OTHER ORGANIC MANURES.
The number of organic manures is almost countless. The most common of
these have been described in the previous chapters on the excrements of
animals. The more prominent of the remaining ones will now be
considered. As a universal rule, it may be stated that all organic
matter (every thing which has had vegetable or animal life) is capable
of fertilizing plants.
DEAD ANIMALS.
[What are the chief fertilizing constituents of dead animals?
What becomes of these when exposed to the atmosphere?
How may this be prevented?]
The bodies of animals contain much _nitrogen_, as well as valuable
quantities, the phosphates and other inorganic materials required in the
growth of plants. On their decay, the nitrogen is resolved into
_ammonia_,[AC] and the mineral matters become valuable as food for the
inorganic parts of plants.
If the decomposition of animal bodies takes place in exposed situations,
and without proper precautions, the ammonia escapes into the atmosphere,
and much of the mineral portion is leached out by rains. The use of
absorbents, such as charcoal-dust, prepared muck, etc., will entirely
prevent evaporation, and will in a great measure serve as a protection
against leaching.
If a dead horse be cut in pieces and mixed with ten loads of muck, the
whole mass will, in a single season, become a most valuable compost.
Small animals, such as dogs, cats, etc., may be with advantage buried by
the roots of grape-vines or trees.
BONES.
[Of what do the bones of animals consist?
What is gelatine?
Describe the fertilizing qualities of fish.]
The _bones_ of animals contain phosphate of lime and gelatine. The
gelatine is a nitrogenous substance, and produces ammonia on its
decomposition. This subject will be spoken of more fully under the head
of 'phosphate of lime' in the chapter on mineral manures, as the
treatment of bones is more directly with reference to the fertilizing
value of their inorganic matter.
FISH.
In many localities near the sea-shore large quantities of fish are
caught and applied to the soil. These make excellent manure. They
contain much nitrogen, which renders them strongly ammoniacal on
decomposition. Their bones consist of phosphate and carbonate of lime;
and, being naturally soft, they decompose in the soil with great
facility, and become available to plants. The scales of fish contain
valuable quantities of nitrogen, phosphate of lime, etc., all of which
are highly useful.
Refuse fishy matters from markets and from the house are well worth
saving. These and fish caught for manure may be made into compost with
prepared muck, etc.; and, as they putrefy rapidly, they soon become
ready for use. They may be added to the compost of stable manure with
great advantage.
[Should these be applied as a top dressing to the soil?
What are the fertilizing properties of woollen rags?
What is the best way to use them?]
Fish (like all other nitrogenous manures) should never be applied as a
top dressing, unless previously mixed with a good absorbent of ammonia,
but should when used alone be immediately plowed under to considerable
depth, to prevent the evaporation--and consequent loss--of their
fertilizing gases.
WOOLLEN RAGS, ETC.
_Woollen rags, hair, waste of woollen factories_, etc., contain both
nitrogen and phosphate of lime; and, like all other matters containing
these ingredients, are excellent manures, but must be used in such a way
as to prevent the escape of their fertilizing gases. They decompose
slowly, and are therefore considered a _lasting_ manure. Like all
_lasting_ manures, however, they are _slow_ in their effects, and the
most advantageous way to use them is to compost them with stable manure,
or with some other rapidly fermenting substance, which will hasten their
decomposition and render them sooner available.
Rags, hair, etc., thus treated, will in a short time be reduced to such
a condition that they may be immediately used by plants instead of lying
in the soil to be slowly taken up. It is better in all cases to have
manures act _quickly_ and give an immediate return for their cost, than
to lie for a long time in the soil before their influence is felt.
[What is their value compared with that of farm-yard manure?
How should old leather be treated?
Describe the manurial properties of tanners' refuse.
How should they be treated?
Are horn piths, etc. valuable?]
A pound of woollen rags is worth, as a manure, twice as much as is paid
for good linen shreds for paper making; still, while the latter are
always preserved, the former are thrown away, although considered by
good judges to be worth forty times as much as barn-yard manure.
