more . valuable than a ton of cow-manure. As I have before said, my own plan is to let the store-hogs sleep in a basement-cellar, and bed them with horse and sheep-manure. I have this winter over 50 sows under the horse-stable, and the manure from 8 horses keeps them dry and comfortable, and we are not specially lavish with straw in bedding the horses. During the summer we aim to keep the hogs out in the pastures and orchards as much as possible. This is not only good for the health of the pigs, but saves labor and straw in the management of the manure. It goes directly to the land. The pigs are good grazers and distribute the manure as evenly over the land as sheep —in fact, during hot weather, sheep are even more inclined to hud- dle together under the trees, and by the side of the fence, than pigs. This is particularly the case with the larger breeds of sheep. In the winter it is not a difficult matter to save all thé liquid and solid excrements from pigs, provided the pens are dry and no water comes in from the rain and snow. As pigs are often man- aged, this is the real difficulty. Pigs void an enormous quantity of water, especially when fed on slops from the house, whey, etc. If they are kept in a pen with a separate feeding and sleeping apart- ment, both should be under cover, and the feeding apartment may be kept covered a foot or so thick with the soiled bedding from the sleeping apartment. When the pigs get up in a morning, they will go into the feeding apartment, and the liquid will be dis- charged on the mass of manure, straw, etc. “ Dried muck,” said the Deacon, “comes in very handy about a pig-pen, for absorbing the liquid.” “ Yes,” said I, “and even dry earth can be used to great advan- tage, not merely to absorb the liquid, but to keep the pens sweet and healthy. The three chief points in saving manure from pigs are: 1, To have the pens under cover; 2, to keep the feeding apartment or yard covered with a thick mass of strawy manure and refuse of any kind, and 3, to scatter plenty of dry earth or dry muck on the floor of the sleeping apartment, and on top of the manure in the feeding apartment.” ““You feed most of your pigs,” said the Deacon, “ out of doors in the yard, and they sleep in the pens or basement cellars, and it DIFFERENT KINDS OF MANURE. 305 seems to me to be a good plan, as they get more fresh air and ex- ercise than if confined.” “ We do not lose much manure,” said I, ‘‘ by feeding in the yards, You let a dozen pigs sleep in a pen all night, and as soon as they hear you putting the food in the troughs outside, they come to the door of the pen, and there discharge the liquid and solid excre- ments on the mass of manure left there on purpose to receive and absorb them. Iam well aware that as pigs are often managed, we losc at least half the value of their manure, but there is no neces- sity for this. A little care and thought will save nearly the whole of it. BUYING MANURE BY MEASURE OR WEIGHT. The Deacon and I have just been weighing a bushel of different kinds of manure made on the farm. We made two weighings of each kind, one thrown in loose, and the other pressed down firm. The following is the result: WEIGHT OF MANURE PER BUSHEL, AND PER LOAD oF 50 BUSHELS. LS oe 3 2's 2/} & 3 No. KIND AND CONDITION OF MANURES. SHS S83 = Ss). Ses Se SS | Ibs. | Ibs 1. |Fresh horse-mannre free from Straw.........+--++-eeeeseeee- 87%| 1875 2. <6 “é te ue *s eh MNCSSCUssae es a se aeteoa stor 55 2750 3. |Fresh horse-manure, as used for bedding pigs.........----- 28 1400 4. & ee “f sr So SPNCRSEG.)-1e1 ale 46 2300 5. |\Horse-manure from pig cellar............seesee cece eee eee eee 50 2500 6. ss ie Soe Ss VE VESBED. co ucsc cee tse «scar tanner "2 3600 %. |Pie¢-manure..../.5...+ OB ERY eatiae cas et Soh he SE SRS eC AOE 57 2850 8. SS RE RSE ee ies oa sla aalaieeiaie Sere BS Accel ote'e's) chal efeenleiatoieis'o'= 75 3750 9. |Pig-manure and Gry earth .........eeees cece eeer erence cess 98 4900 10. \Sheep-manure from open shed... .... seeseeeeeeeseeeee eee 42 2100 De ee oe $s = 4 PDTERSCE . - caacns owns nnele s se'nisae 65 3250 12. |Sheep-manure from closed shed.......- ssesee+ eerees eeeee 28 1400 13. . ae - Es ke) “PICBSEAs coy cronmiee. Yelvis) exci 38 1900 14. |Fresh cow-dung, free from straw... ... seeeeee ener eeeeeces 87 4350 15. |Hen-manure........... BRR TA seated eine Charan Saree oieinisiasiel Sissel 34 1700 16. Be Mit EO UMERROU vais deteisinr=s a Ee etch sticecien neers 48 2400 “In buying manure,” said the Deacon, “*it makes quite a differ- ence whether the load is trod down solid or thrown loosely into the box. A load of fresh horse-manure, when trod down, weighs half as much again as when thrown in loose.” “ A Joad of horse-manure,” said Charley, “after it has been used for bedding pigs, weighs 3,600 Ibs., and only 2,300 Ibs. when it is thrown into the pens, and I suppose a ton of the ‘ double-worked’ manure is fully as valuable as a ton of the fresh horse-manure. If so, 15 ‘loads’ of the pig-pen manure is equal to 24 ‘loads’ of the stable-manure.” 306 TALKS ON MANURES. “A ton of fresh horse-manure,” said the Doctor, “contains about 9 lbs. of nitrogen; a ton of fresh cow-dung about 6 lbs.; a ton of fresh sheep-dung, 11 lbs., and a ton of fresh pig-manure, 12 lbs. But if the Deacon and you weighed correctly, a ‘load’ or cord of cow-manure would contain more nitrogen than a load of pressed horse-manure. The figures are as follows: A load of 50 bushels of fresh horse-dung, pressed and free from. straw Contains: <<)... es cies pete 2 12.37 Ibs. nitrogen. A load Of freshyCo we GMs iayava. cers alsin Shower aisvele sisicfe nicer 18.05 ** oe SHEEP “8 se eee ec eeeecee ec cceneees 10,45" By . ss IEE PF Eo cre kaectanielt casein. osreeanas 22.50 ‘ “ ‘*These figures,” said I, “‘show how necessary it is to look at this subject in all its aspects. If I was buying manures by weight, I would much prefer a ton of sheep-manure, if it had been made under cover, to any other manure except hen-dung, especially if it contained all the urine from the sheep. But if buying manure by the load or cord, that from a covered pig-pen would be prefer- able to any other.” LIQUID MANURE ON THE FARM. I have never had any personal experience in the use of liquid manure to any crop except grass. At Rothamsted, Mr. Lawes used to draw out the liquid manure in a water-cart, and distribute it on grass land. “What we want to know,” said the Deacon, “is whether the liquid from our barn-yards will pay to draw out. If it will, the proper method of using it can be left to our ingenuity.” According to Prof. Wolff,a ton of urine from horses, cows, sheep, and swine, contains the following amounts of nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash, and, for the sake of comparison, I give the composition of drainage from the barn-yard, and also of fresh dung of the different animals: TABLE SHOWING THE AMOUNT OF NITROGEN, PHOSPHORIC ACID, AND POTASH, IN ONE TON OF THE FRESH DUNG AND FRESH URINE OF DIFFERENT ANIMALS, AND ALSO OF THE DRAINAGE OF THE BARN-YARD. 1 TON FRESH DUNG. 1 TON FRESH URINE. a Phos- sins Phos- Meir phoric | Potash. Ne phoric | Potash. Te acid. Ge: || 5a. Ibs lhe. lbs lbs. lbs Ibs, 18 (a) ao Cot peers el Areas chee te a oe 8.8 7.0 7.0 31.0 30.0 GOWar sre orc s Reba errs (oare teins 5.8 3.4 2.0 11.6 9.8 Sleep cake eee ee ans 11.0 6.2 3.0 39.0 0.2 45.2 SWIM Gece dees etree 12.0 8.2 5.2 8.6 1.4 16.6 IMG aT aS hs See er Tt Se anes 9.4 6.2 4.3 22.5 0.4 25.4 Drainage of barn-yard....... 3.0 (03 9.8 DIFFERENT KINDS OF MANURE. 307 The drainage from a barn-yard, it will be seen, contains a little more than half as much nitrogen as cow-dung; and it is probable that the nitrogen in the liquid is in a much more available condi- tion than that in the dung. It contains, also, nearly five times as much potash as the dung. It would seem, therefore, that with proper arrangements for pumping and distributing, this liquid could be drawn a short distance with profit. But whether it will or will not pay to cart away the drainage, it is obviously to our interest to prevent, as far as possible, any of the liquid from running to waste. It is of still greater importance to guard against any loss of urine. It will be seen that, on the average, a ton of the urine of our domestic animals contains more than twice as much nitrogen as a ton of the dung. Where straw, leaves, swamp-muck, or other absorbent materials are not sufficiently abundant to prevent any loss of urine, means should be used to drain it into a tank so located that the liquid can either be pumped back on to the manure when needed, or drawn away to the land. “T do not see,” said the Deacon, “ why horse and sheep-urine should contain so much more nitrogen and potash than that from the cow and pig.” “The figures given by Prof. Wolff,” said I, “are general aver- ages. The composition of the urine varies greatly. The richer the food in digestible nitrogenous matter, the more nitrogen will there be in the dry matter of the urine. And, other things being equal, the less water the animal drinks, the richer will the urine be in nitrogen. The urine from a sheep fed solely on turnips would contain little or no more nitrogen than the urine of a cow fed on turnips. An ox ora dry cow fed on grass would probably void no more nor no poorer urine than a horse fed on grass. The urine that Mr. Lawes drew out in a cart on to his grass-land was made by sheep that had one Ib. each of oil-cake per day, and one jb. of chaffed clover-hay, and all the turnips they would eat. They voided a large quantity of urine, but as the food was rich in nitrogen, the urine was doubtless nearly or quite as rich as that analyzed by Prof. Wolff, though that probably contained less water. If I was going to draw out liquid manure, I should be very care- ful to spout all the buildings, and keep the animals and manure as much under cover as possible, and also feed food rich in nitrogen. In such circumstances, it would doubtless pay to draw the urine full as well as to draw the solid manure. 308 TALKS ON MANURES. NIGHTSOIL AND SEWAGE. The composition of human excrements, as compared with the mean composition of the excrements from horses, cows, sheep, and swine, so far as the nitrogen, phosphoric acid, fa potash are con- cerned, is as follows: TABLE SHOWING THE AMOUNT OF NITROGEN, PHOSPHORIC ACID, AND POTASH, IN ONE TON OF FRESH HUMAN EXCREMENTS, AND IN ONE TON OF FRESH EXCREMENTS FROM HORSES, COWS, SHEEP, AND SWINE. SOLIDS. URINE. One ton (2000 Ibs). : Phos- i Phos- Nitro- 3 Nitro- phorie | Potash. phori¢e | Potash. gen. | “acid. oA gerd: Hamas. tate ee 20.0 Ibs. 21.8 Ibs.| 5.0 Ibs. {12.0 Ibs.| 3.7 Ibs.| 4.01bs, Mean of horse, cow, sheep, ; ands wiles cea ete hone Oia ES i GsQeets NAB SS IQS eS IOLA sea OE aauance One ton of fresh feeces contains more than twice as much nitro- gen, and more than three times as much phosphoric acid, as a ton of fresh mixed animal-dung. The nitrogen, too, is probably in a more available condition than that in common barnyard-dung ; and we should not be far wrong in estimating 1 ton of feces equal to 24 tons of ordinary dung, or about equal in value to carefully preserved manure from liberally-fed sheep, swine, and fattening cattle. “Tt is an unpleasant job,” said the Deacon, “ but it pays well to empty the vaults at least twice a year.” “Tf farmers,” said the Doctor, ‘‘ would only throw into the vaults from time to time some dry earth or coal ashes, the contents of the vaults could be removed without any disagreeable smell.” “That is so,” said I, “and even where a vault has been shame- fully neglected, and is full of offensive matter, it can be cleaned out without difficulty and without smell. I have cleaned out a large vault in an hour. We were drawing manure from the yards with three teams and piling it in the field. We brought back a load of sand and threw half of it into the vault, and put the other half on one side, to be used as required. The sand and feces were then, with a long-handled shovel, thrown into the wagon, and drawn to the pile of manure in the field, and thrown on to the pile, not more than two or three inches thick. The team brought back a load of sand, and so we continued until the work was done. Sand or dry earth is cheap, and we used all that was necessary to prevent the escape of any unpleasant gases, and to keep the material from ad- hering to the shovels or the wagon. ‘* Human urine,” said the Doctor, “is richer in phosphoric acid, DIFFERENT KINDS OF MANURE. 