28 



AGRICULTURAL EXPERI5IEXT STATION. 



Nitrogen of organic matter in 

 100 lbs. water free muck. . . 



Mineral matter in 100 lbs 

 vrater free muck, contain- 

 ing: 



Sand, silica, &c 



Iron oxide and alumina..... 



Lime 



Magnesia . 



Potash 



Soda 



Sulphuric acid 



Phosphoric acid 



Carbonic acid, coal, &o 



Total 



Stable. 

 Manure 



1.75 



36.70 

 2.44 

 1.75 

 1.05 

 1.40 

 .35 

 .35 

 1.76 

 1.06 



46.85 



The above figures show what the five samples of muck would 

 contain if entirely free from water. It is never the case that muck is 

 entirely dry. It is very retentive of moisture, and even when 

 shoveled out of the pit and allowed to lie in a heap until the dry 

 season — August, for instance — it would then probably contain as 

 much as 50 per cent, of water. When first shoveled out of the 

 bed, 100 lbs. of muck contain 75 or 80 pounds of moisture, some- 

 times more. 



Now, if these mucks were at their best, and held but 50 per cent 

 of moisture, 100 lbs. would contain only half the quantities of 

 nitrogen and mineral ingredients given above, or, if fresh and 

 holding 80 per cent of water, only one-fifth these quantities. The 

 figures given for stable manure are also based on water-free 

 substance, and as this makes up about one-fourth the weight of the 

 manure, 100 lbs. would have one-fourth the pounds mentioned. 



It is important to notice the great differences in Jthe several 

 samples of muck. 



First, there is a great variation in the amount of organic 

 (vegetable) matter, sample 280 having over one-third more than 

 sample 281. As it is upon the organic matter that the absorbent 



