“In experiments,” continues Mr. Thomas, “when the manure for corn was thus applied in autumn, has afforded a yield of about 70 bushels per acre, when the same amount applied in spring, gave only 50 bushels. A thin coating of manure applied to winter-wheat at the time of sowing, and was harrowed in, has increased the crop from 7 to 10 bushels per acre—and in addition to this, by the stronger growth it has caused, as well as by the protection it has afforded to the surface, it has not unfrequently saved the crop from partial or total winter-killing.
“In cases where it is necessary to apply coarse manures at once, much may be done in lessening the evils of coarseness by artificially grinding it into the soil. The instrument called the drag-roller—which is like the common roller set stiff so as not to revolve—has been used to great advantage for this purpose, by passing it over the surface in connection with the harrow. We have known this treatment to effect a thorough intermixture, and to more than double the crop obtained by common management with common manure.”
TOP-DRESSING WITH MANURE.
The term “top-dressing” usually refers to sowing or spreading manures on the growing crop. For instance, we top-dress pastures or meadows by spreading manure on the surface. If we sow nitrate of soda, or guano, on our winter-wheat in the spring, that would be top-dressing. We often sow gypsum on clover, and on barley, and peas, while the plants are growing in the spring, and this is top-dressing.
“If the gypsum was sown broadcast on the land before sowing the seed,” said the Deacon, “would not that be top-dressing also?”
Strictly speaking, I suppose that would not be top-dressing.
Top-dressing in the sense in which I understand the term, is seldom adopted, except on meadows and pastures as a regular system. It is an after-thought. We have sown wheat on a poor, sandy knoll, and we draw out some manure and spread on it in the winter or early spring; or we top-dress it with hen-manure, or guano, or nitrate of soda and superphosphate. I do not say that this is better than to apply the manure at the time of sowing the wheat, but if we neglect to do so, then top-dressing is a commendable practice.
Dr. Vœlcker reports the result of some experiments in top-dressing winter-wheat on the farm of the Royal Agricultural College at Cirencester, England. The manures were finely sifted and mixed with about ten times their weight of fine soil, and sown broadcast on the growing wheat, March 22. A fine rain occurred the following day, and washed the manure into the soil. The following is the yield per acre:--
| No manure | 27 bushels and 1984 lbs. of straw. |
| 280 lbs. Peruvian guano | 40 bushels and 2576 lbs. of straw. |
| 195 lbs. nitrate of soda | 38 bushels and 2695 lbs. of straw. |
| 180 lbs. nitrate of soda, and 168 lbs. of common salt | 40½ bushels and 2736 lbs. of straw. |
| 448 lbs. Proctor’s wheat-manure | 39½ bushels and 2668 lbs. of straw. |
| 672 lbs. Proctor’s wheat-manure | 44¼ bushels and 3032 lbs. of straw. |
| 4 tons chalk-marl | 27 bushels and 1872 lbs. of straw. |
The manures in each case cost $7.80 per acre, except the large dose of Proctor’s wheat-manure, which cost $11.70 per acre. The wheat was worth $1.26 per bushel. Leaving the value of the straw out of the question, the profit from the use of the top dressing was: