PRINCIPLES OF MANURING. 73 



available to plants, there is not a loss of these substances. Again, 

 is there reason for believing that an}' beneficial effects result from 

 having the manure go through its chemical changes in contact with 

 the soil rather than before it is applied to the luud ? 



As to the matter of loss from fermenting manure, I will again 

 refer to the table showing the results of Dr. Volcker's investigations 

 when he found that only six per cent, of nitrogen was lost from the 

 manure fermented under a shed. 1 presume it is safe to assume 

 that there would not be an appreciable loss of the mineral ingredi- 

 ants of animal excrements during a process of decomposition 

 providmg no leaching takes place. 



"Manure fermented under proper conditions doubtless does not 

 suffer a ver}^ large loss. And I mean by proper conditions, the 

 keeping of the heap moist after the excrements have received a 

 mixture of absorbents. If manure be allowed to rot, great care 

 should be taken to secure a complete absorption of the products of 

 decomposition, and to this end it should not be too rapid and should 

 be accompanied by moistui-e. With manure largely from concen- 

 trated food, there is no doubt but that the use of absorbents tends 

 also to insure against loss from the chemical changes that take place. 

 Granting that rotted manure is more efficient at first, and can be 

 obtained without much loss, it is to be said on the other hand that 

 the excrements of animals cannot be put through a thorough process 

 of decomposition without involving an extra expense, and this is 

 especially true of manure treated so as to ferment without loss. 

 The factor of expense must be allowed. 



The other question to be considered is that of the benefit coming 

 from having the manure go through the chemical changes necessary 

 to convert it into plant food, when in contact with the soil. Although 

 it is to a certain extent still a matter of theory, j'et we have no 

 doubt but that the decomposition of stable manure after it is mixed 

 with the soil causes an increased disintegration of the latter. 



Previous figures show the large amounts of inert plant food that 

 may exist in even run-out fields. When we have brought this into 

 a condition for plants to use we have added so much more to the 

 capital applied to our farming operations. Our soils are still a store- 

 house of plant food, and there is every reason to believe that the 

 decay of the organic material of animal excrements after its appli- 

 cation to the land is an efficient agent in forcing into service the 

 inactive mineral substances. 



