279 



the substance. After the drvin»2,-. the tub;' with contents is phiced 

 inside an extraction ajiparatus for the determining of ether extract. 

 The extracted material is used for determination of crn(h^ fiber. 

 Observations with a thci'iuoincter. when Avater boik^d at 100. showed 

 the same tcmpcralurc inside the tiilx' wlien the substance Avas being 

 dried in hych-ogen, but a temperature of 101 when it Avas dried in a 

 current of air. the conditions beino- otherwise the same. The higher 

 temperature was a])pareiit ly due to oxidation of the sui)stance. 



i'.riJj"nN .\(.. i:;. diockmuku. issa 



Ox Tin: nrTEIMoRATJOX OF lAinr-YAHI) AFAXIRE BY LRACIIING AXO 

 JERMEXTATU)>:. I. 1*. RoBERTS. ^f. A(iR.. AXD II. H. WlXG, B. AoR. 



(pp. 15:^-1()0). ( ilhistrated). — During the summer of 1889 investi- 

 gations were made in this general subject in three main directions, 

 viz: (1) What loss does horse manure snlFer when throAvn out in a 

 l)ile unsheltered frimi the Aveather? (2) AYhat loss does mixed farm- 

 Aard nuuiure suffer Avhen piled in a close pile so that fermentation 

 i^ A'erv sloAv. but without protection from rainfall? (3) Is there any 

 appreciable loss of valuable matter when manure simply dries Avith- 

 out fermentation ? 



(1) The manure of one day (excrement, solid and li(juid, 491 

 l)ounds. bedding 38. ,5 jwunds. total 529.5 pounds) from nine horses 

 Avas exposed for six months out of doors in an open Avooden box, 

 AA'hich Avas not water-tight, and Avas placed in a pile of manure, the 

 object being to subject its contents to the same conditions that pre- 

 vail when horse manure is thrown out in a loose pile from a stable 

 door. At the end of this time the composition of the exposed 

 manure, as compared Avith that of fresh manure, Avas as folloAvs: 



The losses, therefore. Avere threefold ; first, a considerable loss in 

 the total Aveight : second, a gain in the percentage of water; and 

 third, a loss in the percentage of valuable fertilizing elements. 



The commercial value of the nitrogen, phosi)lioric acid, and potash 

 in a ton of the IVc-li nianuri' is estimated to be $2.45: while the same 

 ingredients in the manure which had been exposed six months Avould 

 be Avorth SI. 42, showing a loss of $1.03 per ton, or 42 per cent. 



( 2 ) A block of mixed horse and coav manure, from the coA^ered yard 

 underneath the I'niversity barn, AA-hich had been Avell packed by the 

 animals treading upon it. was exposed to the Aveather for six months 

 in a galvanized-iron box "• Avith a perforated bottom so arranged that 



