Manures and Manuring

Abstract

IT is recognised that owing to the variation in local conditions, it is impossible to give a complete guide to manuring on every farm. Still, the information supplied in Bulletin No. 36, entitled “Manures and Manuring”, which has recently been issued by the Ministry of Agriculture to replace the sectional volume of Leaflets No. 8 on the same subject, the text having been considerably revised by Mr. H. V. Garner (H.M. Stationery Office, price 1s. 3d. net), should be of the utmost value to farmers, if they are to derive the fullest benefit from the money spent on fertilisers. The Bulletin is divided into three parts, the first of which deals with organic manures. In spite of the recent great development in artificial fertilisers, farmyard manure is still the stand-by of arable farmers, but although it is by far the most important type of organic manure, the value of other materials such as liquid manure, town refuse, poultry manure, and seaweed is evidently considerable. Part ii. is devoted to artificial fertilisers. The various types of nitrogenous, phosphatic, and potash manures now on the market are described, while a further section deals with the use of compound manures. The third part supplies useful information with regard to the purchase and use of artificial fertilisers, and enables the farmer to determine the comparative value and costs of nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash in the different forms without difficulty. Some suggestions are made, on quite general lines, as to the treatment of farm crops, and a further section is devoted to a discussion of soil analysis and its bearing on cropping and manuring.