309 but much poorer in nitrogen and potash than the urine from horses, cows, sheep, and swine.” “Some years ago,” said the Deacon, “ Mr. H. E. Hooker, of Roch- ester, used to draw considerable quantities of urine from the city to his farm. It would pay better to draw out the urine from farm animals.” “The figures given above,” said I, “showing the composition of human excrements, are from Prof. Wolff, and probably are gener- ally correct. But, of course, the composition of the excrements would vary greatly, according to the food.” It has been ascertained by Lawes and Gilbert that the amount of matter voided by an adult male in the course of a year is—feces, 95 lbs.; urine, 1,049 lbs.; total liquid and solid excrements in the pure state, 1,144 lbs. These contain: Dry substance—feces, 23% lbs.; urine, 343; total, 583 Ibs. Mineral matter—feces, 23 lbs.; urine, 12; total, 143 Ibs. Carbon—feces, 10 Ibs.; urine, 12; total 22 Ibs. Nitrogen—feces, 1.2 lbs.; urine, 10.8; total, 12 lbs. Phosphoric acid—feces, 0.7 lbs.; urine, 1.93 ; total, 2.63 lbs. Potash—feces, 0.24 lbs.; urine, 2.01; total, 2.25 Ibs. The amount of potash is given by Prof. E. Wolff, not by Lawes and Gilbert. The mixed solid and liquid excrements, in the condition they leave the body, contain about 95 per cent of water. It would re- quire, therefore, 20 tons of fresh mixed excrements, to make one ton of dry nightsoil, or the entire amount voided by a mixed family of 43 persons in a year. One hundred lbs. ot fresh faeces contain 75 lbs. of water, and 25 Ibs. of dry substance. One hundred lbs. of fresh urine contain 964 lbs. of water, and 34 lbs. of dry substance. One hundred lbs. of the dry substance of the feces contain 5 Ibs. of nitrogen, and 54 lbs. of phosphates. One hundred Ibs. of the dry substance of the urine contain 27 Ibs. of nitrogen, and 1032 lbs. of phosphates. These figures are from Lawes and Gilbert, and may be taken as representing the composition of excrements from moderately well- fed persons. According to Wolff, a ton of fresh human urine contains 12 Ibs. of nitrogen. According to Lawes and Gilbert, 18 lbs. The liquid carted from the city by Mr. Hooker was from well-fed adult males, and would doubtless be fully equal to the figures given by Lawes and Gilbert. If we call the nitrogen worth 20 cents a lb., 310 TALKS ON MANURES. and the phosphoric acid (soluble) worth 124 cents, a ton of such urine would be worth, on the land, $4.06. “A ton of the fresh feces,’ said the Deacon, ‘‘at the same esti- mate, would be worth (20 Ibs. nitrogen, at 20 cents, $4; 212 lbs. phosphoric acid, at 124 cents, $2.70), $6.70.” “Not by a good deal,” said the Doctor. “The nitrogen and phosphoric acid in the urine are both soluble, and would be imme- diately available. But the nitrogen and phosphoric acid in the feeces would be mostly insoluble. We cannot estimate the nitrogen in the feces at over 15 cents a 1b., and the phosphoric acid at 5 cents. This would make the value of a ton of fresh feces, on the land, $4.09.” “ This makes the ton of feeces worth about the same asa ton of urine. But I would like to know,” said the Deacon, “if you really believe we could afford to pay $4 per ton for the stuff delivered on the farm?” “If we could get the genuine article,” said the Doctor, “it would be worth $4 a ton. But, as a rule, it is mixed with water, lees INEITODEN |. sche ctheacc bien vos buremke ea.cles iL ein Renee ANS Analyses of many of the leading commercial fertilizers at that time showed that, when judged by this standard, the price charged was far above their actual value. In some cases, manures selling for $60 per ton, contained nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash worth only from $20 to $25 per ton. And one well-known mauure, which sold for $28 per ton, was found to be worth only $2.33 per ton. A Bone Fertilizer selling at $50 per ton, was worth less than $14 per ton. “In 1852,” said the Doctor, “ superphosphate of lime was manu- factured by the New Jersey Zinc Co., and sold in New York at $50 per ton of 2,000 lbs. At the same time, superphosphate of lime made from Coprolites, was selling in England for $24 per ton of 2,240 lbs. The late Prof. Mapes commenced making “Im- proved Superphosphate of Lime,” at Newark, N. J., in 1852, and Mr. De Burg, the same year, made a plain superphosphate of lime in Brooklyn, N. Y. The price, in proportion to value, was high, and, in fact, the same may be said of many of our superphos- phate manures, until within the last few years. Notwithstanding the comparatively high price, and the uncer- tain quality of these commercial manures, the demand has been steadily on the increase. We have now many honorable and in- VALUE OF FERTILIZERS. 325 telligent men engaged in the manufacture and sale of these artifi- cial manures, and owing to more definite knowledge on the part of the manufacturers and of the purchasers, it is not a difficult matter to find manures well worth the money asked for them. “A correct analysis,” said I, “furnishes the only sure test of value. ‘Testimonials’ from farmers and others are pre-eminently unreliable. With over thirty years’ experience in the use of these fertilizers, I would place far more confidence on a good and reli- able analysis than on any actual trial I could make in the field. Testimonials to a patent fertilizer are about as reliable as testimo- nials to a patent-medicine. In buying a manure, we want to know what it contains, and the condition of the constituents.” In 1877, Prof. 8. W. Johnson gives the following figures, show- ing “‘ the trade-values, or cost in market, per pound, of the ordi- nary occurring forms of nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash, as recently found in the New York and New England markets: Cents per pound. Nitrogen in ammonia and nitrates..........ccccccecsccsecees 24 2 in Peruvian Guano, fine steamed bone, dried and fine ground blood, meat, and fish............... 20 ss in fine ground bone, horn, and wool-dust.......... 18 & in coarse bone, horn-shavings, and fish-scrap...... 15 Phosphoric. acid soluble in water... << scien scsova xoncc > ovens 123 ee ‘* “reverted,” and in Peruvian Guano........ 9 e ‘¢ insoluble, in fine bone and tish guano...... 7 sig a " in coarse bone, bone-ash, and Bigteaarele eo. 3 wl is Satins 5 ae &¢ bs in fine ground rock phosphate... 384 Potash in high-erade. sulpupte. 50k oc 3% adea te wiase'se soo eek: 2 “SAID 5 GSC MRC cote | og Mitelsag o.Avcc'u cihcan oehaeatc (3 dn muriate, or potassium: chloride. 32). .., and the nitrogen it contains would cost less than 18 cents per lb., instead of 24 cents, as given by Prof. Johnson.” ‘‘No. 1 Peruvian Guano, ‘ guaranteed,’ is now sold,” said the VALUE OF FERTILIZERS, aay Doctor, ‘‘ at a price per ton, to be determined by its composition, at the following rates: Value per pound. Nitrogen (ammonia, 173C.).....esceeeseseeees 21ie Soluble phosphoric acid Shi tiaceeaaiha ois set 4 hehe 10 ec. Reverted crate tatoancrp see Careeteiss SG: Insoluble ys SOR akrd ath aie ve tesa lea ae 2 ¢. Potash, as sulphate and phosphate........... Vac ‘‘The first cargo of Peruvian guano, sold under this guarantee, contained : Value per ton, PROT oi5:< saris ate: sieeve 6.8 per cent ane ae $23.80 Soluble phosphoric acid.. a SE SO. tee 7.60 Reverted SS 0 oe ee eee 18.40 Insoluble ‘“ aa anes ees 1.20 Pitas Ibs Sz ses Fe As Foss Sul eee anaes. 5.55 Estimated retail price per ton of 2,000 Ibs... . $56.55 Marked on bars for salezcsfciet ciecrscneee ac $56.00 The second cargo, sold under this guarantee, contained : Value per ton. AMWMROW i 5. t i eR. 11.5 per CON. .meens $40.50 Soluble phosphoric acid.. 5.4 oD Gace nie 10.80 Reverted es ED | ig magma 16.00 Insoluble ‘ Tae, ENG eee as aa ac 68 Passa ss 235% Gatlin J Sheters NS i aie Eee 3.45 $71.43 Selling price marked on bags................ $70.00 “Tt is interesting,” said I, ‘‘to compare these analyses of Peru- vian guano of to-day, with Peruvian guano brought to England twenty-nine or thirty yearsago. I saw at Rothamsted thirty years ago a bag of guano that contained 22 per cent of ammonia. And farmers could then buy guano guaranteed by the dealers (not by the agents of the Peruvian Government), to contain 16 per cent of ammonia, and 10 per cent of phosphoric acid. Price, £9 5s. per ton of 2.240 lbs.—say $40 per ton of 2,000 Ibs. The average composition of thirty-two cargoes of guano im- ported into England in 1849 was as follows: ASU Ao ches aa oc lew anin F< A oles ias 17.41 per cent. ROO ONORIE SON 56 ct wacv antes sexed FER ee bene PLO RHR. Chee ce eis Jace ts. Ss oa ictal At the present valuation, adopted by the Agents of the Peruvian guano in New York, and estimating that 5 per cent of the phos- phoric acid was soluble, and 4 per cent reverted, and that there was 2 lbs. of potash in the alkaline salts, this guano would be worth: 828 TALKS ON MANURES. Value per ton of 2,000 Ibs. 60.93 AMIN GNIA-s:2)<.cic, 05126) ess are 17.41 per cent cee $ Soluble phosphoric acid. . B00 esta terre che chee 10.00 Reverted é aed Oe ae ese 6.40 Insoluble ‘ RD RA oy rag cnn aes sr 30 Potashs.'s aioe cstisiee een ten SAM Dade 3.00 $80.63 Selling price per ton of 2,000 lbs............. $40.00 Ichaboe guano, which was largely imported into England in 1844-5, and used extensively as a manure for turnips, contained, on the average, 74 per cent of ammonia, and 14 per cent of phos- phoric acid. Its value at the present rates we may estimate as follows: Animonia na per Cent. sss dic G's, 6b sociales wadteies © Seating amie ce $26.25 Soluble Phosphoric acid, 4 per cent wit piclogy a inelgee sale chaste aaa 8.00 Reverted ue since bai aa re ee dass tate wetcete 16.00 $50.25 Selling price per ton Of 2,000 Wg. 1i./5:. cwiaia ain’ em i< cicln oie sialeiaisjeteptsearere $21.80 The potash is not given, or this would probably add four or five dollars to its estimated value. “All of which goes to show,” said the Deacon, “that the Peru- vian Government is asking, in proportion to value, from two to two and a half times as much for guano as was charged twenty- five or thirty yearsago. That first cargo of guano, sold in New York under the new guarantee, in 1877, for $56 per ton, is worth no more than the Ichaboe guano sold in England in 1845, for less than $22 per ton ! “ And furthermore,’ continued the Deacon, “from all that I can learn, the guano of the present day is not only far poorer in nitro- gen than it was formerly, but the nitrogen is not as soluble, and consequently not so valuable, pound for pound. Much of the guano of the present day bears about the same relation to genuine old-fashioned guano, as leached ashes do to unleached, or as a ton of manure that has been leached in the barn-yard does toa ton that has been kept under cover.” “True, to a certain extent,” said the Doctor, “but you must recollect that this ‘guaranteed’ guano is now sold by analysis. You pay for what you get and no more.” “Exactly,” said the Deacon, “ but what you get is not so good. A pound of nitrogen in the leached guano is not as available or as valuable as a pound of nitrogen in the unleached guano. An this fact ought to be understood.” ‘*One thing,” said I, “‘seems clear. The Peruvian Government is charging a considerably higher price for guano, in proportion to its actual value, than was charged 20 or 25 years ago. It may VALUE OF FERTILIZERS. 329 be, that the guano is still the cheapest manure in the market, but at any rate the price is higher than formerly—while there has been no corresponding advance in the price of produce in the markets of the world.” POTASH AS A MANURE. On land where fish, fish-scrap, or guano, has been used freely for some years, and the crops exported from the farm, we may ex- pect a relative deficiency of potash in the soil. In such acase,an , application of unleached ashes or potash-salts will be likely to produce a decided. benefit. Clay or loamy land is usually richer in potash than soils of a more sandy or gravelly character. And on poor sandy land, the use of fish or of guano, if the crops are all sold, will be soon likely to prove of little benefit owing to a deficiency of potash in the soil. They may produce good crops for a few years, but the larger the crops produced and sold, the more would the soil become deficient in potash. We have given the particulars of Lawes and Gilbert's experi- ments on barley. Mr. Lawes at a late meeting in London, stated that “he had grown 25 crops of barley one after the other with nitrogen, either as ammonia or nitrate of soda, but without potash, and that by the use of potash they had produced practically no better result. This year (1877), for the first time, the potash had failed a little, and they had now produced 10 or 12 bushels more per acre with potash than without, showing that they were coming to the end of the available potash in the soil. This year (1877), they obtained 54 bushels of barley with potash, and 42 bushels without it. Of course, this was to be expected, and they had expected it much sooner. The same with wheat; he expected the end would come in a few years, but they had now gone on be- tween 30 and 40 years. .When the end came they would not be sorry, because then they would have the knowledge they were seeking for.” Dr. Veelcker, at the same mecting remarked: “ Many soils con- tained from 1} to 2 per cent of available potash, and a still larger quantity locked up, in the shape of minerals, which only gradually came into play; but the quantity of potash carried off in crops did not exceed 2 ewt. per acre, if somuch. Now 0.1 per cent of any constituent, calculated on a depth of six inches, was equiva- lent to one ton peracre. Therefore, if a soil contained only 0.1 per cent of potash, a ton of potash might be carried off from a 330 TALKS ON MANURES. depth of 6 inches. But you had not only 0.1 per cent, but some- thing like 14 per cent and upwards in many soils. It is quite true there were many soils from which you could not continuously take crops without restoring the potash.” “Tn all of which,” said the Doctor, “ there is nothing new. It does not help us to determine whether potash is or is not deficient in our soil.” “That,” said I, “can be ascertained only by actual experiment. Put a little hen-manure on a row of corn, and on another row a little hen-manure and ashes, and on another row, ashes alone, and leave one row without anything. On my farm I am satisfied that we need not buy potash-salts for manure. I do not say they would do no good, for they may do good on land not deficient in availa- ble potash, just as lime will do good on land containing large quantities of lime. But potash is not what my land needs to make it produce maximum crops. Itneeds available nitrogen, and possibly soluble phosphoric acid.” The system of farming adopted in this section, is much more likely to impoverish the soil of nitrogen and phosphoric acid than of potash. If a soil is deficient in potash, the crop which will first indicate the deficiency, will probably be clover, or beans. Farmers who can grow large crops of red-clover, need not buy potash for manure. On farms where grain is largely raised and sold, and where the straw, and corn-stalks, and hay, and the hay from clover-seed are retained on the farm, and this strawy manure returned to the land, the soil will become poor from the lack of nitrogen and phos- phoric acid long before there would be any need of an artificial supply of potash. On the other hand, if farmers should use fish, or guano, or superphosphate, or nitrate of soda, and sell all the hay, and straw, and potatoes, and root-crops, they could raise, many of our sandy soils would soon become poor in available potash. But even in this case the clover and beans would show the deficiency sooner than wheat or even potatoes. “ And yet we are told,” said the Deacon, “that potatoes contain no end of potash.” ‘‘ And the same is true,” said I, “ of root-crops, such as mangel- wurzel, turnips, etc., but the fact has no other significance than this: If you grow potatoes for many years on the same land and manure them with nitrogenous manures, the soil is likely to be speedily impoverished of potash.” “ But suppose,” said the Deacon, “that you grow potatoes on the VALUE OF FERTILIZERS. 