Old leather should not be thrown away. It decomposes very slowly, and
consequently is of but a little value; but, if put at the roots of young
trees, it will in time produce appreciable effects.
_Tanners' and curriers' refuse_, and all other animal offal, including
that of the slaughter-house, is well worth attention, as it contains
more or less of those two most important ingredients of manures,
nitrogen and phosphate of lime.
It is unnecessary to add that, in common with all other animal manures,
these substances must be either composted, or immediately plowed under
the soil. Horn piths, and horn shavings, if decomposed in compost, with
substances which ferment rapidly, make very good manure, and are worth
fully the price charged for them.
ORGANIC MANURES OF VEGETABLE ORIGIN.
_Muck_, the most important of the purely vegetable manures, has been
already sufficiently described. It should be particularly borne in mind
that, when first taken from the swamp it is often _sour_, or _cold_, but
that if exposed for a long time to the air, or if well treated with
lime, unleached ashes, the lime and salt mixture, or any other alkali,
its acids will be _neutralized_ (or overcome), and it becomes a good
application to any soil, except peat or other soils already containing
large quantities of organic matter. In applying muck to the soil (as has
been before stated), it should be made a vehicle for carrying ammoniacal
manures.
SPENT TAN BARK.
[Why is decomposed bark more fertilizing than that of decayed
wood?]
_Spent tan bark_, if previously decomposed by the use of the lime and
salt mixture, or potash, answers all the purposes of prepared muck, but
is more difficult of decomposition.
[How may bark be decomposed?
Why should tan bark be composted with an alkali?
Why is it good for mulching?
Is sawdust of any value?]
The bark of trees contains a larger proportion of inorganic matter than
the wood, and much of this, on the decomposition of the bark, becomes
available as manure. The chemical effect on the bark, of using it in
the tanning of leather, is such as to render it difficult to be rotted
by the ordinary means, but, by the use of the lime and salt mixture it
may be reduced to the finest condition, and becomes a most excellent
manure. It probably contains small quantities of nitrogen (obtained from
the leather), which adds to its value. Unless tan bark be composted with
lime, or some other alkali, it may produce injurious effects from the
_tannic acid_ which it is liable to contain. Alkaline substances will
neutralize this acid, and prevent it from being injurious.
One great benefit resulting from the use of spent tan bark, is due to
its power of absorbing moisture from the atmosphere. For this reason it
is very valuable for _mulching_[AD] young trees and plants when first
set out.
SAWDUST.
[Why is sawdust a good addition to the pig-stye?
What is the peculiarity of sawdust from the beech, etc.?
What is a peculiarity of soot?
Why may soot be used as a top dressing without losing its ammonia?]
_Sawdust_ in its natural state is of very little value to the land, but
when decomposed, as may be done by the same method as was described for
tan bark, it is of some importance, as it contains a large quantity of
carbon. Its ash, too, which becomes available, contains soluble
inorganic matter, and in this way it acts as a direct manure. So far as
concerns the value of the ash, however, the bark is superior to sawdust.
Sawdust may be partially rotted by mixing it with strong manure (as hog
manure), while it acts as a _divisor_, and prevents the too rapid action
of this when applied to the soil. Some kinds of sawdust, such as that
from beech wood, form acetic acid on their decomposition, and these
should be treated with, at least, a sufficient quantity of lime to
correct the acid.
_Soot_ is a good manure. It contains much carbon, and has, thus far, all
of the beneficial effects of charcoal dust. The sulphur, which is one of
its constituents, not only serves as food for plants, but, from its
odor, is a good protection against some insects. By throwing a handful
of soot on a melon vine, or young cabbage plant, it will keep away many
insects.
Soot contains some ammonia, and as this is in the form of a _sulphate_,
it is not volatile, and consequently does not evaporate when the soot is
applied as a top dressing, which is the almost universal custom.
GREEN CROPS.
[What plants are most used as green crops?
What office is performed by the roots of green crops?
How do such manures increase the organic matter of soils?]
