228 



Farmyard Manure. 



In the course of a year and 12 days the original weight of 

 this heap, amounting to 1 ton 5 cwts. 1 quarter and 10 lbs, 

 thus became reduced to 17 cwts. 2 quarters and 14 lbs. by 

 being exposed to the influence of the weather, or 100 tons lost 

 30-4 tons. 



We shall see presently in what this loss consisted. I may men- 

 tion, however, already in this place that the direct weighings do 

 not represent in an unmistakable manner the loss which farmyard 

 manure undergoes in reality in keeping. We shall see, namely^ 

 that the loss during the last 3 months is much greater than stated 

 in the foregoing Table, after we shall have become acquainted 

 with the composition, which the manure presented at the different 

 periods, when it was weighed. 



In the first place I would therefore direct the attention of the 

 reader to the following Table, in which is given the composition 

 of the manure in the state in which it was found at the different 

 experimental weighings. 



Composition of Fresh Farmyard Manure (No. I.), Exposed in Natural State, at 

 different periods of the Year. 



It will be seen that in February this manure contained about 

 2>h per cent, more moisture than when first put up. At the end 

 of April, little or no rain having fallen in the interval, it dried up 

 to its original state of dryness. The loss in weight in April 