331 same land without manure of any kind, would not the soil become equally poor in potash ?” “No,” said I, “ because you would, in such a case, get very small crops—small, not from lack of potash, but from lack of nitro- gen. If I had land which had grown corn, potatoes, wheat, oats, and hay, for many years without manure, or an occasional dress- ing of our common barnyard-manure, and wanted it to produce a good crop of potatoes, I should not expect to get it by simply applying potash. The soil might be poor in potash, but it is almost certain to be still poorer in nitrogen and phosphoric acid. Land that has been manured with farm-yard or stable-manure for years, no matter how it has been cropped, is not likely to need potash. The manure is richer in potash than in nitrogen and phosphoric acid. And the same may be said of the soil. If a farmer uses nitrogenous and phosphatic manures on his clayey or loamy land that is usually relatively rich in potash, and will apply his common manure to the sandy parts of the farm, he will rarely need to purchase manures containing potash. 332 TALKS ON MANURES. CHAP Tt hy x i. RESTORING FERTILITY TO THE SOIL. BY SIR J. B. LAWES, BART., LL.D., F.R.S., ROTHAMSTED, ENG. A relation of mine, who already possessed a very consider- able estate, consisting of light land, about twenty years ago purchased a large property adjoining it at a very high price. These were days when farmers were flourishing, and they no more anticipated what was in store for them in the future, than the inhabitants of the earth in the days of Noah. Times have changed since then, and bad seasons, low prices of wheat, and cattle-disease, have swept off the tenants from these two estates, so that my relation finds himself now in the position of being the unhappy owner and occupier of five or six farms, extending over several thousand acres—one farm alone occupying an area of two thousand four hundred acres. Fortunately for the owner, he possesses town property in addi- tion to his landed estates, so that the question with him is not, as it is with many land owners, how to find the necessary capi- tal to cultivate the land, but, having found the capital, how to expend it in farming, so as to produce a proper return. It is not very surprising that, under these circumstances, my opinion should have been asked. What, indeed, would have been the use of a relation, who not only spent all his time in agricultural experiments, but also pretended to teach our neighbors how to farm on the other side of the Atlantic, if he could not bring his science to bear on the land of an adjoining county! Here is the land—my relation might naturally say— here is the money, and I have so much confidence in your capacity that I will give you carte-blanche to spend as much as you please—what am I to do? An inspection of the property brought out the following facts —that all the land was very light, and that you might walk over the fresh plowed surface in the wettest weather without any clay sticking to your boots : still a portion of the soil was dark in color, and therefore probably contained a sufficient amount of fertility to make cultivation profitable, provided the management could be conducted with that care and economy which are absolute essentials in a business where the expendi- ture is always pressing closely upon the income. RESTORING FERTILITY TO THE SOIL. 333 Upon land of this description meat-making is the backbone of the system, which must be adopted, and a large breeding flock of sheep the first essential towards success. Science can make very little improvement upon the four- course rotation—roots, barley, clover, and wheat, unless, per- haps, it may be by keeping the land in clover, or mixed grass and clover, for two or three years. A good deal of the land I was inspecting was so light, that, in fact, it was hardly more than sand, and for some years it had been left to grow anything that came up, undisturbed by the plow. To a practised eye, the character of the natural vegetation is a sure indication of the fertility of the soil. Where herds of buffaloes are to be seen—their sides shaking with fat—it is quite evident that the pastures upon which they feed cannot be very bad ; and in the same way, where a rank growth of weeds is found springing up upon land that has been abandon- ed, it may be taken for certain that the elements of food exist in the soil. This ground was covered with vegetation, but of the most impoverished description, even the ‘‘Quack” or ‘“Couch-grass” could not form a regular carpet, but grew in small, detached bunches ; everything, in fact, bore evidence of poverty. Possibly, the first idea which might occur to any one, on seeing land in this state, might be: Why not grow the crops by the aid of artificial manures? Let us look at the question from two points of view : first, in regard to the cost of the ingredients; and, secondly, in regard to the growth of the crop. We will begin with wheat. A crop of wheat, machine-reap- ed, contains, as carted to the stack, about six pounds of soil in- gredients in every one hundred pounds; that is to say, each five pounds of mineral matter, and rather less than one pound of nitrogen, which the plant takes from the soil, will enable it to obtain ninety-four pounds of other substances from the at- mosphere. To grow a crop of twenty bushels of grain and two thousand pounds of straw, would require one hundred and sixty pounds of minerals, and about thirty-two pounds of nitro- gen; of the one hundred and sixty pounds of minerals, one- half would be silica, of which the soil possesses already more than enough ; the remainder, consisting of about eighty pounds of potash and phosphate, could be furnished for from three to four dollars, and the thirty-two pounds of nitrogen could be purchased in nitrate of soda for six or eight dollars, 334 TALKS ON MANURES. The actual cost of the ingredients, therefore, in the crop of twenty bushels of wheat, would be about ten to twelve doilars. But as this manure would furnish the ingredients for the growth of both straw and grain, and it is customary to return the straw to the land, after the first crop, fully one-third of the cost of the manure might, in consequence, be deducted, which would make the ingredients of the twenty bushels amount to six dollars. Twenty bushels of wheat in England would sell for twenty-eight dollars ; therefore, there would be twenty-two dollars left for the cost of cultivation and profit. A French writer on scientific agriculture has employed figures very similar to the above, to show how French farmers may grow wheat at less than one dollar per bushel. At this price they might certainly defy the competition of the United States. It is one thing, however, to grow crops in a lecture room, and quite another to grow them in a field. In dealing with artificial manures, furnishing phosphoric acid, potash, and nitrogen, we have substances which act upon the soil in very differents ways. Phosphate of lime is a very insoluble substance, and requires an enormous amount of water to dis- solve it. Salts of potash, on the other hand, are very soluble in water, but form very insoluble compounds with the soil. Salts of ammonia and nitrate of soda are perfectly soluble in water. When applied to the land, the ammonia of the former sub-° stance forms an insoluble compound with the soil, but in a very short time is converted into nitrate of lime; and with this salt and nitrate of soda, remains in solution in the soil water until they are either taken up by the plant or are washed away into the drains or rivers. Crops evaporate a very large amount of water, and with this water they attract the soluble nitrate from all parts of the soil. Very favorable seasons are therefore those in which the soil is neither too dry nor too wet; as in one case the solution of nitrate becomes dried up in the soil, in the other it is either washed away, or the soil remains so wet that the plant cannot evaporate the water sufficiently to draw up the nitrates which it contains. The amount of potash and phosphoric acid dissolved in the water is far too small to supply the requirements of the plant, and it is probable that what is required for this purpose is dis- solved by some direct action of the roots of the plant on com- ing in contact with the insoluble phosphoric acid and potash in the soil. RESTORING FERTILITY TO THE SOIL, gue) In support of this view, I may mention that we have clear evidence in some of our experiments of the wheat crop taking up both phosphates and potash that were applicd. to the land thirty years ago. To suppose, therefore, that, if the ingredients which exist in twenty bushels of wheat and its straw, are simply applied to a barren soil, the crop will be able to come in contact with, and take up these substances, is to assume what certainly will not take place. I have often expressed an opinion that arable land, could not be cultivated profitably by means of artificial manures, unless the soil was capable of producing, from its own resources, a considerable amount of produce; still the question had never up to this time come before me in a distinct form as one upon which I had to decide one way or the other. I had, however, no hesitation in coming to the conclusion, that grain crops could never be grown at a profit upon my relation’s land, and that consequently, for some years, it would be better to give up the attempt, and try to improve the pasture. After what I have said about the insolubility of potash and phosphoric acid, it may possibly be asked—why not give a good dose of these substances at once, as they do not wash out of the soil—say enough to grow sixty crops of grain, and apply the nitrate, or ammonia every year in just sufficient amounts to supply the wants of the crop? The objections to this plan are as follows: assuming the most favorable conditions of climate, and the largest possible pro- duce, the wheat could certainly not take up the whole of the thirty-two pounds of nitrogen applied, and the crop which re- quires nearly one pound of nitrogen in every one hundred pounds of gross produce, would be certainly less than three thousand two hundred pounds, if supplied with only thirty-two pounds of nitrogen. If we take the tctal produce of the best and worst wheat crop, grown during the forty years of our ex- periments, we shall arrive at a better understanding in the matter. The following are the figures : WEIGHT OF DRY PRODUCE OF WHEAT PER ACRE, , Straw and Grain. ite, Sets te Tix lla cael oie eo epee ee 9330 lbs. LY Ui a, eal a WINS Op ple pk! 97 ot oe rr 3859 ‘* In order to ascertain the increase due to the nitrogen of the salts of ammonia or nitrate of soda, we must deduct from the O20 TALKS ON MANURES. crop the produce obtained, where mineral manures without nitrogen were used. In 1863 this amount was three thousand pounds, and in 1879 it was one thousand two hundred pounds. Deducting these amounts from the gross produce in each case, leaves six thousand three hundred and thirty as the produce due to the nitrogen in the season of 1863, and two thousand six hundred and fifty-nine as the produce due to the nitrogen in 1879. But in each case we applied the same amount of nitrogen, eighty-seven pounds ; and as the amount of nitrogen in a wheat crop, as carted from the field, contains less than one per cent. of nitrogen, it is evident that if all that was contained in the manure had been taken up by the plant, the increased crop should have weighed eizht thousand seven hundred pounds in- stead of six thousand three hundred and thirty. Thus even in our best year, some of the nitrogen applied failed to produce growth ; and when we come to the bad year we find that only twenty-six and a half pounds were taken up out of the eighty- seven pounds applied, thus leaving more than two-thirds of the whole unaccounted for. Seasons are only occasionally either very bad or very good. What we call an average season does not differ very much from the mean of the best and worst years, which in this case would be represented by a crop of four thousand four hundred and ninety-four pounds, containing nearly forty-five pounds of nitrogen. I may say that, although I have employed one per cent. to avoid fractions in my calculations, strictly speaking three-quarters of a per cent. would more nearly represent the real quantity. If, however, on the average, we only obtain about forty-five pounds from an application of about eighty- seven pounds of nitrogen, it is evident that not more than one- half of the amount applied enters into the crop. Now in dealing with a substance of so costly a nature as am- monia, or nitrate of soda—the nitrogen contained in which substances cannot cost much less than twenty-five cents per pound by the time it is spread upon the land, it becomes a ques- tion of importance to know what becomes of the other half, or the residue whatever it may be, which has not been taken up by the crop. Part is undoubtedly taken up by the weeds which grow with the wheat, and after the wheat has been cut. Part sinks into the sub-soil and is washed completely away during the winter. I, myself, am disposed to think that the very great difference RESTORING FERTILITY TO THE SOIL. By! in the size of the Indian corn crops, as compared with the wheat crops in the States, is partly accounted for by their greater freedom from weeds, which are large consumers of nitric acid, and, in the case of the wheat crop, frequently re- duce the yield by several bushels per acre. It must, however, be borne in mind that, though the wheat is robbed of its food where there are weeds, still if there were no weeds, the amount of nitric acid which the crop could not get hold of, would, in all probabilty, be washed out of the soil during the ensuing winter. I come to the conclusion, therefore, that the nitro- gen alone, which would be required to produce one bushel of wheat, would cost not much less than fifty cents; and that, in consequence, wheat-growing by means of artificial manures, will not pay upon very poor land. I have said that the land, about which I was consulted, had not been plowed for several years, and that although nature had done all she could to clothe the soil with vegetation, the most disheartening feature in the case was, the poverty of the weeds. A thistle may be a giant or a dwarf, according to cir- cumstances ; here they wereall dwarfs. The plaintain, which { believe is sometimes sown in these districts for food, has a very deep root; here the plants were abundant, but the leaves were very small and lay so close to the ground, that, as the manager informed m2, ‘‘the sheep were often injured from the amount of sand which they swallowed with the leaves when feeding.” At Rothamsted, the analyses of the rain water passing through the ordinary soil of one of my fields, which has been kept free from vegetation, have shown that the amount of nitric acid liberated in a soil, and washed out each year, is very large. Taking the ten years during which these