Timely Hints for Farmers. 285 



To demonstrate that this loss does occur, a few experiments 

 were conducted with this end in view. A sample of horse 

 manure was thoroughly moistened with water, then allowed to 

 drain over night and samples analyzed, both before and after 

 treatment. It was found that, with an almost minimum amount 

 of leaching, the loss in total nitrogen was about 5 per cent, — a 

 small figure in itself, but when applied to a pile of manure repres- 

 enting tons, and a proportionally larger amount of water, the re- 

 sult is significant. Another lot of barnyard manure was divided 

 into portions and one part exposed to the sun in July, 1900. A 

 second part was loosely placed in a covered barrel and kept under 

 a shed, protected from sun and rain, but with free access of air. 

 These samples were left undisturbed until March, 1901, at which 

 time an analysis showed that 22 per cent and 27.7 per cent, re- 

 spectively, of the total nitrogen had been lost. 



So much then for the loss, the question being, how to pre- 

 vent it. The means of doing so are comparitively simple, the 

 method of application, however, depending largely upon circum- 

 stances It is very true that the Arizona small farmer can not 

 afford any great outlay, while on the large dairy farms of the 

 East they deem it of sufficient importance to build special build- 

 ings for keeping and preserving manure. Probably the very best 

 plan for this region is that of placing the manure in pits. The 

 method has several advantages. It is cheap ; and the pit can be 

 made of such size as the number of animals demand, yet readily 

 enlarged to accommodate circumstances. It can be so arranged 

 that it is a comparatively easy matter to get water upon the con- 

 tents, which, as before mentioned, is necessary, although an ex- 

 cess of water is to be avoided. The pit, as it is gradually filled, 

 can be more or less protected by boards, or even a covering of 

 straw will prevent the contents drying out too rapidly. Such a 

 a pit has been dug in the stable yard at the University and serves 

 an admirable purpose. 



Another source of plant food frequently allowed to go to 

 waste is bones and slaughter-house refuse, a certain amount of 

 which collects around every farm, and when properly prepared is 

 a most excellent fertilizer, much sought after by eastern farmers 

 and orchardists. Such a product is valuable for its high percent- 



