PRINCIPLES OF MANURING. 71 



tion aud are not used by the animal, pass out in the urine. The 

 potash goes out in the same channel, while the phosphoric acid is 

 retained with the solid excrement. The manurial ingredients of the 

 liquid excrement are more valuable, pound for pound, than those of 

 the same kind existing in the solid. Then why not save them? 



Until farmers avoid the wastes incurred in the two wa^-s mentioned 

 above, let them not complain of hard times or the barrenness of 

 their fields. "What foolishness, also, to bu}' commercial fertilizers 

 and pay for what might be obtained nuich more cheaply b^- the ex- 

 ercise of a little care ! • 



What is the best method of preserving manure? Use plenty of 

 absorbents, unless 3-ou have water-tight tanks in the cellar. It 

 seems to me that dr}- loam or muck is better for that purpose than 

 straw, for the reason that strawy manure cannot easilj' be distributed 

 in the soil in an even and finely divided condition. Have a good 

 barn cellar, with water-tight tanks, if possible ; if not, then build a 

 manure shed. In the latter case, or if the manure must be thrown 

 into an open yard, have the floor behind the cattle water-tight, so 

 that all the liquid can be taken up by the absorbent used. 



Some suggestions with reference to the differences of treatment 

 demanded by the manure from the different farm animals, may not 

 be amiss. It is well known to farmers that horse and sheep manure, 

 under certain conditions, are very liable to ferment so rapidly as to 

 get hot. When this occurs the manure grows white, and seems to 

 have been burned. The question is often asked me, Does it cause 

 any loss to have such a thing happen? I answer, Yes. Almost the 

 entire amount of nitrogen in a heap of manure may thus be driven 

 out largely in the form of ammonia. The reason why horse manure 

 "heats" so much more readily than that from cows, is, that it is 

 coarser and not so wet. This coarseness allows a free circulation of 

 air through the heap, while the dryness admits of a more rapid rise 

 of temperature than would be possible if it contained more moisture. 

 A larger amount of water would also increase the capacit}* of the ma- 

 nure to absorb and retain its products of decomposition. The more 

 compact and moist a pile of horse manure can be kept, the less danger 

 there is of loss from heating. It is an admirable plan to throw the 

 excrements of horses and cows together, where they can become 

 thoroughly mixed, the mutual effect of the two kinds upon one 

 another causing a saving in the case of the one and an increased 

 activity of the other. The manure of sheep had better be trodden 