special experi- ments have been in progress, I should think that the loss of nitrogen would be equal to, or possibly exceed, the amount of that substance removed by the average crops grown in the United States. The results obtained by the rain gauges, are further com- pletely confirmed by those in an adjoining field, where wheat and fallow have been grown alternately for twenty-seven years. The liberation of nitric acid, during the year of rest, produced for a time a large growth of wheat, but it was done at a very great waste of the fertility of the soil, and the produce is now, in proportion, considerably lower than that grown on the con- tinuously unmanured land. 15 338 TALKS ON MANURES. These results, if they are to be accepted as correct, must bring about a very considerable .change in the generally re- ceived views in regard to fertility. We not only see more clearly the connection between a former vegetation and the stored up fertility in our soil, but we also see the importance of vegeta- tion at the present day, as the only means by which tbe loss of nitric acid is prevented. The more completely the land is coy- ered with vegetation, and the more growth there is, the greater will be the evaporation of water, and the less will be the loss of nitric acid by drainage. I was not at all surprised to find, that the surface soil of a wood on my farm, was poorer in nitrogen than the soil of an old permanent pasture, to which no manure had been applied for twenty-five years, though during the whole period, the crop of hay had been removed every year from the land. The wood to which I refer is covered with oak, centuries old, and the foliage is so dense that but little underwood or other vegetation can grow beneath it. If both the wood and the pasture were put into arable cultivation, I have no doubt that the pasture would prove much more fertile than the wood land. In our experiments on permanent pasture, it has been ob- served that the character of the herbage is mainly dependent on the food supplied. Weeds, and inferior grasses, can hold their own as long as poverty exists, but with a liberal supply of ma- nure, the superior grasses overgrow and drive out the bad grasses and weeds. In consequence of the low price of wheat a good deal of land in England has been laid down to perma- nent pasture, and much money has been spent in cleaning the land preparatory to sowing the grass-seeds. JI have on more occasions than one, suggested that the money employed in this process would be better expended in manure, by which the weeds would be ‘‘improved” off the face of theland. While walking over the abandoned portion of these estates I explained my views upon this point to the manager. They were, how- ever, received with the usual skepticism, and the rejoinder that ‘‘there was only one ideas of getting rid of the weeds, which was by the plow and fire.” There is nothing that speaks to me so forcibly as color in vegetation ; when travelling by rail, I do not require to be told that such a farm is, or is not, in high condition, or that we are passing through a fertile or infertile district. There is a pecu- liar green color in vegetation which is an unmistakable sign that it is living upon the fat of the land. I need hardly say RESTORING FERTILITY TO THE SOIL. 339 that, in this case, the color of the vegetation gavc unmistakable signs of the poverty of the soil; but in the midst of the dingy yellowish-green of the herbage, I came upon one square of bright green grass. In answer to my enquiry I was told that, a ‘*lambing-fold had been there last year,” and my informant added his opinion, ‘‘ that the manure would be so strong that it would kill anything !” It had certainly killed the weeds, but in their place, some good grasses had taken possession of the soil, The plan I proposed to adopt was, to spend no more money on tillage operations, but to endeavor to improve the pasture by giving to it the food necessary to grow good grasses, sowing at the same time asmall quantity of the best seeds. I further suggested that aflock of sheep should be allowed to run over the whole of the land by day, and be folded there every night —about one pound of cotton-seed cake per head being allowed daily. By this means, as the fold would be moved every day, the amount of manure deposited on the soil could be estimated. If there were a hundred sheep, receiving one pound of de- corticated cotton-seed cake per head, daily, and the hurdles were arranged to enclose a space of twenty-five by twenty yards, in the course of ten days an acre of land would have received manure from one thousand pounds of cake; which amount would supply seventy-seven pounds of nitrogen, sixty-eight pounds of phosphate of lime, and thirty-two pounds of potash. This amount of cake would cost about sixteen dollars. As regards the value of the cake as a food, it is somewhat difficult to form an estimate; but it takes nine or ten pounds of dry food—say roots, cake, and hay—to produce an increase of one pound of live weight in sheep. The cake has certainly a higher feeding value, than either hay or roots, but I will here give it only the same value, and consider that one hundred and ten pounds of increase of the animal was ob- tained by the consumption of the one thousand pounds of cake. The value of the increase of the live weight would be in Eng- land fully eleven dollars, leaving five dollars as the cost of the manure. Now the cake furnished seventy-seven pounds of nitrogen alone, which, if purchased in an artificial manure, would have cost nineteen dollars; and the other substances supplied by the cake, would have cost from four to five dollars more. The manures required, therefore, would be obtained much more cheaply by this than by any other process, 340 TALKS ON MANURES. Labor would be saved by not cultivating the land. Manure would be saved by substituting vegetation which grows under or above ground, almost all the year round. And, by feeding the stock with cake, the necessary fertility would be obtained at the lowest possible cost. It is probable that the land would require this treatment to be repeated for several years, before there would be a fair growth of gr ss. The land might then be broken up and one grain crop be taken, then it might again be laid down to grass. Hitherto, I have considered a case where fertility is almost absent from the land, this, however, is an exception, as agri- culture generally is carried on upon soils which contain large stores of fertility, though they may be very unequally distribu- ted. By analysis of the soil we can measure the total amount of fertility which it contains, but we are left in ignorance in re- gard to the amount of the ingredients which are in such a form that the crops we cultivate can make use of them. At Rothamsted, among my experiments on the growth of con- tinuous wheat, at the end of forty years, the soil supplied with salts of ammonia has yielded, during the whole time, and still continues to yield, a larger produce than is obtained by a liberal supply of phosphates and alkaline salts without ammonia. When we consider that every. one hundred pounds of wheat crop, as carted to the stack, contains about five per cent. of mineral matter, and one per cent. of nitrogen, it is impossible to avoid the conclusion that my soil has a large available bal- ance of mineral substances which the crop could not make use of for want of nitrogen. The crop which has received these mineral manures now amounts to from twelve to thirteen bushels per acre, and removes from the land about sixteen pounds of nitrogen every year. Analyses of the soil show that, even after the removal of more than thirty crops in succession, without any application of manure containing ammonia, the soil still contains some thousands of pounds of nitrogen. This nitrogen is in combina- tion with carbon ; it is very insoluble in water, and until it be- comes separated from the carbon, and enters into combination with oxygen, does not appear to be of any use to the crop. The combination of nitrogen with oxygen, is known as ni- tric acid. The nitric acid enters into combination with the lime of the soil, and in this form becomes the food of plants. From its great importance in regard to the growth of plants, nitric acid might be called the main spring of agriculture, but RESTORING FERTILITY TO THE SOIL. 341 being perfectly soluble in water, it is constantly liable to be washed out of the soil. In the experiment to which I have re- ferred above—where wheat is grown by mineral manures alone —we estimate that, of the amount of nitric acid liberated each year, not much more than one-half is taken up by the crop. The wheat is ripe in July, at which time the land is tolerably free from weeds; several months, therefore, occur during which there is no vegetation to take up the nitric acid; and even when the wheat is sown at the end of October, much ni- tric acid is liable to be washed away, as the power of the plant to take up food from the soil is very limited until the spring. The formation of nitric acid, from the organic nitrogen in the soil, is due to the action of a minute plant, and goes on quite independent of the growth of our crops. We get, however, in the fact an explanation of the extremely different results ob- tained by the use of different manures. One farmer applies lime, or even ground limestone to a soil, and obtains an increase in his crops ; probably he has supplied the very substance which has enabled the nitrification of the organic nitrogen to increase; another applies potash, a third phosphates; if either of these are absent, the crops cannot make use of the nitric acid, how- ever great may be the amount diffused through the soil. It may possibly be said that the use of mineral manures tends to exhaust the soil of its nitrogen; this may, or may not, be true ; but even if the minerals enable the crop to take up a larger amount of the nitric acid found in the soil year by year, this does not increase the exhaustion, as the minerals only tend to arrest that which otherwise might be washed away. We must look upon the organic nitrogen in the soil, as the main source of the nitrogen which grows our crops. Whatever may be the amount derived from the atmosphere, whether in rain, or dew ; or from condensation by the soil, or plants, it is probable that, where the land is in arable cultivation, the ni- trogen so obtained, is less than the amount washed out of the soil in nitric acid. Upon land which is never stirred by the plow, there is much less waste and much less activity. The large increase in the area of land laid down to perma- nent pasture in England, is not due alone to the fall in the price of grain. The reduction of fertility in many of the soils, which have been long under the plow, is beginning to be apparent. Under these circumstances a less exhausting course of treat- ment becomes necessary, and pasture, with the production of meat, milk, and butter, takes the place of grain fields. APPENDIX. LETTER FROM EDWARD JESSOP, YORK, PA. York, Pa., March-16, 1876. | Joseph Harris, Esq., Moreton Farm, Rochester, N. Y.: DEAR Sir—Your favor of the 22d of last month came safely to hee and I am truly obliged to you for the reply to my question.—You ask, can I help you with facts or suggestions, on the subject of manure ? I fear not much; but it may be useful to you to know what others need to know. Iwill look forward to the advent of ‘‘ Talks on Manures’’ with much interest, hoping to get new light on a subject second to none in importance to the farmer. I have done a little at composting for some years, and am now having a pile of about forty cords, made up of stable-manure and earth taken from the wash of higher Jands, turned and fined. The labor of digging and hauling the earth, composting in thin layers with manure, turning, and fining, is so great, I doubt whether it pays for most farm crops— this to be used for mangel-wurzel and market-garden. . The usual plan in this county is to keep the stable-manure made dur- ing winter, and the accumulation of the summer in the barn-yard, where it is soaked by rain, and trampled fine by cattle, and in August and Sep- tember is hauled upon ground to be seeded with wheat and grass-seeds. I do not think there is much piling and turning done. My own conclusions, not based on accurate experiments, however, are, that the best manure I have ever applied was prepared in a covered pit on which cattle were allowed to run, and so kept well tramped— some drainage into a well, secured by pouring water upon it, when necessary, and the drainage pumped and distributed over the surface, at short intervals, particularly the parts not well tramped, and allowed to remain until it became a homogeneous mass, which it will do without having undergone so active a fermentation as to have thrown off a con- siderable amount of gas. The next best, composting it with earth, as above described, piled about five or six feet high, turned as often as convenient, and kept moist enough to secure fermentation. Or, to throw all the manure as made into a covered pit, until it is thoroughly mixed and made fine, by allowing hogs to run upon it and root at will; and when prepared for even spreading, apply it as a top- dressing on grass-land—at any convenient time. As to how many loads of fresh manure it takes to make one of well- rotted manure, it may be answered approximately, three to one, but that would depend a good deal on the manner of doing it, and the amount of rough material in it. If well trodden by cattle under cover, and suf- ficient drainage poured over it, to prevent any violent fermentation, the 342 APPENDIX. 343 loss of weight, I think, would not be very great, nor the bulk lessened over one-half. Many years ago an old and successful farmer said to me, “if you want to get the full benefit of manure, spread it as a top-dressing on some growing crop,’ and all my experience and observation siuce tend to con- firm the correctness of his advice. While on this subject, allow me to protest against the practice of naming the quantity of manure applied to a given space, as so many loads, as altogether too indefinite. The bushel or cord is a definite quan- tity, which all can understand. The average price of good livery stable horse-manure at this place has been for several years four dollars a cord. With two and a half miles to haul, 1am trying whether keeping a flock of 50 breeding ewes, and feeding liberally with wheat bran, in addition to hay and pasture, will not produce the needed manure more cheaply. Respectfully yours, EDWARD JESSOP. P. §.