_Green crops_, to plow under, are in many places largely raised, and are
always beneficial. The plants most used for this purpose, in our
country, are clover, buckwheat, and peas. These plants have very long
roots, which they send deep in the soil, to draw up mineral matter for
their support. This mineral matter is deposited in the plant. The leaves
and roots receive carbonic acid and ammonia from the air, and from
water. In this manner they obtain their carbon. When the crop is turned
under the soil, it decomposes, and the carbon, as well as the mineral
ingredients obtained from the subsoil, are deposited in the surface
soil, and become of use to succeeding crops. The hollow stalks of the
buckwheat and pea, serve as tubes, in the soil, for the passage of air,
and thus, in heavy soils, give a much needed circulation of atmospheric
fertilizers.
[What office is performed by the straw of the buckwheat and
pea?
What treatment may be substituted for the use of green crops?
Which course should be adopted in high farming?
Why is the use of green crops preferable in ordinary cultivation?
Name some other valuable manures.]
Although green crops are of great benefit, and are managed with little
labor, there is no doubt but the same results may be more economically
produced. A few loads of prepared muck will do more towards increasing
the organic matter in the soil, than a very heavy crop of clover, while
it would be ready for immediate cultivation, instead of having to lie
idle during the year required in the production and decomposition of
the green crop. The effect of the roots penetrating the subsoil is, as
we have seen, to draw up inorganic matter, to be deposited within reach
of the roots of future crops. In the next section we shall show that
this end may be much more efficiently attained by the use of the
sub-soil plow, which makes a passage for the roots into the subsoil,
where they can obtain for themselves what would, in the other case, be
brought up for them by the roots of the green crop.
The offices of the hollow straws may be performed by a system of ridging
and back furrowing, having previously covered the soil with leaves, or
other refuse organic material.
In _high farming_, where the object of the cultivator is to make a
profitable investment of labor, these last named methods will be found
most expedient; but, if the farmer have a large quantity of land, and
can afford but a limited amount of labor, the raising of green crops, to
be plowed under in the fall, will probably be adopted.
Before closing this chapter, it may be well to remark that there are
various other fertilizers, such as the _ammoniacal liquor of
gas-houses_, _soapers' wastes_, _bleachers' lye_, _lees of old oil
casks, etc._, which we have not space to consider at length, but which
are all valuable as additions to the compost heap, or as applications,
in a liquid form, to the soil.
[What are the advantages arising from burying manure in its
green state?
Which is generally preferable, this course, or composting? Why?]
In many cases (when heavy manuring is practised), it may be well to
apply organic manures to the soil in a green state, turn them under, and
allow them to undergo decomposition in the ground. The advantages of
this system are, that the _heat_, resulting from the chemical changes,
will hasten the growth of plants, by making the soil warmer; the
carbonic acid formed will be presented to the roots instead of escaping
into the atmosphere; and if the soil be heavy, the rising of the gases
will tend to loosen it, and the leaving vacant of the spaces occupied by
the solid matters will, on their being resolved into gases, render the
soil of a more porous character. As a general rule, however, in ordinary
farming, where the amount of manure applied is only sufficient for the
supply of food to the crop, it is undoubtedly better to have it
previously decomposed--_cooked_ as it were, for the uses of the
plants--as they can then obtain the required amount of nutriment as fast
as needed.
ABSORPTION OF MOISTURE.
It is often convenient to know the relative power of different manures
to absorb moisture from the atmosphere, especially when we wish to
manure lands that suffer from drought. The following results are given
by C. W. Johnson, in his essay on salt, (pp. 8 and 19). In these
experiments the animal manures were employed without any admixture of
straw.
PARTS
1000 parts of horse dung, dried in a temperature
of 100 degrees, absorbed by exposure
for three hours, to air saturated
with moisture, of the temperature of
62 degrees 145
1000 parts of cow dung, under the same circumstances,
absorbed 130
1000 parts pig dung 120
1000 " sheep " 81
1000 " pigeon " 50
1000 " rich alluvial soil 14
1000 " fresh tanner's bark 115
1000 " putrified " 145
1000 " refuse marine salt sold as manure 49-1/2
1000 " soot 36
1000 " burnt clay 29
1000 " coal ashes 14
1000 " lime 11
1000 " sediment from salt pans 10
1000 " crushed rock salt 10
1000 " gypsum 9
1000 " salt 4[AE]
Muck is a most excellent absorbent of moisture, when thoroughly
decomposed.
