Farmyard Manure. 



229 



amounting to 28 6 per cent., therefore, is real loss, that is to say 

 it is loss which affects the dry manure, and is not due to eva- 

 poration of water. In other words 100 lbs. of dry manure, 

 on keeping for a period of 6 months exposed to the 

 weather, lost 28*6 lbs., and became only 71*4 lbs. In August 

 the manure gained a very large quantity of water, by heavy 

 showers of rain, and this large proportion of water, which is 

 greater than the original quantity of moisture by nearly 10 per 

 cent., was reduced only 1 per cent, on keeping of the manure for 

 another 3 months. 



The direct-weighings, as well as the composition of the manure, 

 are therefore much affected by the rain that falls at the different 

 periods, and for this reason, neither the analyses nor the weigh- 

 ings by themselves are fit to determine the loss which farmyard- 

 manure undergoes on keeping. 



Before any further remarks can be offered on these analyses it 

 will be necessary to calculate the composition of the manure in a 

 dry state, for as the percentage of water differs so much at the 

 various times of analysis, the results in the preceding Table are 

 not comparable. In the next Table, therefore, I have stated the 

 composition of the perfectly dry manure at various epochs. 



Comjiosition of Fresh Faniiyard iNlauure (Xo. I.), Exposed. Calculated Piy. 



A comparison of these different analyses points out clearly the 

 changes which fresli farmyard manure undergoes on keeping in 

 a heap, exposed to the influence of the weather during a period 

 of twelve mouths and twelve da^s. 



