DIFFERENT MANURES. (Queenslander.)

Otago Witness, Issue 1971, 14 November 1889, Page 7

DIFFERENT MANURES. (Queenslander.)

Farmyard. — Muat over bo ranked in the first class. To prevent loss of ammonia, the carbonate of ammonia formed by putrefaction 'should be fixed. Gypsum or sulphate of lime, ashes, or peat, spread over or incorporated with dung, will fix the ammonia, forming sulphate, which is not volatile, and not a particle escapes, being absorbed by the roots. Tho floors of stables and. pans of necessaries should be strewn with common gyp3um or other fixer of ammonia. Ammonia ia of tha utraosS importance for the vigorons growth of plants j it is not in itsslf sufficient for the production of caseins, fibrin, or albumen, Alkalies, sulphates, "and phosphates are also required, Urine and the solid excrements contain the soluble mineral substances of the food, and the alkalies, salts, and silica. The better the food, therefore, the more valuable the manure. Manure of growing animals less valuable than that of full-grown ones. ' ' Warmth and proper treatment of stock also improve manure. An ox well fed is supposed to void about 10 loads of dung and 10,000 gal of urine annually. - : Horse dung is very rich in ammonia, easily decomposes, and its effects on crops are quick and powerful, 1 but not lasting, sometimes forcj ing plants too much in early stagea^of growth, i and when the action of the manurb ceaasa the [crop languishes.: ■-«*> ' >?/■ --'■•? -- 1 -£ ! " .- ■> Cow* dang ha* more imoiaturff than ;borße I manure, less heat ia decomposition, notso riofy

in nitrogen. Effect on the soil much Blower but more lasting. Sheep dung is drier than horse dung, decomposes quickly when moist, is rioh in ammonia, valuable fertiliser, particularly on soil which, contains insoluble mould. Pig dung is rich or poor, according to the food, Should be mixed with horse dung ; it is slow of decomposition. Nightsoil is in operation quicker and more powerful than farmyard manure, but not so lasting. Sends grain crops to straw. It is valuable in the compost heap. Better as a top dressing than buried in the soil. Fowl and pigeon dung is a most valuable, agent, and should be carefully stored, and placed in compost heaps, or used as- a liquid, manure. Leaves, straw, weeds, and house refuse are. all valuable adjuncts to the compost heap, or for use in mulching trees and plants. Bags and paper should never be burned, aa they soon rot if kept moist, and afford very valuable plant-food. Peat and ashes are fixers of ammonia, and should be added to compost heaps in quantities, and used in closet- pans, &o. Peaty soils need lime, which brings into activity the dormant component parts, and sweetens the soil by combining with the carbonio acid, which j causes sourness when in excess. Marshy soils will support repeated dressings of lime. Lime should bo thoroughly incorporated with the \ Boil before using ammonaicaljrnanureß, as dupg | or bonedust, otherwise it will free the ammonia, which will be lost in the atmosphere. Ammonia liberated beneath the surface will be readily taken up by the soil. Lime ia a valuable agent either on clays, loams, or sands. It quickens evaporation, mellows the soil, yields a little phosphate, and has a quickening influence on torpid animal or vegetable matter in the soil, Should he used only in small quantities on poior sandy soils Attracts moisture from the atmosphere. Lime is valuable in decomposing all vegetable refuse, as couch grass, peat, leaves, bark, rags, paper, &o. Lime should never be applied to farmyard manure, animal remains, or substances rich in ammonia. It would dissipate the ammonia, which constitutes their great value. Lime is valuable as a top-dreßsing for pastures and general crops, as it destroys ui3ect life and low vegetable organisms. Salt. -On a light and gravelly soil five bushels per acre has increased the yield of wheat. Favourable to higher grades of animal life, but fatal to worms, slugs, and moat insects. Ten bushels per acre annually is beneficial for barley, oats, peaß, and beant) ; or, on meadow land, for potatoes and turnips more may be used. Ashes are valuable for the potash they contain, and also for their mechanical effectin rendering soils more friable and more retentive of moisture. They absorb ammonia, and for this reason, and because of thoir potash, are specially valuable as a top-dressing for crops. As absorbera of ammonia, they should be used to cover the dung on compost heaps. Poat is also useful for this purpose. The fresher ashes are used tha better, as rain soon washes out their soluble salts. If you have ashea, use them ; but do not burn vegetable refuse for the Bake of the ashes if you can rot it down. Weeds, lea res, grass, or bark are much more valuable in the compost heap than ashes, Boneß, bonedust, and superphosphate are of immense value on any soil and for all descripi tions of crops ; but on dry sands, peats, limeetonea, chalk, and light loams their action is more manifest than on cold clays. The best way of using them is in the compost heap ; but they should be added only after decomposition is far advanced, the heap being broken down, and the bonedust carefully sprinkled through it, and the heap made up afresh and covered with a layer of soil or ashes or peat to arrest any volatile ammonia, Three days to a week will suffice for fine bonedust to be rendered active. Superphosphate may be similarly used, but, being very finely divided, it is used as a top dressing for crops and pasture without further preparation.

Soda and potash are alkaline manure of great potency, and are present iv all ordinary manures, but special applications of nitrate of soda and sulphate of potash are very beneficial to growing cropß as a top dressing, giving great vigour of growth, and deepening the verdure of the foliage. Small quantities of soda and nitre (or saltpetre} added to compoßts greatly improve their value. Guano and blood manure rank very highly as rich nitrogenous manures. They are more forcing than bonedust, and act more rapidly, but are less lasting in their effect on the soil. Very valuable for garden culture. A little of each should be added to every compoat heap in the same way as bonedust.