190 Agkioultural Experiment Station, Ithaca, N. Y. 



phoric acid and potash has a vahie of $4.74, being a much larger pro- 

 portion of mineral matter than that contained in the other concen- 

 trated foods fed in these experiments. 



All the foods so far considered that have a high fertilizer value have 

 been rich in nitrogen when compared to the amounts of phosphoric 

 acid and potash which they contain. As would be expected from foods 

 that are nitrogenous in composition, we have found that the excre- 

 ment produced from these foods have also been too nitrogenous for a 

 well balanced plant food, and when applied as a fertilizer should be 

 accompanied with a further application of phosphoric acid and potash. 



Comparatively little work has been done in the past decade to deter- 

 mine the amount of plant food recovered in the excrement from that 

 consumed in the food under the various conditions which our domestic 

 animals are usually kept. Particularly do all recent investigations 

 appear insignificant when compared to the importance of the need of a 

 more thorough knowledge concerning the production, value and care 

 of barn manures. It is only through repeated, thorough investigations, 

 showing positively bejond a doubt the value of animal excrement and the 

 proportionate amount of plant food wasted to that actually restored to 

 the land, that better care will be given barn manures, by farmers in 

 general, and more economical methods of applying manure be prac- 

 ticed. Should the results of these exj^eriments prove of some aid in 

 practicing greater economy in the manufacture, care and application 

 of barn manures the time and labor bestowed on these investiga- 

 tions will be well repaid, knowing that the aid given is for the advance- 

 ment of one of the most important questions to be met by the farmers 

 of this State. 



GEORGE C. WATSON. 



