Western Kansas World

FARM FOREST

Liquid Manure.

W. D. Boynton, in Prairie Farmer.

Every garden should be supplied with a tank or large barrel for holding liquid manure. No matter how heavy a coat of common manure has been plowed or spaded under, a good sprinkling of liquid manure, especially in a dry time, will never come amiss. It often happens that the plants do not get a hold of the manure that has been deeply buried perhaps until quite late in the season. If liquid manure be applied occasionally in the meantime, the plants will not suffer for want of food. The liquid is always in an immediately available form, an important consideration in the garden where the vegetables are quick-growers and fast-feeders.

Partially rotted manure is best for this purpose. Fill a barrel half-full of manure and the remainder with soft water. A stout stick should be kept in the barrel to be used for stirring up the mass occasionally.

If a very rich application is required, the mixture may be put on in a semi-liquid form, or very thick. Refill the barrel with manure occasionally through the season. All garden vegetables thrive wonderfully well when treated to liquid manure in a dry time. Fertilization by filtration is the most natural of all means used for the application of manure to the roots of plants. The trees of the forest and the grasses of the plains are fertilized in this way.

Liquid manure should be applied at night on a freshly worked soil. If only the clear liquid from the top of the barrel is to be used, the sprinkler is good to apply it with, but if applied thick, an old pail and dipper will do as well as anything.