DISTRIBUTION OF MANURES.
The following table from Johnson, on manures, will be found convenient
in the distribution of manures.
By its assistance the farmer will know how many loads of manure he
requires, dividing each load into a stated number of heaps, and placing
them at certain distances. In this manner manure may be applied evenly,
and calculation may be made as to the amount, per acre, which a certain
quantity will supply.[AF]
---------+---------------------------------------------------------------------
DISTANCE |
OF |
THE | NUMBER OF HEAPS IN A LOAD.
HEAPS. |
---------+------+------+------+------+------+------+------+------+------+------
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10
---------+------+------+------+------+------+------+------+------+------+------
3 yards. |538 |269 |179 |134 |108 |89-1/2|77 |67 |60 |54
3-1/2 do.|395 |168 |132 |99 |79 |66 |56-1/2|49-1/2|44 |39-1/2
4 do. |303 |151 |101 |75-1/2|60-1/2|50-1/2|43-1/4|37-3/4|33-1/2|30-1/4
4-1/2 do.|239 |120 |79-1/2|60 |47-3/4|39-3/4|34-1/4|30 |26-1/2|24
5 do. |194 |97 |64-1/2|48-1/2|38-3/4|32-1/4|27-3/4|24-1/4|21-1/2|19-1/4
5-1/2 do.|160 |80 |53-1/2|40 |32 |26-3/4|22-3/4|20 |17-3/4|16
6 do. |131 |67 |44-3/4|33-1/2|27 |22-1/2|19-1/4|16-3/4|15 |13-1/2
6-1/2 do.|115 |57-1/2|38-1/4|28-3/4|23 |19 |16-1/4|14-1/4|12-3/4|11-1/2
7 do. |99 |49-1/2|33 |24-3/4|19-3/4|16-1/2|14 |12-1/4|11 |10
7-1/2 do.|86 |43 |28-3/4|21-1/2|17-1/4|14-1/4|12-1/4|10-3/4| 9-1/2| 8-1/2
8 do. |75-1/2|37-3/4|25-1/4|19 |15-3/4|12-1/2|10-3/4| 9-1/2| 8-1/2| 7-1/2
8-1/2 do.|67 |33-1/2|22-1/4|16-3/4|13-1/2|11-1/4| 9-1/2| 8-1/2| 7-1/2| 6-3/4
9 do. |60 |30 |20 |15 |12 |10 | 8-1/2| 7-3/4| 6-3/4| 6
9-1/2 do.|53-1/2|26-3/4|18 |13-1/2|10-3/4| 9 | 7-3/4| 6-3/4| 6 | 5-1/4
10 do. |48-1/2|24-1/4|16-1/4|12 | 9-3/4| 8 | 7 | 6 | 5-1/2| 4-3/4
---------+------+------+------+------+------+------+------+------+------+------
_Example 1._--Required, the number of loads necessary to manure an acre
of ground, dividing each load into six heaps, and placing them at a
distance of 4-1/2 yards from each other? The answer by the table is 39-3/4.
_Example 2._--A farmer has a field containing 5-1/2 acres, over which he
wishes to spread 82 loads of dung. Now 82 divided by 5-1/2, gives 15 loads
per acre; and by referring to the table, it will be seen that the
desired object may be accomplished, by making 4 heaps of a load, and
placing them 9 yards apart, or by 9 heaps at 6 yards, as may be thought
advisable.
FOOTNOTES:
[AC] Under some circumstances, _nitric acid_ is formed, which is equally
beneficial to vegetable growth.
[AD] See the glossary at the end of the book.
[AE] Working Farmer, vol. 1, p. 55.
[AF] It is not necessary that this and the foregoing table should be
learned by the scholar, but they will be found valuable for reference by
the farmer.