—You ask for the average weight of a cord of manure, such as we pay four dollars for. I had a cord of horse-stable manure from a livery stable in York which had been all the time under cover, with several pigs running upon it, and was moist, without, any excess of wet, loaded into a wagon-box holding an entire cord, or 128 cubic feet, tramped by the wagoner three times while loading. The wagon was weighed at our hay-scales before loading, and then the wagon and load together, with a net result for the manure of 4,400 lbs. I considered this manure rather better than the average. I had another load, from a different place, which weighed over 5,000 Ibs., but on ex- amination it was found to contain a good deal of coal ashes. We never buy by the ton. Harrison Bros. & Co., Manufacturing Chemists, Phila- delphia, rate barnyard-manure as worth $5.77 per ton, and say that would be about $7.21 per cord, which would be less than 13 tons to the cord. If thrown in loosely, and it happened to be very dry, that might be pos- sible. Waring, in his ‘‘ Handy Book of Husbandry,”’ page 201, says, he caused a cord of well-trodden livery stable manure containing the usual pro- portion of straw, to: be carefully weighed, and that the cord weighed 7,080 lbs. The load I had weighed, weighing 4,400 Ibs., was considered by the wagoner and by myself asa fair sample of good manure. In view of these wide differences, further trials would be desirable. Dana, in his “Muck Manual,” says a cord of green cow-dung, pure, as dropped, weighs 9,289 lbs. Farmers here seldom draw manure with less than three, more generally with four horses or mules; loading is done by the purchaser. From the barn-yard, put on loose boards, from 40 to 60 bushels are about an aver- age load. In hauling from town to a distance of three to five miles, farmers gen- erally make two loads of a cord each, a day’s work. From the barn-yard, 344 TALKS ON MANURES. a very variable number, per day. In my own case, two men with three horses have been hauling six and seven loads of sixty bushels, fine com- post, a distance of from one-half to three-fourths of a mile, up a long and rather steep hill, and spreading from the wagon, as hauled, upon grass-sod. Our larger farmers often have one driver and his team, two wagons, one loading, while the other is drawn to the field ; the driver slips off one of the side-boards, and with his dung-hook jee off piles at nearly equal distances, to be spread as convenient. EDWARD JESSOP. LETTER FROM DR. E. L. STURTEVANT, SOUTH FRAMINGHAM, MASS. SoutH FRAMINGHAM, Mass., April 2, 1876. FRIEND Harris—Manure about Boston is sold in various ways. First, according to the number of animals kept; price varying so much, that I do not venture to name the figures. By the cord, to be trodden over while loading; never by weight, so far as I can learn—price from 0 to $12.00 per cord, according to season, and various accidental circum- stances. During the past winter, manure has been given away in Boston. Handling, hauling to the railroad, and freight costing $4 per cord for carrying 30 miles out. Market-gardeners usually haul manure as a re- turn freight on their journeys to and from market. About South Fra- mingham, price stiff at $8 a cord in the cellar, and this may be considered the ruling suburban price. Very friendly yours, K. LEwis STURTEVANT. LETTER FROM M. C. WELD. New Yors, Nov. 9, 1876. My Dear Harris—[ don’t know what I can write about manures, that would be of use. I have strong faith in humus, in ashes, leached and unleached, in lime, gas-lime, plaster, bones, ammonia ready formed, nitrates ready formed, not much in meat and blood, unless they are cheap. Nevertheless, they often are cheap, and produce splendid effects. I believe in sulphuric acid, with organic nitrogenous manures ; the com- posting of meat, blood, hair, ete., with peat and muck, and wetting it down with dilute sulphuric acid. I believe in green-manuring, heartily, and in tillage, tillage, tillage. Little faith in superphosphates and com- pounded manures, at selling prices. Habirshaw’s guano is good enough. So much for my creed. Truly yours, M. C. WELD. LETTER FROM PETER HENDERSON. New York, Oct. 26, 1876. Mr. Joseph Harris: Dear Sir—If you will refer to my work “‘ Gardening for Profit,’? New Edition, page 34, you will get about all the information I possess on Manures, except that I do not say anything about price. In a general way it might be safe to advise that whenever a ton (it is always best to speak of manures by weight) of either cow, horse, hog, or other stable- manure can be laid on the ground for $3, it is cheaper than commercial fertilizers of any kind at their usual market rates. This $3 per ton, I APPENDIX, 345 think, would be about the average cost in New York, Boston, or Phila- delphia. We never haul it on the ground until we are ready to plow it in. If it has to be taken from the hog or cattle yards, we draw it out into large heaps, convenient to where it is to be put on the land, turning it, to keep it from burning or “‘ fire-fanging,’’ if necessary. None of our farmers or market-gardeners here keep it under cover. The expense of such covering and the greater difficulties in getting at it, for the immense quantities we use, would be greater than the benefits to be derived from keeping it under cover—benefits, in fact, which, I think, may be greatly overrated. Very truly yours, PETER HENDERSON. LETTER FROM J. M. B. ANDERSON, ED. ‘CANADA FARMER,’’ TORONTO. “*CANADA FARMER” OFFICE, ToRoNTO, March 29, 1876. J. Harris, Esq. : Dear Str—Yours of the 25th inst. is to hand, and I shall be most happy to render you any assistance in my power. The work you under- take is in able hands, and I have every confidence that, when completed, it will form an invaluable acquisition to the agricultural literature of the day. Manure in this city is usually sold by the two-horse load—about 14 tons—at the rate of $1 per load, or 66 cents per ton. The load contains just about a cord of manure, consequently a cord will weigh about 13 tons. With reference to the general management of manure in Canada, I may say that the system followed differs in no material respect from that of New York and the other Eastern States. It is usually kept over winter in the open barnyard (rarely under cover, I am sorry to say), laid out on the land about the time of disappearance of last snow, and plowed in. In some cases it is not carted out until the land is ready for immediate plowing. With some of our more advanced farmers, the system has lately been adopted of keeping manure under cover and sprinkling it thoroughly at intervals with plaster and other substances. Tanks are also be¢oming more common than formerly, for the preservation of liq- uid manure, which is usually applied by means of large, perforated hogs- heads, after the manner of street-watering. You ask, how the manure is managed at Bow Park, Brantford. That made during fall and winter is carefully kept in as small bulk as possible, to prevent exposure to the weather. In February and March it is drawn out and put in heaps 8 feet square, and well packed, to prevent the es- scape of ammonia. Im spring, as soon as practicable, it is spread, and plowed under immediately. Manure made in spring and summer is spread on the field at once, and plowed under with a good, deep furrow Very truly yours, J. M. B. ANDERSON, Ed. Canada Farmer. MANURE STATISTICS OF LONG ISLAND. THE MANURE TRADE OF LONG ISLAND—LETTER FROM J. H. RUSHMORE. OLp Westsury, Long Island, April 6, 1876. Joseph LHarris, Esq. : DEAR S1tr—The great number of dealers in manure in New York pre- 346 TALKS ON MANURES. cludes accuracy, yet Mr. Skidmore (who has been testifying volumi- nously before the New York Board of Health in relation to manure and street dirt), assures me that the accompanying figures are nearly correct. Tenclose statement, from two roads, taken from their books, and the amount shipped over the other road I obtained verbally from the General Freight Agent, and embody it in the sheet of statistics. The Ash report I know is correct, as I had access to the books showing the business, for over ten years. I have made numerous applications, verbally, and by letter, to our largest market gardeners, but there seems to exist a general and strong disinclination to communicate anything worth knowing. I enclose the best of the replies received. Speaking for some of our largest gardeners, I may say that they cultivate over one hundred acres, and use Jand sufficiently near to the city to enable them to dispense with railroad transportation in bringing manure to their places and marketing crops. I have noticed that one of the shrewdest gardeners invariably composts horn-shavings and bone-meal with horse- manure several months before expecting to use it. A safe average of manure used per acre by gardeners, may be stated at ninety (90) tubs, and from two hundred to twenty hundred pounds of fertilizer in addi- tion, according to its strength, and the kind of crop. The following railroad manure statistics will give a generally correct idea of the age of manure, when used: STATEMENT OF MANURE SENT FROM JAN. 1 TO Dec. 31, 1875. Over F.N.S.& C.R.R. Over Southern KR. R. SU ALITA TEU ae ia one wicte & aie eeeranrete' 1,531 tubs. 5,815 tubs. PCDIMALY.. as ocancle ak = © cetee 4,357 “ gi Bh oo) 1 eR ea aa aaeeies 740 =“ Oi Agel hee cee cee a rae dee tine T2422 (O10 5 5 ies Mayo. Su te Se ce ea ER 7,383 “ 3,049 * IEINIG oo a eis Saye Solon 6 oie Ds (aor ueee 1,365. * Fin hy gerne eee ee einer ering eee 6,4733 Gabi ste PAAR OUUS Go) oh oe aati e maaeats Se 6,3705 “ po 0 Be September Isa seee vee ose Silo 14,702 * MeloOberior sind cee ebeus ewe 8802. 6605; 5 NOV EWIDET -fidiciss o oicnaiesioaieeek 8 | ee 840.2 December -..2.. Satteteiptoesiofots ii LANG...’ 4023. 46,340 tubs. 57,679 tubs. A tub is equal to 14 bushels. Hobson, Hurtado & Co. report the amount of Peruvian guano sold in this country last year at thirty thousand tons. Estimated number of horses in New York city, 100,000. Estimated product of manure per horse. Four cords. Estimated proportion of straw to pure excrement. One-half. Amount shipped direct from stables. Nearly all. Amount shipped on vessels. One-half. Length of time the unshipped manure remains in heaps. From three to four months. Average cost per horse, annually. $3. Greatest distance of shipment. Virginia. APPENDIX. 347 Average amount shipped via L.I. R. R. 60,000 tubs. Price of manure per tub delivered on cars or vessel. 80 cents. Average amount put on car, 40 tubs. SraTistics or AsH TRADE.—Time when ashes are delivered. From middle of June to middle of October. Places from which they are mostly shipped. Montreal, Belleville, and Toronto (Canada). Method of transportation. Canal boats. Average load per boat. About 8,000 bushels. Average amount annually sold. 360,000 bushels. Average cost delivered to farmers. 20% cents per bushel. Fer Acre, about. Amount used by farmers for potatoes......... 60 tubs. 66 OFS te eae és cabbage (late)... 50 es ot af SOGOU a 64 fanaa Le aad Amount of guano used on Long Island, as represented by the books of Chapman & Vanwyck, and their estimate of sales by other firms, 5,000 tons. The fertilizers used on the Island are bought almost exclusively by market gardeners or farmers, who do a little market gardening, as it is the general conviction that ordinary farm-crops will not give a compen- sating return for their application. Most market gardeners keep so little stock that the manure made on the place is very inconsiderable, Our dairy farmers either compost home-made manures with that from the city, spread it on the land for corn in the spring, or rot it separate, to use in the fall for wheat, on land that has been cropped with oats the same year. The manure put on for potatoes is generally estimated to enrich the land sufficient for it to produce one crop of winter grain, and from five to seven crops of grass, when it is again plowed and cultivated in rotation with, first, corn, second, potatoes or oats, and is reseeded in autumn of the same year. Fish and fish guano are largely used on land bordering the water, and adjacent to the oil-works. The average price for guano in bulk at oil- works is $12 perton. The average price for fish on wharf is $1.50 per thousand, and it is estimated that, as a general average, 6,000 fish make aton of guano. The fish, when applied to corn, are placed two at each hill, and plowed under at any time after the corn is large enough to cul- tivate. Seaweed is highly prized by all who use it, and it will produce a good crop of corn when spread thickly on the land previous to plowing. Very respectfully, J. H. RUSHMORE. LETTER FROM JOHN E. BACKUS, NEwtTown, Long Island, N. Y., March 2nd, 1876. Mr. G. H. Rushmore: Dzar Sir.—Some farmers and market-gardeners use more, and some less, manure, according to crops to be raised. I use about 30 good two- horse wagon-loads to the acre, to be applied in rows or broad-casted, as best for certain crops. I prefer old horse-dung for most all purposes. 348 TALKS ON MANURES. Guano, as a fertilizer, phosphate of bone and blood are very good; they act as a stimulant on plants and vegetation, and are highly beneficial to some vegetation—more valuable on poor soil than elsewhere, except to produce a thrifty growth in plants, and to insure a large crop. By giving you these few items they vary considerably on different parts of the Island ; judgment must be used in all cases and all busi- ness. Hoping these few lines may be of some avail to Mr. Harris and yourself, I remain, yours, etc., Joun E. Backus. MANURE IN PHILADELPHIA. LETTER FROM JOSEPH HEACOCK. JENKINTOWN, Montgomery Co., Pa., April 18th, 1876. My Dear FRIEND Harris.