54 THE BOOK OF CORN 



always be made to handle manure in such a way as to 

 reduce to a minimum the loss of valuable constituents. 



The chief sources of loss are : first, through the 

 escape of the liquid portion of the excrements ; second, 

 by leaching and exposure to rain ; third, by fermenta- 

 tion. Excessive fermentation results in the serious 

 loss of nitrogen ; the escape of the urine results in the 

 loss of nitrogen and potash. 



When possible, an abundance of litter or bedding 

 should be mixed with manure, to prevent loss from 

 drainage. The manure should be kept so as to prevent 

 washing and leaching; compact and moist to prevent 

 too rapid heating. It should be kept compact, also, to 

 prevent too rapid formation of nitrates. It is true that 

 it is in this form that the nitrogen in the manure is 

 available for the corn crop, but this change into the 

 nitrate form can go on far more safely in the soil than 

 in the manure heap, for in the latter the nitrates are 

 likely to suffer loss through the action of the nitrate- 

 destroying bacteria present in the lower portions of 

 the heap. 



Should manures be applied fresh or rotted? The 

 important points relative to applying fresh manure 

 are : first, the earlier manure is applied to the field, the 

 less is the loss of plant food ; second, fresh manure fur- 

 nishes more humus to the soil than that which is well 

 rotted ; this is true because in the process of decay 

 a portion of the organic matter is destroyed ; third, on 

 a majority of farms, the amount of work is compara- 

 tively light at the season of the year when the greater 

 part of the manure is produced and it is often a source 

 of economy in getting out the manure to spread it as 

 fast as it is made. 



The objection may be offered to this plan that the 

 manure suffers serious loss from lying upon the sur- 



