The Canadian Horticulturist. 



Fertilizing- Constituents in the Feces Discharged per Head Yearly by 

 Different Kinds of Animals. 



Horses. 

 Cows . 

 Sheep. 

 Pigs.., 



Nitrogen. 



Kg. 



56.80 



77.40 



3.81 



5.40 



Phos- 

 phoric 

 Acid. 



Kg. 

 21.70 

 11,80 



2 54 



4.08 



Potash. 



Kg. 

 19.60 



48.80 

 6.50 



Animal excrement, therefore, furnishes to the manure a large quantity of 

 useful elements and contributes much to to its value, but it is not restricted to 

 this role. The urine retained by the litter supplies the moisture and alkalinity 

 indispensable to fermentation, while in the solid excrement are added., as we 

 shall see below, the organisms necessary to the partial destruction and fermenta- 

 tion of the litter. 



Below is given the percentage composition of wheat straw and oat straw 

 determined by the method of analysis referred to above : 



Composition of Wheat Straw and Oat Straw. 



Wlieat. 



Oats. 



Water 



Nitrogenous matter 



Substances soluble in ether (fatty substances and chlorophyll) 



Substances soluble in water, ashes deducted (rtducing and non-re 



ducing principles — gums, tannins) 



Cellulose 



Vasculose 



Straw gum (calculated as xylose) ' 



Ashes ... 



Per cent. Per cent. 



10 .02 



99.20 



Use of Manure. 



As regards the use and efficiency of manure in the soil, we have to distin- 

 guish two cases, application to strong soils and application to light soils. 

 Manure generally produces little result in strong soils. On such it is best to 

 use it in the fresh and unrotted condition. In this condition it acts not only 

 by the elements which it supplies, but also by rendering the soil more porous 

 and lighter, and in facilitating aeration of the soil which results in an increased 

 oxidation of the nitrogenous substances contained in the manure, and in their 

 transformation into nitrates so useful to plants. Sometimes the results obtained 