—Stable-manure in Philadelphia, costs by the single four-horse-load, about $9 or $10. Mostly, the farmers who haul much of it, have it engaged by the year, and then it can be had for from $7 to $8 per load. Mostly, four horses are used, though we fre- quently see two and three-horse teams, and occasionally, five or six horses are used. I have never seen any kind of dung hauled but that of horses. Cow-manure would be thought too heavy to haul so long a dis- tance. Sugar-house waste, spent hops, glue waste, etc, are hauled to a small extent. We live about 9 miles from the center of the city, and the road is very hilly, though otherwise a good one, being made of stone. The loads vary from 2% to 3: or 4 tons for four horses, according to the dryness of the manure. The wagons are made very strong, and weigh from 1,600 lbs. to 2,300 or 2,400 lbs., according to the number of horses that are to be used to them. I cannot say how many cords there are in an average load, but probably not less than two cords to four horses. One of my neighbors has a stable engaged by the year, He pays $2.50 per ton, and averages about three tons per load, and the distance from the stable in the city to his place, can not be less than 12 miles. His team goes empty one way and of course can not haul more than a load a day. In fact, can not average that, as it would be too hard on his horses. The horses used for the purpose are large and strony. Fifteen or twenty years ago, there was kept on most farms of 75 to 100 acres, a team purposely for hauling manure from the city. But it is different now, many of the farmers using artificial manures, as it costs so much less; and others are keeping more stock, and so making their own manure. Still, there isa great deal hauled yet. And some of it to a distance of 20 miles. Though when hauled to this distance, the teams are loaded beth ways. For instance, they will start to the city with a load of hay (35 to 50 ewt.), on Monday afternoon (Tuesday is the day of the Hay Market); and when they have their load of hay off on Tuesday, they load their manure and drive out five or six miles and put up forthe night. Next morning they start about 3 o’clock, arriving home before noon, having been away two days. On Thursday afternoon, they start again. You can see that manuring in this way is very expensive. But farmers about here well know that if they do not manure well they raise APPENDIX. * 349 but little. Probably about four loads are used per acre on the average. Each Joad is generally thrown off the wagon in one large heap near where wanted, and is allowed to lie until they use it. I can not tell how much it loses in bulk by lying in the heap. As to what crops it is used on, farmers do not think that they could go amiss in applying it to anything except oats. Butit is probably used more for top-dressing mowing land, and for potatoes, than for any- thing else. The usual rotation is corn, potatoes, or oats, wheat seeded to clover and timothy, and then kept in grass from twoto four years. Those who haul stable-manure, usually use bone-dust or superphosphate to a greater or less extent. Last December I built a pig-pen, 20 ft. x 40 ft., 13 stories high. The upper story to be used for litter, ete. There is a four feet entry on the north side, running the length of the building. The remainder is divided into five pens, each 8 ft. x 16 ft. It is made so that in cold weather it can be closed up tight, while in warmer weather it can be made as open as an out-shed. I am very much pleased with it. The pigs make a great - deal of manure, and I believe that it can be made much cheaper than it can be bought and hauled from Philadelphia. JOSEPH HEACOCK, JR. LETTER FROM HERMAN L, ROUTZAHN. MIDDLETOWN, Md., May 11th, 1876. Joseph Harris, Esq. : I herewith proceed to answer questions asked. Wheat and corn are principal crops. Corn is fed now altogether to stock for the manure. There is but little soiling done. The principal method of making manure is: Feeding all the corn raised, as well as hay, oats, and roots, to cattle; using wheat straw, weeds, etc., as bedding, throwing the manure in the yard (uncovered), and to cover the pile with plaster (by sowing broadcast), at least once a week. To this pile is added the manure from the hog-pens, hen-house, etc., and worked over thoroughly at least twice before using. It is then applied to corn by plowing under ; to wheat, as a top-dressing. For corn it is usually hauled to the field, thrown off in heaps 25 feet each way, a cart-luad making two heaps. Spread just before the plow. For wheat, spread on directly after plow- ing, and thoroughly harrowed,jn. Applied broadcast for potatoes. Com- posts of different kinds are made and used same as in other localities, 1 presume. Artificial manures are going into disrepute (justly too). This is the plan now adopted by the farmers in this county (Frederick). Where woods are accessible, leaves and mould are hauled in and added to the manure-heap ; in fact, every substance that can be worked into the manure-heap is freely used. Well-rotted stable-manure is worth from $1.50 to $2.50 per cord, accurding to condition and locality. Very Respectfully Yours, HERMAN L. RovuTzaun, 350 TALKS ON MANURES. LETTER FROM PROF. E. M. SHELTON, PROF. OF AGRICULTURE, KANSAS STATE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. Kansas STATE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE, MANHATTAN, Kansas, May 5, 1876. DEAR 81r.—In reply to your first question, I would sey that stable- manure in this vicinity, is held in very light estimation. Indeed, by the householders of this city, and quite generally by the farmers, manure is re- garded as one of those things—like drouth and grasshoppers—with which a mysterious Providence sees fit to clog the operations of the husband- man. The great bulk of the stable-manure made in this city is, every spring, carted into ravines and vacant lots—wherever, in short, with least expense it can be put out of reach of the senses. It must not be understood by this that manure has little influence on the growing crops in Kansas. Nowhere have I seen such excellent results from application of home-made fertilizers,,as in Kansas. For those sterile wastes known as “ Alkali lands,” and ‘‘ Buffalo wallows,”’ manure is a speedy and certain cure. During two years of severe drouth, I have noticed that wherever manure had been supplied, the crop with- stood the effects of dry weather much better than where no application had been made. Four years ago, a strip across one of our fields was heavily manured ; this year this field is into wheat, and a dark band that may be seen half a mile shows where this application was made. These facts the better class of our farmers are beginning to appreciate. A few days ago, a neighbor, a very intelligent farmer, assured me that from manuring eight to ten acres every year, his farm was now in better condition than when be broke up the prairie fifteen years ago. I know of no analysis of stable or farmyard-manure made in Kansas. Concerning the weight of manures, I can give you a few facts, having had occasion during the past winter to weigh several loads used for experimental purposes. This manure was wheeled into the barnyard, chiefly from the cattle stalls, during the winter of 1874-5. It lay in the open yard until February last, when it was weighed and hauled to the fields. I found that a wagon-box, 14x3x9 feet, into which the manure was pitched, without treading, held with slight variations, when level full, one ton. At this rate a cord would weigh very close to three tons. The greatest difficulty that we have to encounter in the management of manure grows out of our dry summers. «During our summer months, unless sufficient moisture is obtained, the manure dries out rapidly, be- comes fire-fanged and practically worthless. My practice upon the Col- lege farm has been to give the bottom of the barn-yard a ‘‘ dishing ’’ form, so that it holds all the water that falls upon it. The manure I keep as flat as possible, taking pains to place it where the animals will keep it trod down solid. Ihave adopted this plan after having tried composting and piling the manure in the yards, and am satisfied that it is the only practical way to manage manures in this climate. There is no particular crop to which manure is generally applied APPENDIX. Biri | in this State, unless, perhaps, wheat. The practice of applying manure as a top-dressing to winter-wheat, is rapidly gaining ground here. It is found that the manure thus applied, acting as a mulch, mitigates the effects of drouth, besides improving the quality of the grain. Very Respectfully Yours, E. M. SHELTON. LETTER FROM PROF. W. H. BREWER, PROFESSOR OF AGRICULTURE IN SHEFFIELD SCIENTIFIC SCHOOL OF YALE COLLEGE. SHEFFIELD SCIENTIFIC SCHOOL oF YALE COLLEGE, New Haven, Conn., April 14th, 1876. Joseph Harris, Hsq., Rochester, N. Y.: My Dear Srr.—I have made inquiries relating to ‘‘ the price of stable- manure in New Haven, and how far the farmers and gardeners haul it, etc.’” I have not been to the horse-car stables, but I have to several livery stables, and they are all essentially the same. They say that but little is sold by the cord or ton, or by any weight or measure. It is sold either ‘‘in the lump,’’ ‘‘ by the month,” ‘‘by the year,’’ or “per horse.’’ Some sell it at a given sum per month for all their horses, on a general estimate of their horses—thus, one man says, “TI get, this year, $25 per month forall my manure, he to remove it as fast as it accumulates; say one, two, or three times per week. He hauls it about five miles and composts it all before using.”’ Another says, he sells per horse. ‘‘I get, this year, $13 per horse, they to haul it.’ The price per horse ranges from $10 to $15 per year, the latter sum being high. From the small or private stables, the manure is generally “‘ lumped ” by private contract, and is largely used about the city. It is hauled sometimes as much as 10 miles, but usually much less. But the larger stables often sell per shipment—it is sent by cars up the Connecticut Valley to Westfield, etc., where it is often hauled several miles from the railroad or river. Much manure is sent by boat from New York to the Connecticut Valley tobacco lands. Boats (‘‘ barges ’’) are even loaded in Albany, go down the Hudson, up the Sound to Connecticut, to various places near Hartford, I am told. Two or three years ago, a man came here and exhibited to us pressed masses of manure—a patent had been taken out for pressing it, to send by R. R. (stable manure). I never heard anything more about it—and he was confident and enthusiastic about it. Yours truly, Wo. H. BREWER. 352 TALKS ON MANURES. FOOD, INCREASE, MANURE, ETC., OF FATTENING ANIMALS, The following table is given by Mr. J. B. Lawes, of Rothamsted, Eng- land, showing the relation of the’increase, manure, and loss by respira- tion, to the food consumed by different animals: OXEN. 250 lbs. Oil-cake ss . See te Produce, 100, Total Dry Suds) a8 509 Z . f Ss. stance O, 00 ae pee Increase. supply. Sy 2 supply. J PIS a a cs) eee a ; A] ~ So lofid!l g . |S Deh arta rye || a Spi 2 je (siss ess|| 423 |s8 ees] 88s a (¢25| a8 e2°l a8 | ea lat?) S85 mosis Sig Ae ta) | Aa See lbs Ibs. | Ibs. | Ibs Nitrogenous substance.| 218 | 9.0 0.8 4.1 Non-Nitrogenous sub- 323.0 636 29.1 |57% 3 STANCE) <6 cielo onsite b= 808 |58.0 5.2 W.2 Mineral Matter......... 83 | 1.6 81.4 | 0.2 heal ects 1.9 Total dry substance....| 1109 68.6 | 404.4) 636 6.2 | 36.5 [57.3 Ae SHEEP. 250 lbs. Oél-cake } || Sng | oe Y, Oey KS an aff Clover- | produce. ||100 Total Dry Sub-||~ ~ 3 4000 ibs. Swede [ 100 Ws. stance of Food 3 ss turnips and Increase. supply. 83 5 supply. | | SS a — Bs Lo] : ; na : na Wins S lof 8] a S) Lola oS .||Ss 8 298 38 lees | 49 | 38 eg S88 m2 A 4 a bas] iS Aes) So Be ea) Se alae Ibs. | Ibs. | Ibs Ibs. Nitrogenous substance.| 177 | 7.5 ; 0.8 4 Non-Nitrogenous sub- 229+ | 548.5 | 25.1 |60.1 Blance (esac secre 671 63.0 7.0 : 9.4 Mineral matter......... 64 | 2.0 62 BPE 0.2 6.8 \se5 3 Total dry substance....| 912 72.5 | 291 | 548.5 8.0 | 31.9 | 60.1 PIGS. Nitrogenous substance. Non- Nitrogenous sub- stance Total dry substance.... 500 lbs. Barley meal produce 100 dds. increase, and supply. 100 7% otal Dry Sub- SS stance of Food STS supply. ss§ ens FU bie = 2 5 | #2 |isss o q ao AS bo SS | Sa ilS8y |S | Ae ae i ieee r= f= lee | = ihats 13.5 14.3 65.7 1% 18.5 (O59: ke 4 eee 1.3 (17:6) 16.7. 65.7. Cees Meee ce. | Ba. | 3 |2a\.q | Bo 8 ok SS idiall o a me |Se = | Ko q she I Ses Loa La ae) | | Ibs. | Jbs. | lbs lbs. 5) Paeeg) 59.8~ | 276.2 Rien Shara aie tolarsrowiates 857 (66.0) | | 11 |.0.8 10:2 coe 420 73.8 70.0 276.2 APPENDIX. sda In the last edition of his book on Manure, ‘‘ Praktische Diingerlehre,” Dr. Emil Wollf, gives the following tables: Of 100 lbs. of dry substance in the food, there is found in the excre- ments : Dry SUBSTANCE. | Cow. Ox. | Sheep. | Horse. | Mean. Ria Ble PS cs cs tide odacies sn 38.0 Ibs. 45.6 Ibs. 46.9 Ibs. 42.0 Ibs./43.1 lbs. BP Tey Ses Oo wily. walt wetes 9.1 5.8 6.6% << Po. Orson uGso. o 27.1 loa 53.5 “ 145.6“ 149.4 * Total dry substance in the Manure... Of 100 lbs. of organic substance in the food, there is found in the ex- crements : ORGANIC SUBSTANCE. Cow. Ox. | sheep. Horse. | Mean. Invihe Dune ieee oma ce acase 36.5 Ibs. !43.9 Ibs. |45.6 Ibs. |38.2 Ibs. |41.0 Ibs. Hii Yio’ Urimeet F. 8 eh Oe Sn eee! ee Bo. © [rear eles Total organic substance in Manure. .!42.5 ‘* 47. 1 “ (49.5 “ 140.7 “* 44.9 % Of 100 lbs. of nitrogen in the food, there is found in the excrements : NITROGEN. Cow. Ox. | Sheep. | Horse. | Mean. In the Dung.................+.+++++- 45.5 Ibs. |51 0 Ibs. 43.7 Ibs. 56.1 Ibs. 49.1 Ibs, Fathi MUP 28 hoc oe ssn veld wm Scie 18.3 *¢ (38.6 ‘ [51.8 “ 27.3 ** 840 * Total Nitrogen in Manure............ 63.8 “ (89.6 “ \95.5 “ |93.4 “ |sa1 * Of 100 lbs. mineral matter in the food, there is found in the excrements : | ; . ———— — — MINERAL MATTER. | Cow. Ox. Sheep. Horse. Mean. ia Whe Mune 2. 2 acess rs eae 53.9 Ibs.) 70.8 Ibs. | 63.2 Ibs. | 85.6 Ibs. | 68.4 Ibs. in: fhe Urine, she: ee ween: ABTS Vl tA Giese 40.3 ‘ TGSyee 1) Lael Total mineral matter in Ma- PREC. ii wie S08 Sabor cae a 97.0 ‘* |117.5 ‘* -|108.5 “ [101.9 “ 108.5 “ The excess of mineral matter is due to the mineral matter in the water drank by the animals. The following tables of analyses are copied in full from the last edition (1875), of Dr. Emil Wolff’s Praktische Diingerlehre. The figures differ materially in many cases from those previously published. They represent the average results of numerous relia- ble analyses, and are sufficiently accurate for all practical purposes connected with the subject of manures. In special cases, it will be well to consult actual analyses of the articles to be used. TALKS ON MANURES. dd4 SOILS. I.—TABLES FOR CALCULATING THE EXHAUSTION AND EN- RICHING OF A.