93^ JUHLIX-DAXXFELT. - THE PRESENT STATE OF AGRICULTURE 



render its effect more uniform and complete. Greater care is also taken 

 to preserve the fertilising elements, especially the nitrogen, in the manure. 

 The stable manure is usuall}- mixed with peat litter and compost. It has 

 become more and more usual to provide the dung pit with a concrete bottom, 

 and , on small farms, to keep the dung heap in a special shed. 



The use of chemical fertilisers is still verv^ limited. On marshy soils 

 ver\- poor in phosphorus and potash, potassium phosphates and salts are 

 still used, and on soils poor in humus, for grain and root crops, phosphates 

 and Chili nitrate or cyanamide are also in general use, but the quantities are 

 too small to produce a maximum yield. The chemical manures are chiefly 

 imported from abroad. Superphosphate and cyanamide, however, are 

 manufactured within the country- in quantities exceeding home consump- 

 tion, the crude phosphates for the former being in turn imported. Two 

 steel works also produce phosphated slag, but the supph' from this source 

 does not suffice for even half the consumption. Attempts have been made 

 at different times to obtain potassic manures from the abundant strata of 

 rocks with high potash contents in the countn.-, but without success 

 hitherto. The quahty of chemical fertilisers is tested at 9 chemical 

 Stations which receive State grants. 