—HARVEST PRODUCTS AND VARIOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES. Average quantity of water, nitrogen, and total ash, and the different ingredi- * ‘puny DAD 1 OD HS 10 GIO B= 19 2.2.0 AYOQMNMMMAQKOMOMOMH ROG NONI DUD = waeIS BONRGHSRr DGS srgTdSS SARSE is GAAS SSSSNHHHSHSOSS Snesscscdss so a eee Sisal 8 ESO EO OS SO tS) eS ah co SI Hs Si ha ed Seyi | cate Geena ee aeunydng NNARKNAMAHHAGHANIOR SSSseocococoeosconSsonsSssnns ecssccocrs 6 3 ‘DOV THR RSS 09 SIS © 10 © 69 & 00 ACD GY GRAD SH Be 6D 0D OQ SH Be OP Dz 2H BY wt 6D 1D SD OUMODRHSMmO RN S D240 YUSOYUT By eo BO NOCD ASSIS O00 ANNQNQNQnr BOC nMnANOCOnMnAMNQnhinrT rmrCoocnxno re é ‘Desauboyy S268 ANOS Or Or St 60.oe Tl Ot ESS aD SO Hr SOO SO Geshe Hod ODN CO MH QCQ oot 2 s OD rt ri SO 19 GD OD OD GRIN OH moocooconornnnnnoOonoconnor ocooocococoocoe°o «4 = a “2ute QMIQ AGO MQOENnMowon SVD SO BAIRD AH DA HOS DSH DID = oD GVCQ OD HCO SIGDIQ 5 eT OTOL GHG SHON IGS ONAnnnnHAnHtHH HAS edoOdaaan SSSscooHnse SC o “pposy OD SAO GY GU H ID GY GD GD 109 69 £0 6 CO OQ NH ES 29 FO 1 00 6D 69 69 © 6D PH SH OD C8 IQ XH NQNONMMrA c= NN tHtnnnoad SSSsosScconceoonsoncodostHscon SHnSSonnn & 5 . RAH RIND ASM MORIN CORNAMINAD DOM MMHOOSOHRAHOM Ren Aeworo ani Bones a ts wae, sot gh ee ntce oe arae Cot RRR eames oy ee Dae Se eraie ga 2 a YSDI0T SRGNSP Sar sor sass SSE HOdIG HIG ARNT od 05.515 wi wi INS Hod A oO aay — — —— a 1DRNAHACOMEAHrEeHO HE HSOMODSOOAEr MOONE HEHARR HOINHODOOr © “Ys BMONRDSHSBSSAigsoaars DBDSSHnSADNGA AGH MORAAH OOS SSerrrns ° wy ININ DiI HOBNOHBDMSTidHSO oars pect eee pe tan eee ee CR aE Sapa ae n = oe IN SDIOLDT IDRNOINOMDArAR HOPHMEAOCRBHMONMRNHANDOHOYT WRMDOORNrIQ © abou? EISEN UE ie pip aya SAA Fee oe Os 2S S9 Tel CORO CDG) GR rat ORS Ot, NL GR OO Ke Oo eee = qOny Roo Serio near cp anton gin fen UD 1D 1D 1D 1) OD a HD 1D 20 19 19 SH DH 20 XH 1G 10 xt Od COOH MHrIRNRR re COMM HSDISCrOorrrr> (=| oOnMmooesS S S Z| “L220 AA MH Ht HD O19 SBS OOOOOOS SSASSSSRSZRSRASSSSSES SSSERRE8 4 7 ee HOM H—Kadi-KPrHDHDDErDHDDDO T= GO 0000 Gd) GO G00 ibe | tee eee epee Ratan FNS pface tes eran e oe ea acta eL. + tema Thies ce co, Ee 1 Pheer eee cE ber one Dirt, sae oe 2 Sera au h Malas oe orca abn eae Meee AS > SAN 2 Ne ea oe — | eee me aed ay Ser es aes es . A Oy Ya) re certs Ae . [ee] am Oh ad Ot et WO Ste (o>) oP te ete Ol eM ace, br hfe) is eee dee oe, eee eee eB 3 . o . ay cetare nena mately ieee es S ; Atte Pope Or ncn Lett Banco et 5 (ONO Peo! WO fj . ale eee I ee aoe, atc ele, ve) «5 linet eens has mae e | i} neh . oes OeeT hs at emetic n + Ad e . . ~ eee tt Wr eat) teas ede oes e 48 . S205 a = CGE ge 18, Ue ie a enue im . ie ght . = fq Se aie. (8 Aare retaken OR YaST fe ar: Bey he, meee apse Stace: 25 ca) On coy camry te Bos >) o aie ss ee Eee see iateatcat as OSiner. rd ee ec tiee 8.2 UR : Fee aee ren aeeah Siete De ong righ SEM ares ta eis peluae beta ye eens Oct POD Be bin 22 ee Si etch ete 2 G8 ae 2e2 Fe secgh ny Sakeccg sx ® ‘ aS Oo & 4 Loc Pi evoveoe Ssq mo Cha Soglsd's'5 SAamooa ee SE20890S5 rallnah 5 Eley CAtooos yh S oc 20 CreCoortraaoeea & COR mHH aS Of Stan on ho, osSsgeatsa09 — SRHSRMEAOGMHOOn Sreemoonam EXOARHOCGn AReanEORaA 355 “puny | OP EVD 1 Te 1Q. GPO OVER QMO SQATS 2 5 5 [OAD Res red) [OOS OM oN ROAR INOGMASCAADH SHMHSSORSORSS MISS © & © eHDHHSOHMSOSSSOS NASHOORHS SMOSHASANGGrOS pup nods SARS ——s = : HSRARRaR HOTS Lind A CQO AAR MS WOM SPS Se SS: 2S Re oe ee |, See ere ee ee aeinydingy MOOCOCOSHMRNNAARNS So -Onmonr € OS + 2 & OR SOOOKrOSMnANnOOCORS MN NAAR NRN HOO gress ae JRE f= Sebo hy ge es ASM geen Das A ae “PEK Sige OS CO Se GO SS SO at RE 1 DS C9 ST SS SS rt CR IO AER ol CLI CROSS CUO WAS © Cz O2£0 3110 GVO? Ee 2.LOYA8OYT BASSCHSCHHAaHR HHOAAA Sosa wae GHSrrSSOST SKIS RRKNRKNGrASS ose -pesauby OQ MH CD 09 Be 19 Oz XH OS CO 19 DQ OP IS CRON Ee OR CRICY SS SNOOTa HE GY CO) et OS Te FG) oe Se ea ae [ W GRARRSSSHSS DHAGARGFSANRSARSHSSSSS “POOH HONT MANCHA AOS "UT pete baa Ste ok Bob le) Te 1 OD Ni 3 MH GY GY CO HQ S 62.GY GSI 69 CO TIE GU CO CAO Gl rif kor TPQ ORNRNO CW AOS : CGiGad riod do os aod ARAAPGSSSSSHHASHSSRAWGSS HH} da at od GE GE OD GE SH 9 05 HES HIG ' — — -— — a . | QR OPE IA AD.O DL ROM OAM ADIN + HOR sHRMOINDMAY]O +: OR pe ae oo ele elk sao as mpos | : SSSRARHSRHASS SHSSSSSSSS 3 ESSH iSSSSHHSORY * trio SSOH fino HHnHnAS e — = - -" ‘a ‘ysDI0d ool alin Bele cha hack aclonh | OD QOD POS OD BR CO 1D GO B= 1D £1 4 © 9D. RV G2 09:19 O XH HH 09.19 094 HO 02 BY AO'DS GLH SOR r4IQ cog ) HD wt 2 09 GY CO i ad tis fe aR eh es Be ae A ibe Ne gO 5 Hod HSA A tod Sid VAROGAHSARSGARHGSNSORGHORAARNRS NRO CriS Fr ASOSHSHANG a "SF il hes hae hares eres pea ec hag INM GMM ONGORDOOENMDOANMIOODAMIRANrr AMIDA OMHRrOROr ec po at Ra =3 a heceiin See akan harbor deri g hen tape Mae ieee peach are EE eB bis ee tha = fu SROs SORSaSo BESSRST SLR MRA OS MRP SABSESSSBR BRSHBSSIABIAS “Uabo.penr D2 OQ 6D OOO r419 © HOO HRM | LRADOSOMOSD NNO AMAWDNN IO MOS rgQoM HY DOOHOtOCDOHH :O ‘ HO 10 03 09 03 eed oo . SSSSOSK (SHHARONMSH SMOID Sr: HH Hd 10 6.19 HH OD OO Seager soe cer ee RAR RESSSSRO’ Err Kos As S ois seoa nas a ‘ S1IHOMLTDROSSOO CMOSSSOMSOMNMDOSOOMODRNROSONOSOr NY Moa ope aoS S 4290. | EPRSSAANNOSS 2 oD Sal ; RARARSSSSSS 7M ESSSSeeeees SARIIPSSATEPSSSESSLERRASSRRRS BASSI ISSSSses m Payee e se fe mis) wae Se ta) buy ce) 0) reat eh er mas Meats oie Se a. (er epee Tien Gy ey s..0 th aoerae fol i Te SS Deo ere as a Ae SR OES ae See ha pa aria ea i oh 6) te) Wve iC SRY sy <5 WS) eae Ta am ER rE Hbsiny vesttoccen sid Spe Phe enue a Pee ees erat als ’ Fay etb aks ele’? fe: oe eee Ne ee eee eae ‘ De See Stee Be fe Sb kee eon Son ty saya met tans ts Gass aren ees oe De =| ae. 3 2) LAN Re ok ee 0) ee wh Ang due a We Cre Te Som so 18 wt Pie eg a, | Re Bindey ca oetip le —- ee S| 2b ee = ee aah. aoe ae 2 q ; oA fs hte ge Ori -g tle sae 1 gaeee ree ccd bigee Pure neo Shes heiage Saeed S57 2 [RA So a aC My at pn ee ee ea Ca eek eee ee oe ee ire ee coe ag . lL tome < ieee | eae) ve) Bir gelos ba) en eae eae — eee eh m o : N y “sao eee oe ee eee & (nO ae, = os eat © ° < Ga>= 5. “Sle 5 Shei ESS ped ig: Ba ou § ik eeeRs stage & $8586 i ge Lie = ESE Bape i: Be HE Babs cleo sa., Seas ysesOysssad f eaese : (Sep aa [o} S rnd Sa So ee) v= Wa so Sa ipkpodony S89°ns4 M 7 eS o a tox} FAO ab ine GO ENS BOM Ose ay CA Peco oRes PATER [iT a Se ao nD A ogsosed, Shera MM s5h sap e eevee ph BS i Geot hy 2oop egg S55 totoy : ako A a : ~ Ma & ok aso (MER tein so ee ai : og l& aaggWasosnss [8 SoS RS Sa ot bac aa season tossog S55 882 p SMM -O SSSA MH ROBES 19 SoHE so aOR HS ho ORS S ts Og koaeodk AAaSeeresoaged b oF OCCS sre aatas eeeese msaOHHHoOS OOS sas Ooan oor oos Saaas ESeae me & BRAnHOMMOO >a PemoameemocanmamaanOusmamameous, FEEaamOsmamdo 306 TALKS ON MANURES. “puny | up! Wolfe alt=) woos | R28 ee aoe CV SSS ‘uaboupn | Sig: z |eee way | SES a eats z eo eH Biome fa Pee a ae F Boe, = -- Ko) 165 Ay VII.—CHAFF. Seseggiocns ST Ort 1D HR 1D OOH 2 Sale ee eee wee ee eee) oe “OnODMMOMOCr oO SMM OMt ORNs tip POO NnrOoNtnwmddas QUID IRS 1D GI G31 G2 OD a twp ete 6 ree ate Se ey eee oe MniNthnnrOowon sos Moonmronwmon A Rod HOS OS 515 Or PONDS ri CQ ix tO a ieee bois Seay ee eee. CO SH 10 Co SH GR 19 CO 419 oO mre IN HreOCNROM ANY We Lee ew ae oPET ee elm bl Sw 7 e S OD CO OD Be BG 09. © 10 69 2 019.109 SHongcorcgucdic RR ROCODMNnMMmOoOooO S Ot 09190 NM HOH 19 09 SS SG UES eh SS GUS rt Od OD SH rt HO HOO Ot HOD SNASCRKSHSSHNSSS OD 6 69 CO SH IN OM rer DO GUSH rs Rr OO rt OH rir OD —— OROHHike eran io NOONOMNMOSor WOOO HH OO rn 1 eH 53 63 S foie re) se! Rano > e Pie) JONES ae. yO EM LOE AS a Te ec TO HN eH Red FN OOD @ 52 Na! ere Pere a Lebt =e Sm. elie oe ral IS A) aa MSE el NOC) all CD O26 HH 1 OD HOD NGO NT OD HOD OS x OOMWROCRNO XN NR re HOD CR HO 4 OGY oCoorowronrnne 5 ne oo smooocococe —ADOOMHMOMNSH a Sey ow ib) eek) Sieh ee eee OO tf O19 661010 ONrtnHnAHOOoaom a6 fa) to. ce Meine 0 pele OiwwwsHowm rooney Spee ee en Wee me oqoonoooncoo Chae ee aT eT MP EC ECT EO Ea DAS eer wT a Ht 10 SH OD TOO HR oe) te) We (eee Sense coco cococeco Oooromnncnowte QUOU a ESE) Drorm*mttorcoonroe ‘hig Sea eee aT oat at CC OD AD FAH T= 6H 6 1) SH HH Te ADD 1G) ACD AC AG) GA XH SH OD OD HOORNATDreonaoes Cie a EN lene POLE Pee een pacer er I DOOD ONKOCHOS COMOrEReSH MMM WMI RNNNr ~ oo Neen) e) '.) EROORE ~ mate BK BOSSRVARSA SSSABSSTASASAR RIQWNOHQWAH ; oes cares. Tae telat Ceo ‘oak fis: Rrrinio toNnrworo Crate’ ° e . . ry “Om *@Mig . oOo es ba Ae = Bos | ne) Monsen DMOSDNOS ecoooog ooocncoocso eSeoooec és isccoocsd oS 2 << Ye) iQ f= 10 1010 leRve) SRGSFRABIIR SSERIRELERER OS eB ai ea et Oe ROR . ge et © ars -Pe) ae fo we? Mel a eh eee, “ars fe] . 8 ib Iq Leek ae he toe hm a ee ASS RUNS GP sie eas thane Ce er p= a eeu caieey S Spo ais We Che es Ls Saray eek Save eR Oe Pama MN Role ie ence rl Se i Seat Fd eres ettaee tay San es ees cl caare cana ces SAS el Napa heme os. siren p sup sbyisig ay pisieets O20 Feheenaaye he ipare Gpeeamcens a i eee ered a: Fen ane Mk ie ener ames HHO AE INeS kg chi pele tele SMOiN De HOMO AHWOMIDOONHINMOesO Ow SARBRRASSRSERERSASSSABRARS My ets es LOS es Le ee: ne. Omen aie, PS) ens Spies: 2 0) Se” Sie em Dae ©) at aes Rete 6S eBay oP oops TS) eens Gee ee ET ss esp) chet le tels A -.| 110 fresh | 492 10.2| 1 one) SY ae 6: ET aT Yom NF es @ e 6 | BYE2) pata ae TRAD OS sh atod genie SUBSTANCE. gar- PEOUS oes a cccts Garden Beans WietChin,sicat—. CAR em arolc Field Beans.. Linseed.... TOME Sere aais eines Grape-seeds........ Horse-chestnuts Acorns, fresh.. Summer-Rape.. POBDY ooh +s 22s Wa pimes. sie... Red Clover... White Clover..... Esparsette...°.... Ruta-bagas......... Mustard... Su Ca =| POO XI.—Various ANIMAL! PRODUCTS. 1D) GOD SO GO 19 1D GR 4 C2 B= SH 19 CD19 00 Cael Sa ee RT Mtn GPT eT MARNOSSOHMM OAR ist GUSH HID HID HOO HOO OOM Yo) ) B= PEE RNRROSHHnHOD Soe PRRSCLR AIO MAMSSOSCSCArCOTONNS 1 10 10 GR SD GW Sz SO SH SH 6H 10 OS 4 HH SH OD GR OD GR OD OD OD GY GR GR GR GIO 10 PSSSSSSESSESSRERB OAD him Ol OP Preiynoiwi9nonrn ap Rabi ss Sater ae | eae Pes sete igh AM ucla a aise ect rote SCO Ce tm a OMe 08S © =} Wha cp) ism 18) 48d de cm Hy eA Oe 5 n gl see ee ee so 6 ig SS io faa Oe we [3 imo eS ia CORN ao =| fe gee ae caw nate cS . w. 2 0a o fae eS BOSSE ORG ASAE BOS SSMS VE MB ELE EE ROO f= [=| sak C8) BS emote SEE OROOSCORRNVORAEAHAHA s 358 TALKS ON MANURES. B._AVERAGE COMPOSITION OF VARIOUS MANURES. WaAME OF FERTILIZER. T.—ANIMAL EXCRE- MENTS. (in 1000 parts of Ma- nure.) Fresh Feces: Horse... ... Manure: Bresh.... 33: er eeees eeeeeoe ee eeese Moderately rotted.. Thoroughly rotted.. | Drainage from Barn- yard Manure Human Feces, fresh. ev Urine, Mixed human excre- ments, fresh Mixed human excre- H Dicky 5 Geese ‘‘ IIl.—CommeErctaL Ma- NURES. (In 100 parts of Fer-, tilizer.) eo 66 6e Peruvian Guano...... Norway Fish-Guano.. 1 ; Poudrette.. .. Pulverized Dead Ani- TITAS aa ee. cvseperive | Organic | Substance. Co 03 et 9 oo S88 lorie) Mork) Ash. Soran CWRSD CHDO RC Bww AO COSCF OCW iS pd SSeS rca Brag 2) 4.4) 3.5] 0.6 2.9) 1.0) 0.2 5.5) 1.5] 1.0 Gal 2.6) 2.5 15.515 0 2.5 5.8 4.9 6.4 19.5 22 6 5.4 4.3 8.3 21 5.8 5.31.0 3.4| 4.0) 1.4 8.3. 6.7 2.2 4.5 6.0 20 45) 5.2] 1.5] | 5.0] 6.3] 1.9 5.8 5.0/13 1.5) 4.9| 1.0 10:0).2:5) 1.6 6.0 20/46 7.0, 2118.8 3.5) 2.040 17.6 10.0) 0.7 16.3) 8.5) 1.0 10.0) 6.2) 0.5 5.5; 9.5) 1.3) 13.0} 2.3] 1.4 9.0} 0.3] 0.9 2.0] 0.9) 1.0 6.5| 0.3/ 0.8) per NR eee 11.7| 0.7] 0.6 10,2) Se Seek 3.8! 0.2/0.3 OQHo ope : FoF ORO 5S SHS Mk Hoe lo oe ond eee _ a ROW ARO ROOSO © WNYW WON 1 — al SO mC orO2 Magnesia. OPP Oorer. WwWINTS GC CHD Her SCUROR D WOR WOK Phosphoric Acid. Sulphuric = et et ROR DO OG WOH OOH aeery — coor roc wow cw wo cows eO@ ci Acid. CoOrHo OFoCoo aDnownmd PROD MU +2 RBORWO OSC COO FRE RmOTOTOO HR OF BO CDW KO PHO CWO oo oom Hor Sand. and Florine. | en | ee | | | | ee AW SOSS wocuw wowrs Hee Oo AIO ~ ye COM Bee oOo &© OFD OWT Conmww w . e . e APPENDIX. 359 : Ss . : gl lg |&.|.8 NAME OF FERTILIZER.| = 3s S NAME OF MATERIAL. 1.—BREWING. 1000 Ibs. Barley, contain erelGaeiea dhs less WELODS Raa ihmecie ittcists wichcrcrs Distribution of the ingredients: : WATER cou adecinssioerssniacccons us Malt- Sprouts er ee tice HOSA ae Brewers’ Grabtie. se tee A a IsiemniekoytGese adagsunpaoceoopes Weastecics ae sece s tae ae wotseua mata BORE. c50is seerstix foe Seles ines atiaine’s ole 2.—DISTILLERY. a. 1000 lbs. Potatoes, contain.... 40 “* Kiln-M Malt.. Saeestes es 20 “ Yeast-Malt.......... The Slump, contains............. (0.) Grain Spirits. 800 lbs. Rye, contain............. 200 ‘* Kiln-Malt, contain....... HOSS VieasG-walGe tS eo tos ee, The Slump, eI OS 8.—YEAST MANUFACTURE. ~ “00 lbs. bruised Rye, contain..... 300 ‘* Barley-Malt, eo Distribution of the Ingredients: : CAR oie ctecineiarce cia ie ieciere! sine Grains and Slump.......... .... 4.—STarcH MANUFACTURE. 1000 Ibs. Potatoes, contain........ The remains in the Fibre........ DAT NYE RETES 0 5.—MILLING. Flour (77.5 per cent).......... Mill-feed ( 6.5 SeSeh cy stave ereterets Bran Cal) eae faan ee 9D ee an 6.—CHEESE-MAKING. 1000 Ibs. Milk, contain........... Distribution of the Ingredients: : %.—BEET-SUGAR net aaa 1000 lbs. Roots, contain.......... Distribution of the Ingredients: Tops and Tails (12 per cent of HOO Ke Betoln Hew cia Delpscctacin OOOGe Pomace (15 per cent of roots)..... Skimmings (4 per cent of nate) Molasses (3 per cent of ates Sugar and Joss.. : ar 8.—FLax Dareeme.! 1000 Ibs. Flax-Stalks, contain... Distribution of the Ingredients: Unvthe Waterers srs eeseees StemSiOr ERUSIKS acc iscisletsereuselciee sre Flax and Tow........-..+++-+++: 20.80 30.36 25.15 1.22 Se 22 oS Dt 2S 2S aa 9.426 6.751 9.175 4.100 0.171 2.052 0.054 0 648 woor coco — ERS HR Phosphor- tc Acid # ND’ EX, Absorptive Powers of Soils........ 217 Ammonia Absorbed by Soil from the Aimosphere ...........50.... 219 Ammonia and Superphosphate..... 242 and, Weeds... .... 0.68.0. 254 $f Converted into Nitric Acid in the Soil....... 313 S POMO ASE. alt ciecatw s 253-254 & fOr POTATOES acs cence eres 261 “ for Wheat. ......52.'. 192-213 ss in Fresh Horse-durg.... 96 bi in Limed and Unlimed SOUS: v.... . 315 Bones as Manure).= esc) a 102 1521 0 Re aeesON gat) tr we ee ee, 2 ean 8 7 fore Mangrees atk eae 102 ‘Richer - in Hianistood than ae t. See oe eee eee 301 pea ene of eaietteenye ae vi Composition of...... 293.093 “e Hog and Cow erly for.302 ‘s POR Hs. soos com crea 292 . 275-290 Manure for Early and RANE 3 tee eras So ides 291 Needs a Large Supply cf Nitrogen in the Soil. Though it Removes but Little Set ar ney 293 se Potashtor. a |< seen oes, 292 S Special Manure for......323 wh Yield of per Acre........ 291 Cattle vs. Sheep as srs petra ee Checse, from a Ton of Hay......... ee Plant-food in....... saree iL as Versus Beef uialesatiotece oe 110 Clay Retains Ammonia... ......... 219 Clover and Indian'Corn’.. 3. ce. ec: 275 as a Renovating and me hausting Crop............. oye Manure. bgeu tek wenieeaih iia798 ea Manure for W (c\=1, 1 eee 16 the Atmosphere. . ee oee133-138 362 INDEX. Clover, De Veelcker’s Heperene Ce Gathers UP Manure from the SUD-SOl dosti scseie ies 287 Hay, Composition of.. 129-137 Hay, English and German, for Manure... ..<.:.0s0<. 47 How to Make a Farm Rich by Growing........... 133-163 Letting it Rot on the Sur- faceas Manure............ 134 Nitrogen as a Manure for...141 Pasturing by Sheep versus Mowing for Hay Plowing Under versus Feed- ing Outer | pees ens 123 Roots, Amount of per Acre, 143-144-155 Roots, Composition of. . 145-147 Seed, Amount of Roots per CTO e Baek eee Oe memes 162 sé Water Evaporated by........ 132 “| Why it Enriches Land...... 131 Coal-asbes to Mix with Artificial MIATATT CS ON eee eae ciate .312 Composting Cow-manure w vith Muck. Leaves, etc... ............302 Compost of Stable-manure and ETSRT GIVEN fee ee See Veen seen nee nn 342 Corn, as a Renovating Crop........ 275 ne -Ashesiforsoecee 5 ee ee) “ Barn-yird Manure for........284 +8 Oost of Raisine.. si /.s6.<. .. 9 Crop, Composition Ole eames 25 Soe VEEP ETIM CHES Olle te = ssc sacs cide 20 tie Guano torisces oe be 279-284 oe eMC One ne ee ie cee tess 275 ‘6 Meal for Manure OE Is ta 185 Hodder Cr vs. Mangel-wurzels.. “Plaster fore % *¢ vs. Wheat, Yield per DIGHEs Stop soyenoneenac 26 Crops Best to Apply Manure to. «2 2 2UD be eé 66 be How to Get Larger........ 28-36 Raised and Sold from the Farm EE RS ere ee 27 NDNA CE. eee en 266 Sep WillyeSO POORER A. ace ses cisiesatere 28 Cotton-seed! Cake. oo. ccc. ccc 45-339 Co. Wiioodey OND be Pernes 6 NG Srscicty aho sie 86-100 at and How to Use it....302 te oe Compositiou of... 36 Cows, Feeding Grain to........ 110-1138 * Yeeding in Winter for Ma- MUO sei ees bees bce eleise os 256 Dairy Farms, Bone-dust on........315 Drainage from Barn-yard.......... 3806 Dry Earth for Pig Pens eters clge 204 Eartn-closet Manure . oe Jota oll £ on Grass Bae earls) Mallow, Malice: voc tecnes es cael 12 ‘“¢ for Wheat, How to — Mr. Lawes’ Experiments Borne 35 oe Summer, for Wheat...,,.15-34 Farm peel Receipts and Expenses Solera he og Te eS 109 — Hon. George Geddes’........ 119 s * Hon. Joseph Shull’s........- 109 “ John Jobnston’s....... 46-81-120 oo Mr: Deweyi8. snc ese ose eae 39 ‘¢ ~Mr. Joseph O. Sheldon’s..... 15 ‘* to Restore a Worn Out...... 37 Farming, @ Poor Business.........- 9 BS Difference Between High anduGoodss. .2cesene i1 be Faith in Good............ 14 aad Good Does Not Lead to Over Production....... 14 ee Slow WOrkii th sack ae see Fermenting Manure to Kill Weed- Seeds sr ews eR ee eons Fish as Manure fepara ec ta'e larecere tere eae .. 847% Animal sehr ee: ce . bee eee Gardens, Manure for Private....... Geddes, Hon. GeOrge ses cc cece 17-117 Grains, "Malt, English and German. 47 Grass a Saving” § Bank?! © 7s. leccesnae 41 *\) Importancelof Rich? 32... 4. 113 «Manure for ia) saw ia ieee en id eos Sf OM OATS cane Sema leone 253 om Scr KO) ahold cf: i= pe CU a EN aa 17 cove ST Or VOtaAtOes ssaet se hee 255-258 ic on. Wheat t=. ee 120-180-184 ee Peruvian, Composition of. .311 for Onions) 294 Price and Compo sition of Now and 30 Y’rsAgo.327 Rectified for Tur- DIDS}. eecaae se 286 ese 6b of for Potatocs.. Tarison, T. L., Letter from. . Hay, Best Manure for e (Plant-food int. . sacs eee 101 Heacock, Joseph, Letter from... ..348 Ecnderson, Peter, Letter from.. ...344 Hen Manure. -<. 202% eee 43104201 Se -for PoLatocsaseens sea 255 High Marming vase. herein rectar ** “versus Good Farming 11 HopayMantire foryss. co: S.cee snes 274 Horse- manure, Composition of. ...806 Hot-beds, Manure for.............. 29% ee Excrements, Csiipoitioin Taian Com: See Cor. eee Irrigation on Market Gardens...... 295 Jessup, Edward, Letter from....... 342 Johnson, Prof. 8. W., on the Value of Fertilizers SR eA Aes ntioe 824 Lawes’ and Gilbert’s Experiments on Barley Ade ee ce AE Ee 22% Lawes’ and Gilbert’s Experiments ON 'Oats's.ofsisec ae ease eee eee Lawes’ and Gilbert's Experiments on Permanent Meadows..........2¢1 INDEX. Lawes’ and Gilbert’s Experiments on the Amount of Excrements IMoidedsbyeWannc. .sccteeeicre.:s csr 309 Lawes’ and Gilbert’s Experiments on Sugar beets and Mangel-wur- 2 VLE REI GS < . .......:. 0000s 30 Minicom eo dae on a Mangel-wurzels for Manure........ ‘* Manure tori08 986.288 es ** _ Yield per Acre..... 11 Manure Absorbing Liquid.......... 115 Amount from Feed and IBECUING o. sd tiara ass “ Amount Made by a Horse 50-346 se Made by Horscs, Cows, Sheep, and Pigs... 51 Amount Made on a 250-acre BAM MED yo) callow tere aie's! oie radeiae D Amount of Rain Required. PO DISSOIVE. os. . aces» a Amount of Straw in Horse. 316 and Rotaticn of Crops..... 246 Applying Artificial........ 312 Applying Near the Surface. 267 Applying on the Surface...173 as Top-dressing............ 269 Barn-yard for Barley Perens 240 Barn-yard vs. Artificial for ingisni@orn yo! 26s. es 284 SIE nc POE cer ek sina d c« 92 «3 ie) 363 Manure Best for Cay...... beh ois bats 274. Bone-dust............. 314-316 ‘* — Brings in Red Clover...... 82 SO MS ERVIN ears soho. vse kg eset 806 es Snyine by Measure or WIRD Reis sa. 54556 as ee ve Collar sopesence messstetia\las as Cheapest a Farmer Can Use. rer ClOVED-ASikeccc tae ee 119-122 Clover-seed as............. 127 Comes from the Land.. ... 42 Common Saltas............ 200 Composition of Fresh Barn- VAarde, sheet ces. 51 - Composition of from Dif- ferent Animals............ 306 Composition of Heap at Different Periods........ 57 Corm-mealifor,2)).c8eeee: : 185 Cost of Hauling...... 342 Cost of Loading and Draw- TT 0%, ech Wrst Rts a neclemtiats 7 COWS: 2. 5. eta ee 87-100 Dairy-farm, How to Save and A pply See sihe crafts tee sas 114 Drawing Out to the Field.. 80 English. Plan of Keeping... 69 Equivalent to Water....... 296 Farm-yard for Potatoes.... Fermenting in W inter.85-92-93 Fermenting, Shrinkage in..116 Mines fammene ecb aan sine 84-98 Fish. as, on Long Island. ..347 Foods which Make Rich.... 45 for Cabbage, Parsnips, Onions, Carrots, Lettuce, oT Cea ee MRE ee ese 289 LOMO. waee se ears ois 80 TORG TASH setae weet ewes 82 TOTO DS aegis otyaecer alesis 274 fOr HOt DeGs yess se fees as 297 tor InGaN Comes en see 275 for Mangel-wurzels and SUPAL-DeCIS. .. os. cess s 287 for Market Gardens........ 294 ROE Oates cna. se eeaidoucee ¢ 252 fOr POUMtOes; >... cos.ces,o2ehs 255 for Seed-growing Farms. ..296 for Sorghum or Chinese DUP EI-CANG other. cincie vs « « 283 for WoWMERD ..-sceicsdes.. 15 fOr VormIps . o. di... < 5% os 285-322 POPIWDERU aie vaca ejarc sas a'sia 167 rom: COWS oe ee we nneus from Earth-closet.......... 310 ATOM ORCI. oom eb es sees 303 from Pigs, Mr. Lawes’ Ex- periments Sete Ne A ae Ee 301 TPONT SHEED. sienna. ake oo en 303 Grain Verne Management OFt S224 122. art sale vee ALT Guano, Price of Now and Thirty Years Ago. Guano, Rectified eruvian.319 Gypsum and Clover as..... 125 Heap, Changes in... ...... 67 364 INDEX. Manure Heap, Hermentine. -o 4.0.5 58 ,; Manure, Specific Gravity of from in Winter....... 84 Different Animals...... r “Piling in Field. '88-59-90 “« Spread in Open Yard...... 63 “2 st Turning OE ee ene - 88 4 «Stable, Management... ... 332 HS S18 (tps puree gor 43-104-301 “Straw and Chaff as......... 200 Mes MELOESE efter nach es ten ser nclereers 32-85 ** Superphosphate, How «« Horse and Farm-yard...... 50 IMAG eo heme eee 317 * How and When it Should “"~ Swamp-Muck as...3. .sscse- 29 De Appliedins ei. sees 267 dma! Wc eels Pe aR Er cic 115 ‘« How John Johnston Man- ‘¢ the Author’s Plan of Man- peel I Rae eee US RAS Br ie 76 ALIN ON Hered o.0% Seren aee 3 ‘© How Made and Used in Slee STS Gta ene eae 32-121-225 Mary lA soe not ees a 349 ‘* Top-dressing for Wheat in “How the Deacon Makes it.. 74 Kansas.... 350 SE eos SER ORW ALO DUDIED) 3 no sthio yn ate ciao 41 7 se “on ~Growing ‘* How to Make More..... .. 259 @ropeoecee ‘* — How to Make More and Bet- ‘* to What Crops Should it as ter on Dairy Farms...... 105 AP PUCU coc tiaa ant cliente ‘“ ~ How to Make Poor, Rich, me GSH LT Y'SH( 0 th Ak ee VRE Vea e 274-293 “Value of Depends on the ‘* How to Make Richer....... 257% Food, Not on the Animal. 43 ‘*¢ How Much it Shrinks by ‘“ ‘Value of Straw as.... ..... 123 Hermentution..2 5.09.55. 342 £68-<— Wiaterd nec). oecteom econ 124 « How Much Nitrogen in a Sti NV CCUS OS i acciten cee eeeeer hoadOfe on 2 econ os ens 305 CL VOIR EE Ol cerse ce tner 343-350 SSN. INUISAMAAS ce Gaeiece dics OO _ WelFrotted, €omposition ein Philadelphia. slmterest-— 922) vi Ol. 2g eee netics TU CS a acy. cercicioyem ies 35-0.08 333 4 Woll- rotted, Loss from st Keeping Under Cover...... 59 each Gss wesc Soc sc 65 Sec AIG INCL AS ion te coremeve cine cots 215 ch “Witat isite 0 ee 19-22 rene Hl RUNG eee ete roe ae - 326 ‘¢ Why Do We Ferment?.... 94 ‘© Management of in Canada.335 Market Gardens, Trrigution in...... 295 “ Mr. Lawes’ Experiments Manure for...... 294 VALUING o's tere crevcveetaeisiare atte se e Pig-manure on.. 295 «© Loss from Leaching........ 99 | Meadows, Manure for is eee 271 co Manaeement. Obed. <5 .cs6 94 | Night Sti. Soe ee Sa 225-3808 Sco Market WalilevOfes7.s- a6 {04. | Nitrate. df Potash. --*..*.2 eee 312 See Sib bee Mold old bigeat See Beas arc 222 a ONL OL SOU ds osen ates =e eee 1 oT a ACU A ee coke =m cvolsictanstyeys chara ee 23 Acts’Quicker than Sey” SINTSTE-SOUL AG aminsams Aaa cee 308 INITIO Soy. ey SHI “© Nitrate of Soda as......... 134 | Ss “as a Top- dressing eS NOteAvallaless nc sssemnee as 95 for Wheat. .....2..200 Sto. FOND anya MAEM er setters 161 ie “* Composition of....312 “on Permanent Meadows = ‘* for Apple Trees... .314 ANG HAShuresy.). ces. a 20 es sO TOP Barley aceseneee 243 “© Preserved by the Soil...... 177 = &c™ fOr O2ths- ssecatee 252 SS PTR So cece nary yetn a eecictenin ore ae *<— for‘ OMonss* 5) eee ee Piling Bie aie, a Stalag a Secreta, ache 116 he “* for Sugar-Beets....289 oe POLASNRAS < scruagciata seekers 329 ss Coie LOT WGA arene 159 ee Price of in Boston. Seems 34 se * How to Apply..... 312 a =<) Maryland 5.22059. -|\NUthIC aA ClO. ee setace seccisactee neem 3 ie «New Haven....3!1 Nitrogen, Amount per Acre in the S “© New York......334 SOs arise vs dees 28-162 “ ** per Horse in New ee 29 MaNUre: <.ces acme 28 OPK, ieee 336 yh in Soils, 3,-2.6 106-226-336-341 “Quantity Made on a Farm.. 12 BS Makes Poor Manure ** Quantity of Used on Long IGA svc cuceh eee 246 Island. Interesting Sta- Nurserymen, Manure for. ........ 297 BISHICS Pa cusivee cjenesh See ee 336 | Uats, Experiments on in Virginia. .253 “Reduced by Fermentation. 297 ‘« Experiments on at Moreton ‘© Richer in Plant-food than Farm. ©)... saecusepeeeeeeen 254 the Food from which it is “ Lawes’ and Gilbert’s Experi- Derived ect. seemed st cae 301 MENS! OD...) e:. oie seiisters erage 2 eit ae OCA We CGCIAS ie: cimeiarctetan s+ 337 so’ Manures0r 000.6. ee aoe 252 Sek ONCE bee Proan mEE- Pesce 86 | Oil-cake for Sheep.............--00- 76 ‘*. Should be Broken Up Fine.268 | Onions, Manure for..... ......... 294 *¢ ~~ Soluble Phosphates in..... 42a) Peas for Pigs) 2.056. soetaeseee aces 17 Cenk DECAL cts cmtietecsiere ..... 140-320 ' Pea-straw for Manure..........es0 48 INDEX, 365 Peat, Composition of............ .. 31 , Rushmore, J. H., Letter from.... .345 Phosphates. . PASE SRS ens vino 27 | Routzahn. H. 1b ‘ Letterfrom...... 849 Exhaustion of on Dairy Salt as a Manure for Wheat........ 270 A IEE etnies. cee 6 cine i01 ** Commonas Manure for Wheat. cn eee in Barn-yard ** for Mangel-wurzels......... .. hh Es So a ae Saw-dust for Bedding ens: ees 103 Phosphoric Acid in Soils....... 106-226 | Season, a Poor, Protitable for Good ** per Acre in Soils. 162 BATT OES rire ak ciced ete sss ci0' 5 213 se ad Retained by the <0) tie eee 219 Remc ved from the ‘Farm by Hay, and by Milch Cows. 316 oe se Pig: EW fe Med oe ee ee oe Composition of....... 306 “ aS for Cabbage.......... 302 Pigs as Manure-Makers. for Market Gardeners fe ee a ene ae o 295 Pigs’ MPCOGIIS: we Pe oa iy doce «xa 31 for Enriching Pasture-Land...304 “© How to Save Manure from. . B04 eCOMGIIUMENA TONY cpaerctlats crorsto ns 1-304 PO MANULE. ered eas coe Beret «03 ST Plant- LOOUE sharon ee ee es 21-105 6b 6s ce Amount of in an Acre.24-39 in New and Cultivated ACA cee. Seasigae BY) Plaster for Indian Corn. Sar HMiowine in the Watts. 4 eset 17 Potash, Amount of in the Seil 25-329 pam PASIMANUTC Sos sors cone ac loci 329 <¢ as Manure for Wheat..... 215 Sx. dor Cabbaress. = oosii's -i< -1-)2 == 255 =a Mr. Hunter’s Experiments on in England......... Ye on Rich Land........ .... 263 ss Profits of Using Artificial Manures on........... 263 ee Will Manure Injure Qual- MUMROM so eesicc.2 Riera ton scarcte ors 264 Rape-cake Ee oie sjpim s nace ea saa 46 ‘- as Manure for Hops..... 274 Roots, Amount of Left in Soil by WIPeTENT CLODS 2 sas: eens coe wees 164 RE ele as a ales ercee nid, a's D> 17 Rotation of Crops and Manures.. and Manure for Oats.. . 253 ss Influence of on the Grow th PERE NY CU eer read coer 9 sho aiare's 210 “Profit in Raising Oats ina POORY TE een oti. or ee 2538 ‘* Profit in Raising Barley in 8: POOLS OEE st ees See ee 243 Seasons, Influence on Crops........ 21 | Seed Growers, Manures for........ 296 BEWARC soc trce ne fot tee 308 Sheep-Manure 1 Bt se . 803-333-339 = Composition OFi xs." 306 Swamp- -muck ‘“ vs. Oxen as Manure Makers.303 Shelton, Prof. E. M., Letter from. .350 Soil, Composition YT by ER 144-150 ro UD TUS TEOM Ole esis is eee 23-27-3382 . DETOM HATEM-CLOSCUsa eae os sss 2 225 ee ees and Phosphoric mais ef Plant-food i Tia ate seinie ooyes cs ere 105 “ Weight of per Acze........... 221 Soils Absorb Ammonia from Atmos- PHELGs aoe eee etneacietls eho 219 ‘¢ Absorptive Powers of . Sorghum, Manures for..........- g Special Mangred- eee 320 SG sete ok 2 ee ee ene oo aiete 26 ‘© ‘Amount of Manure from..... 124 ‘s and Chaff for Manure........ 200 oD. FOTO DT ES i573 Sakciare cea “— On, Gralm HAMS. sass cmcesen « 118 Stee: Sellinea ns iach aie a fea ee eens 123 Sturtevant, Dr. E. L., Letter from 344 Superphosphate Brel yo slays Stee latele ws\aters 116 for Barley: ..° « all Sa 7. pa - = ¢ ; ; ; ae . v“ x ‘ 4 J , : p ” . . if ‘ ‘ é \ 2 o ’ é : . F - : . Pe a A . ‘ e 2 4 5 : J : ; ; ns é fl oe : Pei, : . we Wd j % i ' 1 3 A : : 2 . 4 i . ey . ' —_ - a r : f _ ‘< ‘ ‘ : ‘ A. ; . ‘ fi eos . : 3 Bs 2 ; ¢ 1 ‘ it - % m * z . . . . 7 ee: ’ . : : eee, 4 in . : ¢ : z . =, " . ‘ a % iC ; ‘ : ‘ a s : : : : . _ : 7 ? 4 f . ° “oe.” a ; , a ts ' ee 2 , we : ee - i: . - be * ( ; it: eg : ‘ = . ‘ on * be \ = ' mn - i “4 ji : 2 ; A Aa? . + F : ; ‘ . ioe ‘ , : J = a ‘ a dart) a J . * ‘, ° , r : " ‘ . ’ t h 2 t + 7 + vt! ¢: . . ‘ a At ‘ ~ ” . y ; ; r . ; i . bury y ; . E ' , t 4 al okt . at . i ™ > - fs i ; 4 zi ; ‘ . y . 4 . 4 : ; $ * ‘ a ; : : ‘ : - « : 7 : ; 3 ve < “ cA = ? y ; : we ; F , = - ‘ . ‘ “ : 5 - we . r r ° y ‘ . > : z 2 ‘ : ; ae : ; : ; ; ; ; ; he P) ¢ 7” . ‘s ; 1 . _ _ 7 . , te = 9 , . : 5 : : ' + : "i ‘ eZ . ; , * P ‘ mi Seas a) 7 4" % é . 00027553965 BT